Home Blog Page 109

Statue of Jam Sahib, who sheltered Jewish children, unveiled in Israel: Read the history of why Poland and Israel still remember the “Good Maharaja”

મેઘલસિંહ પરમાર
-
0
Statue of Jam Sahib, who sheltered Jewish children, unveiled in Israel: Read the history of why Poland and Israel still remember the “Good Maharaja”

A statue of Jamsaheb Digvijaysinh Jadeja, the former Maharaja of Nawanagar (now Jamnagar), was recently unveiled in Nevatim, southern Israel. The statue honours the compassion and empathy Jamsaheb displayed in sheltering Polish children (including Jewish children) during World War II.

An inscription below the statue of Jamsaheb is reads:

During the Holocaust, he saved many Jewish children at HIs own expense and sheltered them in his home, providing them with care and love.

A sentence from the Jewish scriptures is also quoted there, which reads – ‘Those who save one life save the whole world.’

An event was organised by the Indian Jewish Heritage Centre (IJHC) and the Cochin Jewish Heritage Centre (CJHC) to commemorate the Maharaja and to unveil his statue. The statue was supposed to be completed in September 2024, but its unveiling was repeatedly delayed due to Israel’s prolonged military conflict with Hamas.

Indian Ambassador J.P. Singh, along with the Polish Ambassador and officials from the Israeli Foreign Ministry, was also present at the event.

Who was Jamsaheb Digvijay Singh Jadeja?

Maharaja Digvijaysinh Ranjitsinh Jadeja was the last ruler of Nawanagar state. He (like many rulers of that time) was known by the nickname “Bapusaheb.” The title reflected the people’s affection for the royal family. ‘May the people of my state prosper’– That alone was the jeevan mantra of such rulers.

Be it Bhavnagar’s King Krishnakumarsinhji or Jamsaheb Digvijaysinh Jadeja, they were truly “Bapusahebs,” as they protected their subjects like a father. This is the reason that even after so many years, their names are remembered with respect and honour. Digvijaysinh not only protected the people of his kingdom but, during tough times, gave refuge to the citizens of a distant country like Poland, located six and a half thousand kilometres away. He followed his dharma without any expectations. So many years have passed, but countries like Poland and Israel still remember this Maharaja.

Jamsaheb Digvijaysinh Jadeja was born in 1895. He went to Rajkumar College and then studied at University College, London. In 1919, he joined the British Army as a Second Lieutenant. After a military career spanning nearly two decades, he retired in 1931. However, he remained in the Indian Army in an honorary capacity until 1947. Two years after his retirement, in 1933, he was crowned as the Maharaja of Nawanagar, succeeding his uncle, Ranjitsinh Jadeja.

Digvijaysinh remained Maharaja of Nawanagar until he died in 1966. However, after India’s independence in 1947, he merged his state, along with other states, into the Indian Union. Thus, he was the last Maharaja of Jamnagar. His son, Shatrushalyasinh Jadeja, is the current King of Jamnagar. Though princely states have become past now, traditions such as coronation and other royal ceremonies continue as before and people still hold their kings in the same deep respect.

Polish children, many of whom were Jewish, were sheltered during World War II.

During World War II, the Soviet Union and Germany invaded Poland in 1939. As a result, the Polish government collapsed, and the Polish rulers fled to London. Meanwhile, thousands of Polish citizens, including a large number of women and children, were deported to the Soviet Union. Many of them were disabled, and some were orphans.

These people were kept in refugee camps and orphanages, where they died of disease and hunger. This continued for almost two years. These refugees lived in extremely difficult and miserable conditions. Finally, in 1941, they were all granted amnesty and ordered to leave the Soviet Union. Thus, thousands of citizens, especially children, were released, but they still had no place to go.

Some of them took refuge in Mexico, a few went to New Zealand, and some others fled to other countries as refugees. Maharaja Digvijaysinh Jadeja was the Hindu representative in the British War Cabinet at that time. He was well aware of these global events and resultant tragedies. As soon as he learned about the Polish refugees, he immediately extended help. Negotiations ensued, and an agreement was reached to bring them to India.

“Even though you have lost your parents, from today I am your father” said the ruler

In 1942, the first batch of Polish children arrived in Nawanagar. It is said that the Maharaja himself was present to welcome them. He told the children, “You are no longer orphans. Even though you have lost your parents, from today I am your father. Now you are residents of Nawanagar, and I am your father.”

Jam Sahib made arrangements, including housing and food, for all the children,. A camp was immediately established for these children near Balachadi, where they were well cared for. Adequate medical assistance was provided, and schools were opened. The Maharaja also established a special library of Polish language books to ensure that the children would not forget their mother tongue.

He not only arranged all the facilities but also personally supervised everything, visiting regularly to ensure that all arrangements were in place. The Maharaja personally took it upon himself to cater to these children’s smallest needs. Furthermore, when some Polish children complained about India’s spicy food, he hired seven Polish cooks to prepare food for them. Polish teachers were also appointed to educate them.

Later, another camp was opened, and more children were brought in. They were also provided with all possible care. Later, the kings of Patiala and Baroda also provided financial aid to the camp, and the industrial conglomerate Tata also contributed funds. Millions of rupees were, thus, collected for these Polish children to ensure that they did not face any difficulties.

The Polish children remained in Nawanagar until the end of World War II. Later, when Britain recognised the Polish government, these refugees returned. However, some later emigrated to Britain, Australia, the United States, and other countries. It is said that Jam Saheb himself was present to see the children off. This moment was emotional for both the Polish children and their Bapusaheb.

Jam Saheb is known in Poland as the “Good Maharaja”

Jam Saheb performed his Dharma without expecting anything in return, but the grateful nation of Poland has not forgotten this Indian Maharaja, who sheltered thousands of children in a time of adversity and became their ‘father’. He is still famous there as the “Good Maharaja”. Poland still remembers this late Maharaja with great respect and reverence. As a symbol of this honour, a monument has been erected in Warsaw, the capital of Poland, called the ‘Jam Saheb Memorial of Nawanagar’. The first sentence inscribed on the monument reads: “Tribute to the kind Maharaja, from the grateful nation of Poland.

In addition to that, a school in Warsaw, built in Indian style, has been named after Jam Saheb. There is also a square called ‘Maharaja Square’, where a memorial has been erected. In 2022, a train named after Jam Saheb was launched in Poland. Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the Maharaja’s memorial during his visit to Poland in August 2024.

Israel honoured him for saving Jewish children

Not only Poland, but Israel also remembers Maharaja Digvijaysinh Jadeja with great respect. Among the children who were given refuge in Nawanagar were many Jewish children. Even today, Jews believe that when a Hindu king opened his treasury to foreign children, he didn’t discriminate whether they were Christian, Jewish, or belonged to any other religion. Everyone was treated equally irrespective of their religion.

Jerry Klinger, president of the Jewish American Historical Preservation Society, wrote in an article that while he was working on a different project, a colleague told him about Jamsaheb’s rescue of Jewish children. That colleague was also in contact with some of the people Jamsaheb had sheltered as children.

Klinger says, “There are probably many such people. Some may not even be alive now. But the important thing is that Jam Saheb gave refuge to Jewish children. He should be honored in Israel. Poland has honored Jam Saheb enough. The idea came that Jam Saheb should also be honored properly in Nevatim, and then the work of erecting his statue began.”

As Delhi blast brings Faridabad’s Al Falah University under scrutiny, read who is Chancellor Jawad Ahmad Siddiqui: Scant digital footprint, financial fraud and more

Anurag
-
0
As Delhi blast brings Faridabad’s Al Falah University under scrutiny, read who is Chancellor Jawad Ahmad Siddiqui: Scant digital footprint, financial fraud and more

On 10th November, a massive blast near Red Fort terrorised Delhi and the rest of the country. Within minutes, investigation agencies rushed to the spot to probe the explosion that took the lives of at least 13 people. Soon, the link between the Delhi Red Fort blast and Al-Falah University emerged, as the terrorist who initiated the explosion was an associate of three medical doctors linked to the university, arrested in a joint operation by Haryana Police and Jammu and Kashmir Police. The police had recovered over 2,900 kg of explosives hours before the Delhi blast from the locations linked to the arrested doctors.

While the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof (Dr) Bhupinder Kaur, finally issued a statement claiming the university had no links to the busted terror module, the Chancellor and founder of the university, Jawad Ahmad Siddiqui, remained silent. Interestingly, there is hardly any digital footprint of Siddiqui.

OpIndia dug into available information on Chancellor Jawad Ahmad Siddiqui and found some problematic history. His LinkedIn profile does not have much information. The “About” section reads, “Managing Trustee: Al-Falah Charitable Trust since 1995 till date, Chancellor: Al-Falah University, Faridabad since 2014 till date, Managing Director: Al-Falah Investments Limited since 1996 till date.”

Source: LinkedIn

OpIndia found a report published by Milli Gazette in July 2000, which suggested that a person named Jawwad Ahmad Siddiqui was in Tihar Jail with his two brothers for defrauding investors in Al-Falah Investment Limited. When we looked into information about the company, we found that it was registered in 1992 and has the status “strike off,” which means the company has stopped functioning.

Source: Zaubacorp

From the information available on Zaubacorp, it was revealed that the company had only one director, Jawad Ahmad Siddiqui.

Source: Zaubacorp

From Siddiqui’s past directorial associations, we found a link to Al-Falah Education Service Private Limited. Siddiqui was associated with this company as a director until March 2019.

Source: Zaubacorp

Upon further checking information about Al-Falah Education Service Private Limited, we found that it had two previous directors, Jawad Ahmad Siddiqui and Saood Ahmad Siddiqui.

Source: Zaubacorp

This information was crucial because when OpIndia looked into the case Milli Gazette had mentioned, there were two names cited, Jawad and Saood. We will come back to the case later.

To establish a connection between Al-Falah Education Service Private Limited and Al-Falah University, we checked the address of the company. It was “Al-Falah House, 274-A, Jamia Nagar, Okhla, New Delhi.”

Source: Zaubacorp

It is the same address that Al-Falah University has on its official website.

Source: Al Falah University

We were also able to establish the connection through the email address “[email protected],” which is listed as one of the official emails on several websites featuring the university’s profile.

Source: Google Search

On the Bharat Education page of the university, the email addresses of both Siddiqui and Fardeen are listed.

Source: Bharat Education

This email ID has been listed on Al-Falah Investments Limited’s Zaubacorp page, the same company that was involved in the fraud.

Source: Zaubacorp

It is evident that the person who was booked and remained in Tihar Jail for a long time was the same Jawad Ahmad Siddiqui who is running Al-Falah University.

The current directors of the company are Sufyan Ahmad Siddiqui and Fardeen Beg. While there is not much information available about Sufyan Ahmad Siddiqui, Fardeen Beg is a teacher at Al-Falah University and also a part of the anti-ragging committee.

Source: LinkedIn

During our research, we found that Al-Falah University was established on 2nd May 2014 through the Haryana Private Universities (Amendment) Act, 2014, passed by the State Legislative Assembly of Haryana. It received recognition from the University Grants Commission (UGC) on 5th January 2015 under Sections 2(f) and 12(B) of the UGC Act. An expert committee was constituted, and the inspection visit took place on 29th-30th May 2015. The compliance of observations and deficiencies was later accepted by the UGC.

Jawad Ahmad Siddiqui was behind bars for over 2 years

Coming to the case for which he was sent to Tihar while the proceedings were ongoing, OpIndia found a judgment of the Delhi High Court dated 27th March 2003, pronounced by then-Justice RC Chopra. According to the court documents, an FIR was filed at New Friends Colony, New Delhi, in 2000 under Sections 420, 409, 406, 468, 471 and 120(B) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The case was then forwarded to the Economic Offences Wing, Crime Branch, New Delhi.

According to the case documents, Jawad Siddiqui was the Chairman-cum-Managing Director of Al-Falah Group of Companies, and Saood Siddiqui (one of the former directors of Al-Falah Education Services Private Limited) was one of its directors. The petitioners and their co-accused induced a large number of investors to make deposits in their companies. The court noted that they misappropriated funds worth Rs 7.5 crores. The complaint against them was filed by one KR Singh, who was cheated to the tune of Rs 95 lakhs.

The judgment read, “It is alleged that the petitioners induced a large number of persons to make deposits in their group of companies but later on, by forging their signatures and fabricating documents, converted those deposits into shares of their companies.” Investigation and FSL reports confirmed that the signatures of the investors were forged. The deposits were also received in the names of some companies that never existed. The funds were then transferred to the personal accounts of the accused. By the time the court passed this particular judgment, Jawad was in Tihar for about 37 months and Saood was in jail for 38 months.

Their counsel had argued that the maximum punishment for the listed offences was only three years and requested the court to grant them bail, but the court denied it. The duo then went to the Supreme Court, which also refused to intervene.

According to a Tribune report from June 2004, in 1995, Al-Falah Group of Companies had formed Al-Falah Sehkari Awas Samiti. The Greater Noida Authority had allotted 10,000 square metres to the Samiti in 1996, where they decided to build 100 flats for its members and shareholders. However, due to some financial constraints, the construction did not go through, and Jawad and others were arrested.

While Jawad was behind bars, some of his associates duped him and forged his signatures to fraudulently sell some flats for Rs 13 crores. The Tribune report was about their arrest, and the accused were identified as SP Yadav, Manzoor Hasan Zaidi, and Sanjeev Shrivastava.

The revelations surrounding Jawad Ahmad Siddiqui raise serious questions about the credibility and background of those running Al-Falah University. From past allegations of fraud and forgery to the present-day controversy linking the institution to a terror module, the pattern reflects a history that cannot be ignored. While the university administration has distanced itself from the ongoing investigation, the evidence connecting its leadership to questionable financial and criminal activities suggests a deeper scrutiny of Al-Falah University and its management is both necessary and urgent.

Muslim mob including women and children pelt stones on officials during demolition of illegal dargah in Somnath, around 100 booked: Read FIR details

ભાર્ગવ રાજ્યગુરુ
-
0
Muslim mob including women and children pelt stones on officials during demolition of illegal dargah in Somnath, around 100 booked: Read FIR details

A challenging situation developed during a large-scale demolition operation organized by the administration in Prabhas Patan, Gir Somnath in Gujarat. Structures constructed on government land were taken down when a Muslim group, which included several women and children, gathered to protest the demolition of a dargah (Islamic shrine).

The group hurled stones at the police, injuring two cops after which a case had been lodged against 100 people in relation to the incident. According to reports, the administration has been engaged in a significant demolition drive targeting illegal constructions in Somnath for an extended time.

Several unauthorized residential and commercial structures have been targeted as part of this initiative. On 10th November, around 11 properties consisting of shops, houses and places of worship, were scheduled for removal in proximity to the Somnath Temple near Shankha Circle within the jurisdiction of the Prabhas Patan police station.

Police teams arrived in the evening to take action on the unauthorized Hazrat Rangeela Shah Dargah following the removal of most of the encroachment. A group of women dressed in burqas alongside children then entered the area, resulting in a confrontation with the police. The latter tried to calm the crowd several times but they surged forward and assaulted the officials by hurling stones.

Dargah (Source: Bhaskar)

The police employed a mild lathi charge and discharged three tear gas shells as the mob dispersed and order was restored. However, Inspector MV Patel from Prabhas Patan and Head Constable Kuldeep Singh Parmar of the Surveillance Squad sustained wounds. The police reported that a group of 80 to 100 individuals had thrown stones at them.

The police commenced an operation to locate the perpetrators and informed that the situation is presently under control. A case has been filed against the assailants as well as against the women who were part of the group.

Case against 17 identified individuals, mob of 100

The police have implemented strict measures in response to the incident. An offense had been recorded against a mob of 100 individuals which included 17 identified persons. The action transpired after the review of video evidence of the assault. The police have lodged an FIR (First Information Report) against the perpetrators, on a complaint filed by Deputy Mamlatdar Ranjit Singh Kher. OpIndia has a copy of the FIR.

A criminal case has been launched under sections 189(2), 189(3), 189(5), 190, 191(2), 195(1), 125 and 121(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with section 135 of the Gujarat Police Act, at the Prabhas Patan police station. The primary suspects are Rafiq Gadhia, Shabana Haroon Motia, Razia Hussain Kalwat, Saqil alias Bhoro, Ghulam Sabir Doctor, Rajusha Hinfsha Banwa, Shakeel alias Gali Kalwat, Obama, Nadeem Kalwania, Ayub Badam, Rafiq alias Bodu, Sabbir Maulana, Sufian Kalwania, Mayuddin Hanif Amad Mahmad Mahida, Sabbir Iqbal and Sabbir Haroon.

OpIndia spoke with the complainant

The complainant in an interview with OpIndia disclosed that his team under police protection had arrived to take down the dargah, situated on government property. However, a throng of local women, children and men began to create a disturbance and obstruct the operation, despite police efforts to talk to them. Afterward, they started to pelt stones when the police made further attempts to pacify them.

Kher detailed that the police resorted to a lathi charge and utilized tear gas shells after the attack escalated. He also noted that the authorities demolished the illegal dargah as the situation was stabilized. He confirmed that further action is underway and the demolition campaign will continue.

Bulldozer action (Source: Bhaskar)

The authorities promptly began a combing operation to capture the culprits. However, it has been reported that the majority of them have absconded and the police are actively pursuing them. The administration has unequivocally stated that the ongoing process of eliminating illegal encroachments from government property would proceed and strict steps are going to be enforced against people who take the law into their own hands and assault personnel.

Majority students from Kashmir, professors in Islamic attire and scared Hindu women: What OpIndia found during visit to Al Falah University

केशव मालान
-
0
Majority students from Kashmir, professors in Islamic attire and scared Hindu women: What OpIndia found during visit to Al Falah University

Ever since the car explosion near Red Fort in Delhi, the Al Falah University in Haryana’s Faridabad has come under scanner. On 11th November, a search operation was conducted and three people were arrested by the police. More than 800 police officers were deployed since morning. It is reported that around 60 university staff members have been questioned so far.

Mosques and maulanas in nearby villages are also being investigated. So far, four Imams have also been questioned by the police.

Two doctors linked to the Al Falah University arrested

The police have arrested two doctors linked to the Al Falah University over recovery of explosives and weapons from their possession. It is also suspected that the two doctors, Dr. Muzammil Shakeel Ganaie and his girlfriend Dr. Shaheen Shahid, are involved in the Delhi car blast. Notably, several doctors have been arrested in the last two weeks for running a Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terror module.

It is reported that the university provided shelter to white-collar terrorists while one Dr Umar Nabi Bhatt led this module. This means that unsuspecting individuals were used as weapons.

At present, agencies are monitoring every activity. The WhatsApp messages of the four imams arrested have been deleted. This suggests that these doctors may have connections to those imams.

The Many Faces of Al Falah University: What OpIndia ground team found

When the OpIndia team arrived at Al Falah University, they were stopped at the gate. But somehow, concealing their identities, they managed to sneak inside. They saw that the campus was so large that no other private university in Delhi NCR had such a large campus. The campus was bustling with activity, with students thronging around, and teachers were seen moving about.

From a distance, it seemed as if these people were unaware of the incident involving Dr. Muzammil, who used to teach students there.

Some people were performing Namaz in an open space inside the campus. The security guard flatly stated that he did not know any Muzammil. He said, “People have been discussing it since morning, but we don’t know.”

As the OpIndia team moved forward, they saw a large hospital. Scores of medical college students, dressed in burqas, were coming and going. There was a constant chatter about Dr. Muzammil and Dr. Shaheen.

Our team tried to speak with some of them, but they refused to discuss anything about Dr. Muzammil and Dr. Shaheen. Some simply expressed their shock at the news, having seen Dr. Muzammil as a doctor and professor.

A medical student said, “It is a big surprise for us because Dr. Muzammil used to teach us.”

An assistant Hindu professor, speaking to OpIndia on condition of anonymity, said, “Most of the students here are from Jammu and Kashmir and western Uttar Pradesh. Muslims are in majority. There are also students from other religions. When I first started teaching at the university, I was concerned about my safety and found the atmosphere a bit strange. I noticed that many professors came to campus with long beards and dressed in Muslim attire. Dr. Muzammil was one of them, often arriving on campus on a yellow bike. Dr. Muzammil had been teaching there for many years.”

Meanwhile, a female professor also explained that everyone is shocked by Dr. Shaheen’s arrest, as she used to spend the most time with them. Students and professors are talking to their respective groups, but are not discussing the issue with strangers.

Notably, Dr. Shaheen is the woman whose car was found with illegal weapons. She was teaching at this university. According to the professor, Dr. Shaheen previously drove a Swift car, but recently purchased a new Brezza.

After visiting Al Falah University, the OpIndia team realized two important things: first, illegal activities are prevalent there, and second, the university is a hub frequented by outsiders.

A short distance to the left of the university is Muzammil’s hideout, where 360 ​​kilograms of ammonium nitrate was recovered. About two kilometres to the right of the university is the village of Fatehpur Taga, where a small house stands. Dr. Muzammil didn’t live in this house, but rented it. He had stored approximately 2,500 kilograms of ammonium nitrate there.

Jihadi professor Dr. Muzammil had two hideouts on either side of the university. OpIndia’s team also visited and inspected the sites.

The Al Falah University in Faridabad, adjacent to Delhi, had become a safe haven for terrorists. Besides being safe, the teachers were also unable to spot the terrorists while they were busy working.

It was established in 2014 by the Al-Falah Charitable Trust. It was accredited through the Haryana Private Universities (Amendment) Act, 2014. The UGC granted its recognition in 2015. The university is spread over approximately 70 acres. The Al Falah Hospital, which provides free medical treatment, has 650 beds. The university also houses hostels, staff and doctor quarters, a library, and labs.

The Al Falah University is run by the Al Falah Charitable Trust. Its president is Jawad Ahmed Siddiqui. The current registrar is Professor Dr. Mohammad Parvez. The question now arises as to whether the university management was aware of the actions of its professors. The university management had deliberately kept these doctors here to ensure that no one could notice them or that these doctors used the university as a shelter.

PM Modi inaugurates Punatsangchhu-II Hydroelectric Project: How India is supporting development projects in Bhutan. All you need to know

Shraddha Pandey
-
0
PM Modi inaugurates Punatsangchhu-II Hydroelectric Project: How India is supporting development projects in Bhutan. All you need to know

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on a 2-day state visit to Bhutan. During his historic visit, the Prime Minister inaugurated the Punatsangchhu-II Hydroelectric Project developed jointly by the Indian and the Bhutanese governments.

Taking to X, PM Modi shared some pictures from the inauguration ceremony and wrote, “Fuelling development, deepening friendship and driving sustainability! Energy cooperation remains a key pillar of the India-Bhutan partnership. Today, we inaugurated the Punatsangchhu-II Hydropower Project. This is an enduring symbol of friendship between our countries.”

The 1,020 MW hydel project was inaugurated by PM Modi alongside Bhutan’s king Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuk, marking a key milestone in India-Bhutan relations. The Punatsangchhu-II Hydroelectric Project was fully commissioned in August this year, with its final unit synchronised on 27th August 2025 in the presence of Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay and Indian Ambassador to Bhutan Sudhakar Dalela.

India-Bhutan cementing ties with cooperation in the energy sector: How India funded and built the Punatsangchhu-II Hydroelectric Project

Located on the Punatsangchhu River in western Bhutan, the Punatsangchhu-II Hydel project is a run-of-the-river facility designed to generate sustainable and clean hydropower without large-scale water storage. This venture was jointly initiated by the Government of India and the Government of Bhutan in December 2010. The Punatsangchhu-II Hydroelectric Project is a cornerstone of India-Bhutan ties since the 1960s.

India provided for the complete funding of this hydel project, totalling up to Rs 7,500 crore. This included a 30% grant or a non-repayable aid to cover the initial capital costs as well as a 70% concessional loan from the Government of India. The arrangement was such to ensure favourable repayment terms for the brotherly nation of Bhutan. This is intended to enhance Bhutan’s power capacity by 40% and bolster regional energy security.

Executed as a turnkey joint venture, India’s public sector undertaking (PSU) National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) was the lead developer on the Indian side in this project. The Indian technical team and engineers collaborated with Bhutan’s Druk Green Power Corporation (DGPC) for design, construction and operations. The Indian team provided the DGPC with their expertise in geological surveys, dam construction and turbine installations in order to address the challenges of the Himalayan terrain, including seismic activity and landslides.

The project was backed by Indian engineering consultancies, Water and Power Consultancy Services for engineering and design and the National Institute of Rock Mechanics for modelling and geotechnical engineering services.

While the construction began in 2011, the project faced delays due to geological issues such as sinkholes and unstable foundations; the Indian and Bhutanese teams mitigated these challenges and delays by coming up with advanced engineering solutions. India also extended environmental safeguards to ensure minimal ecological disruption in the sensitive Punakha-Wangdue valley.

As per a Bhutanese media report published this September, the project has generated over 2,160 million units of clean energy to date, which is approximately Nu 6bn in revenue, sold domestically.

The Panatsangchhu-II HEP is not the only hydel project India has aided Bhutan in. India has financed and executed six major joint hydropower projects in Bhutan, contributing to more than 3,400 MW of Bhutan’s installed capacity. India is also the top importer of Bhutan’s power. India has, over the years, supported Bhutan in the Chhukha HEP, Kuricchu HEP, Tala HEP, Mangdecchu HEP, Panatsangchhu HEP and the planned Kholongchhu HEP through joint ventures. In 2021, the Mangdechhu HEP won the ‘Best International Dam’ award.

India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy transforming Bhutan

Historically, India has supported Bhutan’s development and been an inextricable contributor in the Himalayan kingdom’s growth story. For the 13th five-year plan of Bhutan, which runs from 2024 to 2029, the Government of India has committed a support of Rs. 10,000 crores. This covers project-tied assistance, high-impact community development projects, the economic stimulus program, and a program grant. This quantum constitutes a 100% increase over the 12th five-year plan figures, the Indian External Affairs Ministry said in September this year.

Notably, India and Bhutan have good trade relations as well. In 2024-25, India exported goods worth $1.3 billion to Bhutan. These included petroleum products, iron and steel, grains and smartphones. Meanwhile, Bhutan exported products totalling $513 million, including electricity and construction materials.

In addition to hydroelectric projects, India has also helped Bhutan bolster its railway infrastructure. During his address at an event in Thimphu on 11th November, PM Modi highlighted his government’s decision taken in September this year to link the cities of Gelephu and Samtse in Bhutan to India’s Kokrajhar in Assam and Banarhat in West Bengal. The project is expected to be completed within three years.

The railway project, worth Rs 4,033, includes the construction of two lines totalling 89 km will slash travel time and boost the Gelephu Mindfulness City, being supported by the Indian government.

“Completion of this project will provide easier access for the industries here and Bhutanese farmers to India’s vast market,” PM Modi said.

India is also contributing to the ongoing enhancements to the Thimphu-Phuentsholing highway and border roads. Besides, New Delhi is aiding smart city initiatives in Thimphu and Paro. India has allocated Rs 1,113 crore for these and other projects pertaining to healthcare and urban infrastructure.

In addition, India also provides scholarships to over a thousand Bhutanese students in India via the Nehru-Wangchuk and Ambassador’s Scholarship. To further make the lives of Bhutanese people easier, India is expanding its game-changer Unified Payment Interface (UPI) facility in Bhutan.

Suicide bomb blast in Islamabad hours after Delhi terror attack: Is it Field Marshal Asim Munir’s false flag operation to avert Operation Sindoor 2.0?

Jinit Jain
-
0
Suicide bomb blast in Islamabad hours after Delhi terror attack: Is it Field Marshal Asim Munir’s false flag operation to avert Operation Sindoor 2.0?

They say lightning never strikes the same place twice. But terrorism, especially the Pakistani variety, has a knack for doing exactly that, and then blaming the weather.

Just hours after the Delhi Red Fort car bombing that killed nine innocent people, a powerful explosion ripped through the Islamabad Judicial Complex, killing twelve. Two capitals, two blasts, two “coincidences” and one unmistakable puppeteer in Rawalpindi’s GHQ.

Field Marshal Asim Munir, the self-promoted Caesar of a collapsing state, seems to have pressed the panic button. Because if India’s Operation Sindoor 2.0 is indeed loading, then the Islamabad blast may well have been Pakistan’s version of “self-harm to gain sympathy.”

Too timed to be a coincidence

The timeline of events itself reads like a script, not chance. The Red Fort blast occurred on Monday evening around 6:45 pm. Barely 18 hours later, at 12:39 pm on Tuesday, the Islamabad court complex was rocked by a suicide explosion. Both attacks featured suicide bombers, both used ANFO-based explosives, and both unfolded precisely as India began dismantling a sprawling Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) doctor module spanning Faridabad, Kashmir, and Uttar Pradesh.

Security personnel near the site of blast in Delhi (Source: The Hindu)

This isn’t coincidence. This is choreography. For decades, Pakistan’s deep state has mastered the art of blowing up its own backyard whenever it needs to play the victim card. And right now, Asim Munir desperately needs to look like a victim. Because after the Delhi blast, every intelligence intercept, every seized device, every investigation trail and explosives point directly toward Pakistan-backed JeM, a terror outfit Munir has coddled for years as his personal proxy. In fact, JeM terrorists killed in Operation Sindoor were granted state funeral, attended by senior Pakistani Army officials.

And with Operation Sindoor 2.0 now a matter of when, not if, Islamabad needed a diversion, fast.

Munir’s nightmare: Operation Sindoor 2.0

To understand Munir’s desperation, one must revisit May 2025, when India’s Operation Sindoor shredded Pakistan’s terror ecosystem in one precise, calculated stroke. The operation flattened nine terror camps, ten military bases, and multiple radar stations. It also humiliated the Pakistan Air Force when India’s BrahMos-A cruise missiles struck the Nur Khan airbase, just kilometres away from Pakistan’s nuclear command.

Indian missile damages Pakistan’s Nur Khan airbase (Source: Maxar)

That single strike did more than destroy infrastructure; it destroyed illusions. It told Pakistan, in no uncertain terms: Your nukes no longer shield your terror.

The fallout was catastrophic for Islamabad. The military establishment broke down under pressure and begged Washington for a ceasefire. India, confident and resolute, refused to even acknowledge Pakistan’s calls for “de-escalation.” This is why Pakistan has bent over itself to talk up US President Donald Trump. The inordinate charm offensive of the US President is an admission that Operation Sindoor was a roaring success that brought Pakistan on its knees.

Asim Munir, the man who presided over this disaster, survived politically only by promoting himself to Field Marshal, hoping a new rank could erase old failures. But now, after the Delhi Red Fort attack, clearly linked to JeM operatives under ISI supervision, Munir knows India’s response could be swift and unforgiving.

And this time, it won’t stop at Balakot or Bahawalpur.

From doctors to bombers: JeM link to Faridabad terror module and Delhi blast

The Delhi attack wasn’t random. It was the last convulsion of a dying network, triggered in panic after Indian agencies busted a major JeM-linked module in Faridabad. This wasn’t a ragtag group of radicals; it was an organised network of doctors, academics, and medical professionals radicalised into running a terror logistics chain.

At the heart of this network was Jamaat-ul-Mominaat, the newly launched women’s wing of JeM, headed by Masood Azhar’s sister, Sadia Azhar, from Bahawalpur. Her key India operative, Dr Shaheena Shahid from Lucknow, was arrested with arms and ammonium nitrate. Her handler, Dr Muzammil Shakeel, a Pulwama native teaching at Al Falah University, Faridabad, was caught with over 2,900 kg of explosive material.

When one of their top operatives, Umar Mohammad, realised the network had been compromised, he allegedly detonated the car bomb near Delhi’s Red Fort, killing nine people. It was a suicidal act of defiance, but it also exposed the depth of Pakistan’s reach inside India’s urban centres.

Umar Mohammad (L) responsible for Delhi blast

So much for the endlessly repeated myth that “terror has no religion.”

The Islamabad blast: A false flag in broad daylight

Now comes the twist that even Pakistani journalists are whispering about. Hours after the Red Fort explosion, a suicide bomber “mysteriously” appeared outside Islamabad’s judicial complex, lingered for nearly ten minutes, and then blew himself up near a police van. The explosion killed lawyers, policemen, and bystanders, the perfect optics to paint Pakistan as a “victim of terrorism.”

No terror group has claimed responsibility. Instead, Pakistan has rushed to blame India and Afghanistan for the attack, even before a preliminary investigation was ordered. How convenient.

Even Afghanistan’s media hinted that the Islamabad bombing could be “a calculated attempt by Pakistan’s establishment to deflect Indian retaliation under Operation Sindoor 2.0.” When Kabul calls you out for manufacturing terror, you know the credibility crisis has reached new depths.

Pakistan’s military has a long, bloody tradition of sacrificing its own citizens to shape international perception. From the Peshawar school massacre to the Quetta police academy bombing, the ISI has repeatedly looked away, or worse, looked within, when terror suited its strategic calculus.

The Islamabad court attack fits this pattern perfectly. It also offers Pakistan and Munir an opportunity to cast themselves as victims of terror, and fool the West like it has been for over three decades now.

Munir’s gamble at self-harm to buy time

At its core, the Islamabad blast appears to be a suicidal diversion, a way for Asim Munir to buy time. Having seen Pakistan’s air defences shredded and key bases reduced to rubble during Operation Sindoor, Munir knows another Indian strike could cripple what remains of his command. His economy is imploding, his army demoralised, and his Western patrons indifferent.

So he resorts to the old ISI playbook: stage a domestic tragedy, blame “non-state actors,” and rush to Western embassies claiming shared victimhood. The hope is that Washington, London, or Doha will once again pressure India to show restraint, giving Pakistan’s military just enough breathing room to rebuild its terror infrastructure.

But the world has changed. India has aptly demonstrated in the last few months that it will no longer allow western capitals to dictate its strategic decisions.

Meanwhile, the Afghan Taliban, once a junior partner in Pakistan’s jihad project, now openly accuse Islamabad of “state-manufactured chaos.”

When Afghanistan, of all countries, calls you out for exporting terror, you know the mask has slipped.

A country addicted to its own terror

Pakistan today resembles an arsonist trapped in his own burning house, still clutching the matchbox, still insisting someone else lit the fire. The Islamabad blast wasn’t a terror attack in the traditional sense; it was a political message, broadcast in blood.

By detonating a bomb in his own capital, Asim Munir sent a signal to India, the West, and his domestic rivals: “If I burn, you burn with me.” It’s the language of desperation, the same one spoken by dictators on their last night in power.

But this time, the smoke won’t confuse anyone. India has moved on from appeasement and ambiguity. Operation Sindoor wasn’t a one-time retaliation. It was a doctrine, a standing policy that every act of cross-border terror will be avenged, and every mastermind made to pay. PM Modi echoed similar sentiments a day after the Delhi blast that claimed 9 lives thus far. During his visit to neighboring Bhutan, PM Modi vowed that perpetrators of the ghastly attack will be brought to justice.

Munir’s flirtation with terror boomerangs

Asim Munir thought a suicide blast outside Islamabad’s court would win him sympathy and strategic pause. Instead, he has earned suspicion abroad and contempt at home. His attempt to fake victimhood has only confirmed the truth that Pakistan’s greatest terrorist doesn’t hide in caves; he wears stars on his shoulders.

If India does proceed with Operation Sindoor 2.0, it won’t merely be retaliation; it will be a reckoning. Because for too long, Pakistan has exported jihad and called it strategy. This time, like many times in the past, it has used terrorism to inflict self-harm and play victimhood, even if it meant bombing its own capital and killing its own citizens.

The Islamabad bombing is therefore not a terror attack, much less sponsored by India or Afghanistan, against Pakistan. It is Asim Munir engineering a false-flag operation to project victimhood and attempt to thwart India’s Operation Sindoor 2.0. But like India has demonstrated it writ large, it won’t allow, whether it is a megalomaniac narcissist or a tinpot military despot, can dictate the timing and terms of India’s response.

Masood Azhar’s sister, whose husband was killed in Operation Sindoor strikes, sought terrorist arrested in UP to lead JeM women’s wing in India: Delhi blast’s Pakistan link explained

Rukma Rathore
-
0
Masood Azhar’s sister, whose husband was killed in Operation Sindoor strikes, sought terrorist arrested in UP to lead JeM women’s wing in India: Delhi blast’s Pakistan link explained

India has been stunned by the disclosure of extensive terror plots over the last few days. A significant explosion took place close to Lal Qila metro station and near the Red Fort in Delhi, triggered by a Hyundai i20 loaded with ammonium nitrate fuel oil alongside a detonator on the evening of 10th November. It led to the death of at least 13 people and injured 20 others.

Meanwhile, three doctors have been arrested in connection with the large cache of explosives found in Faridabad, Haryana, busting a Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed terror module. Notably, one of the accused has been identified as Dr Shaheena Shahid from Lucknow’s Lal Bagh. She was taken into custody after an assault rifle was discovered in her vehicle.

According to Delhi Police sources, she was in charge of establishing Jamaat ul-Mominaat, which is the women’s wing of the terror group, in India and recruiting new members, according to NDTV. She received command from Sadia Azhar, who presides over this faction in the neighbouring country. The latter is the sister of the JeM founder Muhammad Masood Azhar Alvi, alias Masood Azhar.

Shaheena is a member of Al-Falah University and had a close relationship with Dr Muzammil Shakeel (Muzammil Ganaie), also known as Musaib, a Kashmiri doctor who was nabbed after nearly 3,000 kilograms of explosives and combustible materials were found in his two rented rooms in Faridabad. Her Maruti Suzuki Swift was used to hide an assault rifle, a handgun, and ammunition.

Another part of the module, named Dr Adil Ahmed Rather, from whose locker an AK-47 rifle and other ammunition had earlier been seized by authorities at the Government Medical College (GMC) in Anantnag, was also caught in Uttar Pradesh.

Importantly, the blast in Delhi transpired merely hours after the interstate anti-terrorism operation by Jammu and Kashmir Police, which resulted in the arrest of these alleged medical professionals. Sources disclosed that after Shakeel and Rather were captured, Dr Umar Mohammed, who was also a member of their terror team, became alarmed and set off the explosion. The car used in the blast was also registered in Haryana’s Gurugram North.

Thus, there appear to be two connections between JeM and the Delhi Red Fort car explosion. The doctors were associated with the terror outfit, and Shaheena not only collaborated closely with other perpetrators who were storing massive explosives for a nefarious terror conspiracy in the country, but she was also appointed as the India head of the women’s division of the dreaded outfit.

JeM tries to revive itself after serious blow during “Operation Sindoor”

JeM suffered a devastating blow during “Operation Sindoor” and increased its attempts to rebuild its presence, particularly in India, and announced the creation of Jamaat-ul-Mominaat, its first-ever women’s branch, which is an integral element of the revival plan. The new unit’s recruitment reportedly started on 8th October at Markaz Usman-o-Ali in Bahawalpur, Pakistan.

Sadia was handed over the reins of the women’s brigade. Her husband, Yusuf Azhar, was the terrorist behind the Kandahar hijacking and was neutralised by Indian forces during “Operation Sindoor” on 7th May. Masood Azhar faced the loss of at least 10 family members and close associates because of India’s aggressive military actions. The family was “torn into pieces” in the missile strikes on the group’s headquarters in Bahawalpur, according to JeM commander Ilyas Kashmiri.

The reports outlined that the group is now recruiting economically disadvantaged women who are enrolled in its centres in Bahawalpur, Karachi, Muzaffarabad, Kotli, Haripur, and Mansehra, as well as the wives of JeM commanders.

Unravelling of terror conspiracies

A huge explosion happened near Delhi’s Red Fort at 6:52 pm on 10th November, metres away from the prominent Gauri Shankar Mandir and the Jain temple in Chandni Chowk. Vehicles in the vicinity caught fire as a result of the explosion. Many people died, and the wounded were taken to Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital. Investigation teams and the fire department rushed to the scene within minutes of the explosion.

Home Minister Amit Shah arrived at the site and the hospital. He also talked to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who wanted to review the situation. Shah had a high-level meeting at midnight and declared that the issue is being probed from every angle.

Notably, an enormous explosives stash was recovered in Faridabad barely eight hours prior to the tragic event, including approximately 2,900 kilograms of explosives, detonators, assault guns, and communication equipment. A cleric from Mewat, Rather and Shakeel, who are two doctors from Al-Falah Hospital, and several individuals connected to JeM were among those arrested. Officials referred to the network as a “medical-terror nexus,” where skilled individuals offered safe havens and logistical assistance for the production of IEDs.

Rather and Shakeel were arrested, after which Umar panicked and executed the attack in Delhi, based on an unnamed officer. All three doctors are from Kashmir. Rather has even been charged with posting JeM posters. The Delhi Police have now launched a case under the Bharatiya Nyay Samhita, the Explosives Act, and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), as raids are underway at multiple locations.

On the other hand, a larger investigation is also underway into a network of doctors in Jammu and Kashmir who might have connections to the terrorist organisations Jaish-e-Mohammed and Ghazwat-ul-Hind. Police sources stated that more recoveries and arrests are expected as security personnel locate the network that smuggles and stores explosives and weapons outside of the Union Territory.

Nithari case prime accused Surendra Koli acquitted of all charges after nearly 2 decades: Read why the cases fell apart and both Pandher and Koli walked free

Shriti Sagar
-
0
Nithari case prime accused Surendra Koli acquitted of all charges after nearly 2 decades: Read why the cases fell apart and both Pandher and Koli walked free

After almost 19 years, the Supreme Court has acquitted Surendra Koli, the last convict in the infamous Nithari serial killings cases, bringing an end to one of India’s most chilling and controversial criminal cases. The top court set aside his 2011 conviction for rape and murder, ordering his immediate release from jail, where he has spent nearly two decades.

A three-judge bench comprising Chief Justice BR Gavai, Justice Surya Kant, and Justice Vikram Nath delivered the landmark judgment on Tuesday (11th November), allowing Koli’s curative petition. The bench ruled that his conviction and death sentence were based on serious procedural and evidentiary flaws.

“The petitioner be released forthwith, if not wanted in any other case. The jail superintendent is to be informed of this judgment immediately,” Justice Vikram Nath announced in open court while reading out the order. The Supreme Court also directed that Koli be released immediately unless he is wanted in connection with any other pending case.

Surendra koli (Image via IANS)

Koli, who faced trial in 13 separate cases related to the 2005-2007 Nithari killings, had earlier been acquitted in 12 of them. This judgment concerned his final remaining conviction under charges of murder, rape, and destruction of evidence.

Court cites grave errors in earlier judgments

During the hearing, Koli’s lawyer, Advocate Yug Mohit Chaudhry, highlighted how this was only the second case in Indian judicial history where the Supreme Court had acquitted a person on death row after dismissing their review petition. “Since Your Lordships began monitoring death sentence cases, this is the second such case, the first involved five denotified tribals, and now a domestic servant. He was taken twice to the gallows and brought back,” Chaudhry said, thanking the court for its intervention.

The court observed that “both the trial court and the Allahabad High Court had committed serious errors while convicting Koli. It found that crucial evidence was not collected or presented properly, and that many parts of the investigation failed to meet legal standards.”

Notably, the Supreme Court had reserved its judgment on the curative petition on 7th October. The petition challenged Koli’s conviction in one case while pointing out that the same evidence had been rejected as unreliable in the other 12 cases where he was acquitted.

Earlier observations from the Supreme Court

This decision follows the court’s July 2025 ruling, where it upheld Koli’s acquittal in the 2006 Nithari serial killings case, rejecting 14 appeals filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Uttar Pradesh government. In that judgment, the court had said there was “no perversity” in the Allahabad High Court’s decision that overturned Koli’s conviction.

The bench had then noted that the prosecution had failed to establish a complete and credible chain of circumstantial evidence. It also found that there was clear non-compliance with Section 27 of the Indian Evidence Act, which deals with how evidence discovered based on an accused’s statement can be admitted in court.

The judges observed that the recovery of human skulls and belongings of the victims near the house of Koli’s employer, businessman Moninder Singh Pandher, could not be legally accepted as evidence. 

The reason: the recoveries were made from an open and public drain, and there was no properly recorded disclosure statement from Koli that led to the discovery.

“The recoveries made in this case are not from an exclusive place accessible only to the accused. They were made from an open and public place. In absence of any recorded disclosure statement by the accused leading to the recovery, such evidence is inadmissible,” the court had said.

CBI’s argument and Supreme Court’s response

Earlier, in July 2024, the Supreme Court had issued notice on petitions filed by the CBI and Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who argued that Koli’s acts were “really gruesome” and deserving of the death penalty. However, the bench later found that the prosecution’s case lacked legally admissible evidence, and the investigation was riddled with gaps.

Similarly, in May 2024, the apex court also heard a plea from Pappu Lal, the father of one of the victim girls, challenging the Allahabad High Court’s decision that acquitted both Pandher and Koli. Despite the emotional nature of the case, the court emphasized that convictions cannot stand without solid and lawful evidence.

High Court’s strong criticism of CBI and police

When the Allahabad High Court overturned the convictions in October 2023, it had delivered a scathing criticism of both the Uttar Pradesh Police and the CBI. The court said that the investigation was “casual, perfunctory, and poorly handled.” It noted that the entire focus of the case had been wrongfully directed toward Koli, a poor domestic servant, while other possible leads were ignored.

The High Court even raised the possibility that organ trade might have been the real motive behind the killings, suggesting that the police and the CBI completely failed to probe that angle. Calling it a “betrayal of public trust,” the court said that the investigating agencies seemed determined to find an easy scapegoat rather than uncover the truth.

It also pointed out inconsistencies in the recovery of the victims’ remains, noting that the police appeared to have prior knowledge of the locations before any official disclosure by the accused. The court concluded that basic investigative norms had been violated and that the evidence used to implicate Koli and Pandher could not be trusted.

The High Court had then set aside both convictions and ordered their release, saying that a fair trial had been denied to the accused and that the prosecution failed to prove their guilt beyond reasonable doubt.

The court held that the case against Koli and Pandher too, was built primarily on the alleged confession by Koli, which was found to be unsubstantiable on scrutiny. The ‘confession’ lacked independent corroboration from forensic reports, eyewitness, or material evidence. Glaring procedural flaws in extracting the ‘confession’, even through tutoring and coercion were made evident as the cases progressed. Basically, the case was built on the thin ice of an alleged ‘confession’, that failed to sustain the rigorous legal scrutiny that is done in cases involving capital punishment.

The Allahabad HC had also noted that the police exhibited gross negligence by ignoring over 30 missing children reports for two years before the remains were found, treating them casually instead of launching timely probes. The CBI investigation too, was devoid of any forensic link between the victims and the accused.

Background: The Nithari killings that shocked India

The Nithari killings, which came to light in 2007, stunned the nation with their sheer depravity. The discovery of skeletal remains of several children in a drain behind a Noida house where Koli worked as a domestic aide exposed a series of murders that shocked the public conscience. The house belonged to businessman Moninder Singh Pandher, who was also named as an accused in multiple charge sheets.

Following widespread public outrage, the probe was transferred to the CBI, which alleged that Koli lured young girls to the house, sexually assaulted and killed them, and mutilated their bodies. He was also accused of cannibalism. 

Between 2005 and 2007, 16 cases of rape and murder were registered. The prosecution claimed to have recovered the weapon used to dismember the victims’ bodies. The trial court convicted Koli in 13 cases, while Pandher, initially convicted in two, was later acquitted in all. After the Supreme Court’s 2011 ruling, Koli was left with one surviving conviction.

Faridabad’s Al-Falah University under scanner after Delhi blast and 2,900 kg explosive seizure: Read about the university and who runs it

Anurag
-
0
Faridabad’s Al-Falah University under scanner after Delhi blast and 2,900 kg explosive seizure: Read about the university and who runs it

On 10th November, Faridabad’s Al-Falah University came under the scanner after police unearthed a massive cache of explosives and arrested multiple doctors associated with it. Hours after the arrest, Delhi was shaken by a high-intensity blast near the Red Fort killing 8, and more links to the university came to the fore as the investigation into the explosion progressed. Doctors linked to the university reportedly have connections with Pakistan-backed groups. As per media reports, the private institute has Gulf-linked funding and is spread across a 70-acre campus.

Al-Falah University: A closer look at the institution under probe

Al-Falah University was established in 2014. It was recognised by the University Grants Commission (UGC) in 2015. The university operates under the Al-Falah Charitable Trust. It offers undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programmes in engineering, management, commerce, law, education, humanities, and medical sciences. It also runs a 650-bed charitable hospital under its School of Medical Sciences and Research Centre.

NAAC has accredited the university with an “A” Grade. It has separate hostels for boys and girls, a staff residential complex, and attracts students from India and abroad.

Who runs Al-Falah University?

The founder and Chancellor of Al-Falah University is Jawad Ahmed Siddiqui. Prof (Dr) Bhupinder Kaur Anand is serving as the Vice Chancellor of the university, and Dr Mohd Parvez is serving as the Registrar.

The Chancellor of Al-Falah University is Jawad Ahmed Siddiqui, while Prof (Dr) Bhupinder Kaur Anand serves as Vice Chancellor and Dr Mohd Parvez as Registrar. Despite the gravity of the allegations, the university has failed to issue any public statement.

University’s name surfaces in one of the biggest terror hauls

During a joint operation by the Jammu and Kashmir Police and Haryana Police, around 2,900 kg of explosive-making material, assault rifles, pistols, detonators, and advanced bomb components were seized. The trail led straight to Al-Falah University, where Kashmiri medical professor Dr Muzamil Shakeel had been teaching for over three years. Shakeel was one of the arrested doctors of the “white-collar terror module” busted yesterday. He was arrested from Dhauj, Faridabad.

In a statement, police said that they recovered the explosive material from the rented accommodation of Shakeel, located just a few hundred metres from the university. The cache included ammonium nitrate, AK-series rifles, 20 timers, batteries, and remote-control systems. Though ammonium nitrate is widely used as a fertiliser, it can also be used to make deadly bombs. On 11th November, investigators raided the university campus and are probing whether its laboratories were used to synthesise or test explosive materials such as RDX.

Speaking to the media, Police Commissioner of Faridabad, Satendra Kumar Gupta, said the size of the haul points to a “large-scale terror preparation”. He added that a forensic audit of university laboratories and chemical storage is underway.

Multiple arrests deepen suspicion of academic network misuse

So far, eight people have been arrested, including three medical professionals linked to the university, Dr Muzamil Shakeel, Dr Adeel Ahmed Rathar, and Dr Shaheen Shahid. Among these, Shaheen is believed to be a close associate of Shakeel and was reportedly tasked to setup Indian chapter of Jaish-e-Mohammed women’s wing, Jamaat ul-Mominaat. These three doctors are suspected of providing logistical support to terror outfits like Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind (AGuH).

According to media reports, unnamed police sources said the group operated as part of a “white-collar terror module”. These individuals embedded themselves in professional and educational institutions to evade detection. Several staff and doctors have been detained for questioning, and a police team remains stationed at the university campus. The NIA has also joined the probe to trace foreign funding links.

Credibility and consistency over confusion: PM Modi keeps up with his scheduled Bhutan visit after the Delhi blast. Here is why the trip was not postponed or cancelled

Divyansh Tiwari
-
0
Credibility and consistency over confusion: PM Modi keeps up with his scheduled Bhutan visit after the Delhi blast. Here is why the trip was not postponed or cancelled

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s November 11-12, 2025, visit to Bhutan added even more significance, considering the fact that the PM proceeded with his commitments even after the blast in Delhi the previous evening. The journey started less than a day after a devastating blast near Delhi’s famous Red Fort left at least ten people dead and numerous others injured. Every move made by the nation’s leadership is closely examined at times of national crises. A closer look finds a cautious, statesman like strategy that strikes a balance between crisis response and the demands of Indian foreign policy and the country’s long-term security objectives, despite the fact that some have questioned the logic of departing for a foreign trip so soon. 

The immediate aftermath of the Delhi blast

A huge explosion in a car ripped across a busy crossroads near Red Fort Metro Station in the heart of Delhi on the evening of November 10, 2025, causing loss of life, panic, and heightened vigilance throughout the capital and adjacent regions. In addition to offering his condolences to the victims, Prime Minister Modi reassured the country that relief and investigative measures were in progress. In order to ensure the deployment of top security and forensic agencies, such as the National inquiry Agency (NIA) and the National Security Guard (NSG), to manage both the inquiry and public safety, he promptly reviewed the situation with Home Minister Amit Shah and other officials.

History demonstrates that sudden, crisis-driven shifts in statecraft can occasionally give foes more confidence to test a country’s resolve. Modi showed that the shock or disarray of an attack will not take precedence over India’s primary foreign policy interests by moving forward with the Bhutan visit. In the neighbourhood, where China and Pakistan closely watch India’s capacity to handle pressure on several fronts, this is vital. A modest yet effective deterrent is to show steadiness rather than panic.

Policy paralysis trap: Stability amid shock

Many anticipated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would postpone or cancel his planned trip to Bhutan after learning of the blast in Delhi. However, he boarded his aircraft as scheduled early the following morning. This may have appeared disconnected to some, but it was actually a planned crisis leadership exercise that avoided what experts in international decision-making refer to as “policy paralysis by shock.” 

Shock is the initial period of confusion that follows an abrupt, high-impact event, one that impairs analytical clarity and freezes institutional reflexes, in the study of crisis behaviour. According to Thomas Meszaros and Laurent Danet, the “brutal confrontation with unprecedented problems” that occurs when decision-making units face a surprising occurrence causes confusion, which disrupts both analysis and response mechanisms. This immobility shows itself as confused message, overreaction, or delay, all of which convey weakness and encourage attackers to take advantage of you.

According to the Meszaros-Danet framework, shock is the abrupt, visceral jolt that impairs normal cognition, whereas crisis is a process of rupture that can change a system. Such trauma causes the brain to bypass logical processes and enter what the authors refer to as “psychic sideration,” which is a paralysis of thought and behavior. This results in policy paralysis at the national level, a time of hesitancy during which political institutions stagnate rather than change. 

Historical examples demonstrate how this psychological burden causes societies to crumble. The United States first encountered a “strategic and tactical vacuum” following the September 11 attacks before putting together a cohesive response. Later in Iraq, policy overreach resulted from the shock’s immobilization of institutions and distortion of judgment. In a similar vein, India’s leadership descended into introspective caution during the 1962 Sino-Indian War and hesitated for years to project power outside of its boundaries. The consequences of allowing emotional confusion to rule statecraft are evident in each of these instances.

For Modi, it was crucial to show that governance could continue in the face of shock. The visit to Bhutan served as a symbolic reminder that, despite internal unrest, India would continue to fulfill its diplomatic and regional obligations. This is referred to as “managing the entry into crisis” in crisis theory, which aims to stabilize the system before panic strikes. Leaders that take decisive action during the entry period stop uncertainty from spreading through markets, bureaucracy, and public opinion.

Strategic continuity as a counter to shock 

According to Meszaros and Danet, a pleasant shock can actually control a crisis by serving as a “psychic anti-inflammatory” that prevents escalation. It translates to “a leader can use decisive, stabilizing acts to reset the national mood” in politics. Modi’s trip to Bhutan served as just that kind of counter-shock. It broke the cycle of dread and conjecture that the attack aimed to establish and replaced it with a picture of order and normalcy.

There are powerful parallels in history. 

  • During the 1940 London Blitz, Winston Churchill famously carried on with his public schedule, strolling through damaged areas to demonstrate that government was still in place.
  • In response to Arab Spring demonstrations in 2011, Morocco’s King Mohammed VI shocked onlookers by voluntarily reducing his personal authority and announced constitutional changes. This move “de-escalated the socio-political crisis” and put an end to turmoil.

What if PM Modi had stayed back

The symbolic impact would have been immediate and detrimental if the Prime Minister had delayed his visit. Internationally, it might have been interpreted as India slipping into defensive introspection, domestically, it would have projected anxiety. These signals have historically carried significant strategic costs.

During the 1986 Chernobyl tragedy, the Soviet leadership’s hesitation and quiet damaged their reputation both at home and internationally. India’s delayed national response to the Mumbai serial blasts in 1993 gave the sense of vulnerability, which for years encouraged cross-border networks. Tehran gained confidence and American deterrence in the Gulf was damaged by the United States’ initial uncertainty during the Iran hostage crisis in 1979.  

States that continue to go forward in times of crisis, on the other hand, frequently come out stronger. Despite being taken aback at first, Israel’s leadership during the 1973 Yom Kippur War swiftly switched from shock to counter-action while maintaining strategic initiative. The same idea holds true in diplomacy, a leader’s capacity to multitask under pressure conveys institutional maturity and psychological readiness.

The optics of leadership and logic of deterrence

Credibility in foreign policy is based on consistent behaviour under pressure rather than rhetoric. By moving on with the Bhutan engagement, which is essential to India’s “Neighbourhood First” and “Himalayan Security” policies, Modi demonstrated that overseas outreach and national security management are complementary rather than antagonistic. Bhutan, a crucial buffer state against Chinese advances in Doklam and elsewhere, was also comforted by the judgment that India’s promises are unwavering even in the face of internal upheavals.

According to deterrence theory, such actions bolster a state’s resolve signal, which is the belief that asymmetric provocations cannot influence its decision-making apparatus. On the other hand, by demonstrating how small scale terror can skew India’s strategic schedule, canceling the trip might have inspired the very networks responsible for the explosion. Therefore, Modi’s poise transformed a possible weakness into a declaration of resiliency.   

Leadership under crisis? Modi doctrine comes to play

The literature on crisis management emphasises the significance of “psychological preparation for shock.” The notion that leaders ought to prepare for the disruption of routine and prepare institutions to continue operating in spite of it. India’s governance culture has progressively absorbed this philosophy over the last ten years: from the 2016 surgical strikes to the 2020 Galwan conflict, the focus has been on responding calmly before using force. This pattern is maintained by the visit to Bhutan, which demonstrates that India’s natural response to stress is calmness rather than bewilderment. 

The goal of the Delhi explosion was to create uncertainty, a tactical negative shock that would cause anxiety, diversion, and reluctance in policy. The positive shock that neutralized it was Modi’s decision to travel rather than withdraw. “Shock can have two effects, either it destroys the ability to think and act, or it stimulates the ability to react,” as noted by Meszaros and Danet. Modi’s response obviously fits the latter.

By upholding diplomatic continuity, he averted the appearance of vulnerability, maintained India’s international rhythm, and reiterated that governance must continue even in the face of terror. Such poise is supported by history; from Churchill to Morocco’s reforms to contemporary deterrence theory, the lesson is consistent “states that master shock control their own fate.”  

India-Bhutan ties: Tradition and strategic partnership

Deep mutual trust, a common spiritual tradition, and close proximity are the foundations of India and Bhutan’s long-standing and special relationship. Cooperation on hydropower, trade, cultural exchanges, and defense are characteristics of this collaboration. The landlocked Himalayan nation of Bhutan serves as an essential buffer between China and India. Given Bhutan’s strategic location, India continues to be Bhutan’s most reliable partner, supporting security cooperation and development initiatives.  

Under the radar objectives

Although the official narrative focused on friendship, development, and cultural celebration, the visit was motivated by a number of less obvious but important goals.

  • COUNTERING CHINESE INFLUENCE: In the midst of unsolved border conflicts, China is making more and more diplomatic and infrastructural overtures to Bhutan. Modi’s visit quietly challenges China’s expanding influence in the eastern Himalayas while reiterating India’s security commitment to Bhutan.
  • BORDER SECURITY AND INFRASTRUCTURE: Confidential discussions on bolstering border control through road and surveillance improvements close to sensitive areas, are part of the visit.
  • ECONOMIC INTERDEPENDENCE: The goal of India’s investments in Bhutan’s hydropower projects and new cross-border train connections is to increase economic reliance while lowering Bhutan’s vulnerability to Chinese influence via alternate trade channels.
  • SOFT POWER PROJECTION: Modi’s prayers and involvement in Bhutan’s festivities, such as the King’s birthday, will strengthen India’s cultural links and use soft power to sway public and elite opinion in Bhutan in favor of India. 
  • INTELLIGENCE AND CRISIS PREPAREDNESS: Closed-door intelligence sharing and coordination against potential border or internal security threats are ongoing, with such visits facilitating updates and joint planning. 
  • WATER AND CLIMATE COOPERATION: Discussions about climate resilience and shared water resource management highlight India’s position as Bhutan’s favored partner in vital environmental areas.  

Geopolitical implications

At this crucial point, India’s diplomatic relations with Bhutan must be viewed in the context of the larger South Asian and Himalayan chessboard. Bhutan continues to be a key component of India’s strategy to protect its vital northeastern border and thwart China’s territorial aspirations. The high-profile opening of significant infrastructure projects and cultural diplomacy were calculated actions that strengthened Bhutan’s dependence on India for stable political and economic development. India’s message to adversaries that the country’s strategic interests and external commitments will not be compromised due to terrorist provocations was emphasised by the visit’s timing.

Conclusion

Following the bombing in Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a well-considered decision to visit Bhutan, demonstrating statesmanship in a challenging security situation. In addition to advancing vital infrastructure and energy cooperation, the tour will strengthen India’s steadfast friendship with Bhutan and demonstrate the country’s resilience. Modi shows that India’s obligations, both local and foreign, remain solid pillars during upheaval by striking a balance between immediate crisis response and long-term diplomatic priorities. In addition to strengthening India-Bhutan relations, this visit will highlight India’s larger regional goal of fostering stability and fending off outside pressures by unwavering cooperation and strategic vision. 

During this time, PM Modi’s leadership blended strategic vision with empathy. He publicly expressed sympathy for the families of those killed in the explosion. At the same time, he advanced a significant diplomatic visit, demonstrating India’s faith in its institutions and unwavering commitment to national security and foreign policy. 

1...108109110...7,597Page 109 of 7,597