Air India is back in trouble, this time due to grave safety concerns of crew fatigue and inadequate training of staff. India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has threatened to take serious action against the airline after it found several violations, as seen by Reuters in a report.
The airline has been accused of non-compliance with safety regulations on multiple occasions this year, as well as last year, in four government notifications issued on 23rd July. The notifications came close to a week after one of Air India’s Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft crashed in Ahmedabad, killing 260 passengers, the world’s worst air disaster in the last decade.
The airline had disclosed on its last report. But although the revelation was voluntary, the DGCA was upset. It stated that the issues are no new development and that it has been warning the airline for many years. The notices indicate a series of 29 infractions ranging from not providing proper rest to pilots, to failing to meet simulator training requirements to taking international flights with a sparse number of cabin crew.
In one instance, Air India’s pilots received no special training before a flight to a high-altitude airport, which could be risky if mishandled.
“Despite repeated warning and enforcement action of non-compliance in the past, systemic issues related to compliance monitoring, crew planning, and training governance remain unresolved,” said one of the notices.
The airline responded by saying the notices were about safety issues it had disclosed on its own over the past year. “We remain committed to the safety of our crew and passengers,” the airline said in a statement.
Air India has come under severe scrutiny since the crash at Ahmedabad. A Preliminary report by AAIB on the accident showed some disturbing facts from within the cockpit.
This new warning by the DGCA only serves to enhance the mounting fears regarding how seriously Air India is approaching safety, not only for its passengers, but for its crew.
On 22nd July, in a landmark ruling that aimed at protecting families from the abuse of criminal law in matrimonial disputes, the Supreme Court of India upheld and enforced the Allahabad High Court’s 2022 guidelines on arrests under Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The apex court, while deciding the case of Shivangi Bansal vs Sahib Bansal, approved a mandatory two-month “cooling-off” period before any arrest can be made under the said provision.
The judgment was authored by a two-judge bench comprising Chief Justice of India B R Gavai and Justice Augustine George Masih. The bench invoked Article 142 of the Constitution to dissolve the marriage between the parties and quashed all civil and criminal proceedings filed against each other. The bench also made a scathing comment on how the misuse of Section 498A can destroy the very sanctity of marriage.
OpIndia accessed both Supreme Court and the Allahabad High Court judgments.
Background of the case – 7 years and 25 cases
The parties, Shivangi and Sahib Bansal, got married in December 2015. They got separated in October 2018. Following the separation, around 25 cases were filed across Delhi and Uttar Pradesh, ranging from FIRs under Sections 498A, 406, 376, and 307 IPC to domestic violence, custody, defamation, and tax notices. While both parties alleged harassment, the husband spent 109 days in jail and his father 103 days due to complaints filed by the wife.
In the court, the couple finally agreed to settle all disputes amicably. As per the terms of the settlement, Shivangi will retain custody of their daughter, forego alimony and child maintenance, and transfer disputed land to the husband. The Supreme Court directed both parties to withdraw all existing litigation and barred them from filing further cases related to the matter.
Furthermore, the wife, who is serving as an IPS officer, has been ordered to issue an unconditional apology, both in print and on social media, for the trauma caused to her husband’s family.
SC confirms no arrest for 2 months in 498A cases
At the heart of the judgment, the Supreme Court endorsed the Allahabad High Court’s guidelines from the 13th June 2022 judgment. The guidelines were framed by Justice Rahul Chaturvedi to prevent the automatic arrests of husbands and in-laws in dowry-related cases without prior scrutiny. The apex court ruled that these directions must now be followed across the country and circulated to all District Judges and Police Chiefs by the Registrar General of the Allahabad High Court within a month.
A detailed look at the Allahabad HC’s guidelines
In the June 2022 judgment, the Allahabad High Court had highlighted the growing trend of false and exaggerated complaints under Section 498A IPC and called for a structured approach to prevent misuse while preserving the rights of genuine victims.
The court issued a blanket restriction on arrests for a minimum of two months after the FIR is registered. During this time, the complaint must be forwarded to a specially constituted Family Welfare Committee (FWC) in each district. These committees will be set up under the District Legal Services Authority and must consist of at least three members including retired judicial officers, trained mediators and social workers or legal professionals. Notably, any of the members cannot have any connection to the parties involved.
Source: Allahabad High Court
The FWCs are expected to engage with both parties and four elder members from each side. They will then submit a report within two months. Their findings are not to be used as evidence but will guide the Magistrate and police in deciding if coercive action is warranted. The police must refrain from making any arrest before receiving the report. Furthermore, the Magistrate has been directed to defer any proceedings under Section 498A IPC until the report is available.
Source: Allahabad High Court
In addition, all investigating officers handling such cases are to be specially trained in matrimonial dispute resolution and are expected to act with “utmost sincerity and transparency”.
Source: Allahabad High Court
Where a settlement is achieved, the matter may be closed at the district court level, and necessary support including logistics and coordination may be facilitated by the District Legal Services Authority.
Source: Allahabad High Court
Most importantly, these safeguards only apply to cases involving Section 498A IPC or related non-heinous offences where the maximum punishment does not exceed 10 years. These safeguards will not involve cases under Sections like 307 or where grievous injury is reported.
Settlement terms and constitutional powers invoked
In the judgment, the apex court invoked its powers under Article 142 of the Constitution to dissolve the marriage between the parties. Custody of the minor daughter was granted to the mother. The father received supervised visitation rights. The court permitted him to meet the child on the first Sunday of every month at her school, and during half of the vacation period, provided no obstruction was created by either side.
The court has ordered the wife, who is serving in the IPS, to bear all expenses of the child and waived her claim to any maintenance or alimony. The Supreme Court also quashed a prior order directing the husband to pay ₹1.5 lakh per month in child maintenance.
A piece of land in Aligarh owned by the wife’s mother was agreed to be transferred to the husband by way of gift. Though litigation over the property is pending, the court recorded that the husband would assume all future responsibilities, costs, and legal proceedings relating to it. The parties also agreed to de-link from each other’s personal and professional lives, with a binding undertaking not to interfere in any future matter, directly or indirectly.
The court also ordered the wife and her parents to tender an unconditional apology to the husband and the family. The apology must be published in one English and one Hindi national newspaper. Furthermore, it has to be shared across all major social media platforms. The apex court clarified that this apology was not an admission of liability and could not be used against her in any future forum. The court provided a fixed format to the wife to be published in papers and social media.
The court quashed all criminal and civil proceedings between parties and restrained them from filing any further cases in future directly or through proxies. Social media posts, interviews and statements by either side must be deleted, and both parties were directed to refrain from making disparaging public remarks going forward.
Finally, the court issued a stern direction prohibiting the wife from misusing her official position as an IPS officer or utilising the influence of her colleagues or superiors against the husband or his family. Any breach of the agreed conditions would amount to contempt of court.
Observations on the misuse of matrimonial laws
The apex court took note of the impact of false criminal cases, observing that prolonged litigation causes deep emotional trauma and destroys the possibility of amicable reconciliation. It observed that arrest and harassment under Section 498A, without proper scrutiny, can “evaporate the traditional fragrance of our age-old institution of marriage.”
Though the judgment provides recourse for aggrieved families, the court made it clear that it does not dilute the legal remedies available to genuine victims of dowry harassment or domestic abuse. The emphasis is on procedural fairness, not denial of justice.
A major multi-state conversion gang affiliated with a Pakistani terror outfits was busted after two girls from Agra fell into its trap. The First Information Report (FIR) filed by their father uncovered the international syndicate. 13 individuals including the mastermind had been apprehended across 6 states. They were receiving financial support from multiple countries such as America, London, Canada, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The bewildered father recently narrated his horrific experience to the Dainik Bhaskar. “My 33-year-old daughter, Deepali, was preparing to pursue a PhD in 2021 when she encountered Saima, a resident of Udhampur, who was also known as Khushboo. After meeting her Deepali’s behaviour began to change and told me to stop performing puja-paath,” he revealed.
He felt suspicious and tried to communicate her concerns but she limited her interactions with him. “She started to isolate herself in the room with her younger sister, Khushi, throughout the day. She would discuss another religion (Islam) with her. A few days later, Khushi also started to be influenced by her and on 24th March both of them left our home,” the man unveield.
The missing girls were located in Bengal and returned to their families. It was later disclosed that Deepali changed her name to “Amina” and Khushi took on the name “Zoya.” The father stated, “Had the police not traveled to Kolkata, the daughters would have been married.” The police successfully rescued the two girls from Kolkata who had been reported missing from the Sadar area of Agra and brought them back to their family.
He conveyed, “Deepali was preparing for her PhD in Agra when her friend Saima lured her to her home under the guise of taking her to Kashmir. She manipulated my daughter who started to say odd things upen her return. She developed a sense of aversion towards Hindu traditions.”
“Whenever there was a puja at home, she would refrain from participating. She would spend all day with her younger sister Khushi. Additionally, she began to share the advantages of performing namaz and wearing a hijab,” he added. The two sisters shared a room. Over time, her words and mindset began to influence his younger daughter. They pair conspired to run away from home and suddenly disappeared in March. Afterward, the authorities filed a kidnapping report on his complaint on 4th March.
What did the authorities disclose
A senior officer from Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terror Squad (ATS), who is part of the investigation, informed, “On 24th March, the family members had left their home and exploiting situation, Deepali traveled to Delhi with Khushi. She met Mohammad Ibrahim there and he sent both girls to Bihar and then Kolkata.
Deepali and Khushi resided in a Muslim neighborhood in Kolkata. There they met Ayesha who manipulated them to the extent that they consented to become Mujahida (female jihadi). The sisters embraced Islam through a cleric and adopted new names. The police examined their mobile phones and found out that they were in communication with Abdul Rehman.
He would engage in daily conversations with them via chat and encouragd them to convert other females. During their questioning, the cops uncovered a photograph on their social media profile in which one of them was seen holding an AK-47.
Agra Police Commissioner Deepak Kumar also informed the media about the names and former identities of the accused. Goa native Ayesha was previously known as SB Krishna and her spouse, Ali Hasan from Kolkata, was formerly Shekhar Roy. He was employed at the Kolkata court and served as a legal advisor for gang members.
Abu Rehman from Dehradun was once Rupendra Baghel while Mohammad Ali from Jaipur was a Hindu named Piyush Singh Panwar. Likewise, Mustafa of Delhi was Manoj and Mohammad Ibrahim from Kolkata was Reet Banik. All accused were interrogated individually, revealing that this gang operated in states such as Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Bengal and Goa.
Abdul Rehman and his links with Zakir Naik
Abdul Rehman who converted in 1990 operated a channel titled “The Sunnah” where he produced podcast videos focused on Islamic literature and individuals associated with the Muslim faith. The channel features 1000 uploaded videos and garnered approximately 1.7 lakh subscribers. The Agra Police have discovered large quantity of literature pertaining to conversion at his house.
It included books authored by Zakir Naik and Kaleem Siddiqui regarding conversion. Abdul Rehman himself authored several books on Islam, including “Islam aur Bahujan Sama,” “Terrorism aur Islam” and “Returning Your Trust.” The authorities are probing if has any ties to fugitive Islamist Zakir Naik.
He was associated with Maulana Kaleem Siddiqui of Muzaffarnagar and took control of his gang after he and his campanions were incarcerated, last year. The former was known as “Rehman Chacha” among the members.
The arrested individuals had diverse roles within the network including fundraising, channeling funds, offering legal advice for conversion, obtaining new phones and SIM cards, luring Hindu girls into love traps and drafting legal documents for religious conversion. A secret operation led to their capture by 11 teams of 45 officers.
This gang utilized funds from abroad to recruit young people, especially girls, by enticing them with job offers in Gulf countries. They provided financial support, housing and valuable items to perpetrate their agenda. On 23rd July, UP ATS arrested two more members of the gang in Delhi. Abdullah and Abdul Rahim, sons of Abdul Rahman were involved in supporting his activities. Significant intelligence leads have been discovered on their devices.
After the initial inquiry, the police reported that the gang which is involved in “love jihad” and the radicalization of young Hindu women and men. It operates similarly to Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. There are indications that it has ties to Pakistani terrorist organizations as well. Gang leader Abdul Rehman also known as Mahendra Pal Jadoun and SB Krishna alias Ayesha have converted hundreds of individuals thus far. The two were Hindus before embracing Islam.
Notably, Maulana (Muslim cleric) Kaleem Siddiqui who is already behind bars in a similar case, is the original mind behind the group which also has ties to Popular Front of India (PFI) and Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI).
The DMK government in Tamil Nadu has been accused of using the police department to harass certain leaders. The poloce department recently appealed to the Madras High Court to cancel the anticipatory bail granted by the Chennai Principal District and Sessions Court to Madurai Adheenam Harihara Gnanasambanda Desigar. The advanced bail cancellation pleas were approached before Justice M. Nirmal Kumar on Wednesday, July 23, but the hearing could not be taken up shortage of time.
Tamil Nadu BJP says police department has petitioned court to cancel the anticipatory bail granted to Madurai Aadheenam only to torment the pontiff.
Inspector of Police B. Padmakumari said in the affidavit filed in support of the plea that due to the ‘non-cooperation’ of the pontiff with the investigation, the authorities urged for the cancellation of the anticipatory bail granted to him by the session court.
The FIR was registered under Sections 192 (wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause rioting), 196(1)(a) (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion), 353(1)(b) (statements conducing to public mischief) and 353(2) (making false statements in order to create communal enmity) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) on June 24.
Following this, the police called the pontiff for an inquiry on June 30. However, he asked for 20 days time giving old age and poor health condition. This led to summoning him on July 5 but this time he sought to appear through video call. His plea was soon rejected as the Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) does not permit such a facility for police inquiry.
What does the TN BJP say
BJP president Nainar Nagenthiran, in response to the petition filed by the police department against the cancellation of the anticipatory bail granted to the Madurai Aadheenam, questioned “what issue the DMK regime wished to divert by focusing on the pontiff”?
In the social media post, he said, Or, does the DMK regime plan to garner the votes of some particular communities by causing agony to Hindu pontiffs by taking forward divisive politics? Or, does the DMK government attempt to block spiritual thought in Tamil Nadu by taking up authoritarianism?” “Whatever may be the idea of the Dravidian model government, nationalists would come together to shatter it, and the DMK government must realise this truth.”
Screenshot from X
He further urged the state government to withdraw its petition in court. “The DMK government must give up the practice of insulting Hindu religious leaders and the court’s time by filing such petitions in the court.”
Former BJP state president K Annamalai called the action of the state ‘strongly condemnable’.
The BJP leader further highlights the deteriorating condition of the law and order situation across the state of Tamil Nadu by noting that the pending case of the sexual assault of a child where no arrests have been done yet. “The offender of the crime is yet to be arrested. He stated, the police have no time to question the kidney thieving gang. The police department itself faces a situation of a lack of security due to the DMK persons. “When this is the situation, the DMK regime is enacting drama to satisfy some in the name of secularism by coming up with flimsy reasons to target the pontiff,” he said.
What was the case?
Madurai Adheenam alleged that while en route to a Saiva Siddhanta conference, his car was hit by another vehicle near the Ulundurpet-Salem roundabout, which then fled the scene. At a subsequent press conference, he claimed it was a conspiracy to murder him and suggested a possible link to Pakistan. He also stated that the occupants of the other vehicle wore traditional Muslim caps and had beards. His comments quickly went viral on social media.
However, CCTV footage and the police investigation indicated that Adheenam’s vehicle was overspeeding, and the other car had actually stopped after the collision. Disturbed by these remarks, Chennai-based advocate Rajendran lodged a complaint with the cybercrime police, arguing that such statements could fuel communal tensions. A case was registered, prompting Adheenam to seek anticipatory bail.
On Saturday, the Chennai Principal Sessions Court granted conditional anticipatory bail to the Madurai Adheenam, observing that while his claim of a murder attempt involving Pakistan appeared exaggerated, it did not prima facie amount to hate speech. Judge S. Karthikeyan noted that the Adheenam’s comments lacked a clear intent to incite communal hatred. He also pointed out that the controversy largely stemmed from persistent questioning by media personnel. The court instructed the Chennai Crime Branch to release the Adheenam on bail if arrested or upon his appearance, adding that due to his age above 60, he should not be required to attend any inquiry outside his place of residence.
The Bombay High Court dismissed an interim application filed by Gazi Salauddin Rehmatulla Hoole, alias Pardeshi Baba Trust, which challenged an earlier order of the court directing the demolition of an illegal Dargah in Thane, Maharashtra. The High Court on April 30, 2025, had ordered the demolition of the Dargah, which expanded across 17,610 sq. ft from mere 160 sq. ft., sans the approval of the municipal corporation.
While dismissing the petition, a bench of justices Ajay Gadkari and Kamal Khata said, “We are unable to accept that a mob fury and the mere footfalls of people on a particular piece of land based on an assertion that this is a Dargah can prove that it is a legal structure. This is a classic case of a usurpation of the land, and such a method and for such a usurpation, the Court cannot grant its imprimatur.”
The Supreme Court directed the Trust to avail appropriate legal remedy
The application was filed in pursuance of a Supreme Court order, dated July 17, 2025, that directed the Trust to avail an appropriate legal remedy by approaching the High Court and seeking a recall of its earlier judgment. The Apex Court granted a seven-days status quo on the Dargah, allowing the Trust time to approach the High Court. The Trust had contended before the Supreme Court that the decision of the High Court was flawed because it did not take into consideration the fact that a civil suit filed with respect to the Dargah was dismissed in April 2025. It argued that only 3,600 sq. ft. of the construction was disputed and not the entire 17,610 sq. ft.
A party coming to court must come with clean hands: HC
In the present interim application before the High Court, the applicants claimed that the Dargah existed on the site even before 1982. However, the High Court, in its judgment dated July 9, 2025, rejected the applicants’ claim and said that the land was usurped by the Trust. “In our view, the Applicants have neither paid any consideration for the acquisition of the land nor have they taken any permission for constructing the structure. It is clearly a usurpation of rights based on a mere Notice publication by the Assistant Charity Commissioner. We find no merit in the contention that, by virtue of a Public Notice by the Assistant Charity Commissioner, one can claim ownership of structures and lands and thereby preempt the rightful owners from claiming the right to their property or objecting to illegal constructions being done on their property,” the High Court said.
Slamming the Trustees, the High Court said that the they did not take any permission for any construction at all. “A party coming to a Court must come with clean hands. He must state and produce all facts and documents on record to prove his ownership as well as the permissions taken for the construction of a structure,” the court said.
“Admittedly, there is no permission taken by the Applicants for even a single square foot of construction. Admittedly, the so-called structure has been increased to a humongous structure of more than 20,000 sq. ft. Such a party, in our view, cannot claim any equities. The claim of a structure being a Dargah must be proved by the Applicants in appropriate proceedings before the jurisdictional Civil Court. There is nothing produced to prove that this was a Dargah prior to their being registered as a charitable institution and being the owner of this structure,” the court added.
Applicant must independently prove ownership: HC
Regarding the civil suit relied on by the applicants, the High Court said that the a mere dismissal of a suit filed against the Defendant (current applicant ) does not confirm any right of the Defendant on the structure or the land. “The Applicant must independently prove the right to the structure as well as the land to in order that the Court would direct protection of the structure,” the court said.
The High Court noted that the Joint Civil Judge Senior Division, Thane, held in the suit that the Trust encroached upon the land in question. “The Judgment also clearly shows that the Defendants (current applicant) have failed to prove their title to the suit land either by a conveyance or by adverse possession,” the High Court said. “Interestingly, the Judgment observed that the contention of the Applicants was that the present Writ Petition was regarding a different property and not the same as Dargah. Therefore, the Applicants has himself admitted that the Dargah pointed out in the Government Gazette of the year 1982 is on a different property and not on the property for which the Writ Petition was filed and Orders were passed,” the court added.
The judges also took notice of the fact that the Trustees were granted ample time by the municipal corporation to respond to demolition notices but the they failed to appear for the hearing. The court pointed out that the argument of the Trustees was that a public notice issued by the Charity Commissioner, through which they claimed the ownership of the structure as Darga, was not objected to by anyone. But the Trustees could not produce any evidence to show that they possessed the structure.
“In view of the aforesaid, the structure deserves to be demolished at the earliest and in any event within a period of two weeks from the date of the uploading of this order on the official website of the Bombay High Court,” the court ordered.
Bangladesh is gradually descending into the jaws of Islamism under the watch of ‘chief advisor’ to the interim government, Muhammad Yunus. The situation is so grim that comparisons are being made with the Taliban rule, and genuine fears are being expressed about the country turning into Afghanistan.
On 21st July this year, the ‘Bangladesh Bank’ gave a Talibani farman (diktat) barring female employees from wearing ‘short dresses’, ‘short sleeves’ and ‘leggings’. The directive by the Central Bank of Bangladesh also recommended that women wear headscarves and hijab.
‘Bangladesh Bank’ also warned of disciplinary actions against employees who refuse to adhere to the new guidelines. Within less than a year of the fall of Sheikh Hasina, the Central Bank of Bangladesh has resorted to imposing restrictions on the clothing of women.
The outrageous directive has drawn flak from women groups. Fauzia Moslem, who serves as the President of the Bangladesh Mahila Parishad pointed out, “I’ve never seen such a directive before. But considering everything happening now, it’s not hard to guess why this guideline was introduced.”
“A certain cultural sphere is being shaped, and this directive reflects that effort,” she added. After the Talibani farman of the ‘Bangladesh Bank’ caused a social media stir, the directive was withdrawn on Thursday (24th July).
“When this internal matter came to the notice of the governor, who is currently abroad, through the media, he expressed his anger and instructed that the matter be withdrawn immediately. Hopefully, this circular will not reduce anyone’s freedom of dress code in the office,” the Central Bank of Bangladesh said in a press conference.
New found love for Taliban and plans to turn Bangladesh into Afghanistan
This diktat by ‘Bangladesh Bank’ bore an uncanny resemblance to the orders by the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, restricting women from wearing clothes of their choice.
While the situation in Bangladesh does not look as grim as Afghanistan for now, the new found love for Taliban lays the foundation for more restrictions on women in the upcoming days.
Islamists had previously unleashed havoc on university teachers in Bangladesh by labelling them as ‘anti-hijab.’ The day is not far when women and girls in Bangladesh will be arrested for showing their face in public as is the case in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan.
Earlier this month, an Islamic outfit named ‘Jamaat-Char Monai’ announced its plans to turn Bangladesh into a Sharia-compliant nation like Afghanistan. It also vowed to follow the model implemented by the Taliban regime.
The organisation’s leader Mufti Syed Muhammad Faizul Karim declared, “If govt is formed by winning the national election, the Islamic Movement Bangladesh will introduce Sharia law in the country.”
“The current governance system of Afghanistan will be followed. If we come to power, Hindus will also get rights in Sharia law that we will introduce,” he added.
Declining respect and freedom for women in Bangladeshi society
In April this year, Muslims belonging to the radical outfit ‘Hefazat-e-Islam’ hung the effigy of a woman, stripped and defiled it with shoes to demand the abolishment of the Women Affairs Reform Commission in Bangladesh.
The incident occurred at the campus of the University of Dhaka near the iconic ‘Anti Terrorism Raju Memorial’ sculpture.
In a deleted video shared by Khoborer Kagoj, Muslims were seen assaulting an effigy of a woman, defiling and kicking it and thrashing it with shoes to display their angst. The effigy of the woman was draped in a saree (the kind that Hindu women wear) with its hands tied behind.
In March 2025, a librarian at Dhaka University, identified as Asif Sardar Arnab, sexually harassed a female student. Although he was initially arrested, Asif was quickly released on bail.
He was cheered and greeted with garlands by a radical Muslim mob, aligned with his behaviour. In the meantime, the victim had been subjected to violent threats for speaking out against the accused.
Asif sexually harassed the female student, claiming that her dress did not ‘sufficiently cover’ her breasts. His action was praised by Muslims for enforcing Islamic morality.
Screengrab of the report
In January this year, a Muslim mob laid siege to the Tilakpur High School in Joypurhat district of Bangladesh. The extremists, comprising madrassa students, carried out vandalism to protest against a friendly football match between two women’s teams.
The match was scheduled to take place on 29th January at the playground of the Tilakpur High School between the Joypurhat and Rangpur women’s football teams.
In visuals that have surfaced on social media, the Muslim mob could be seen vandalising the tin fence of the school. Prior to carrying out the attack, they gathered outside the Tilakpur railway station and gave provocative speeches.
Muslims carry out vandalism, destroy tin fence of Tilakpur High School
The mob demanded the cancellation of the women’s football match, alleging non-observance of purdah. Thereafter, the extremists made their way to the Tilakpur High School and unleashed mayhem.
A radical Muslim declared, “I want to warn those who want to earn money by exposing our women. Be careful. Stop all women’s games in the future. If you don’t stop, then we will show our resistance.”
OpIndia had previously reported on the alarming rise of rape cases in Bangladesh under the watch of Muhammad Yunus. In the meantime, Islamists who committed heinous crimes against women were freed by the top court of the country.
Muhammad Yunus tired to appease Islamic extremists
Bangladesh witnessed a drastic rise in Islamism after Yunus came to power. He first revoked the ban on the radical Islamist outfit ‘Jamaat-e-Islami.’
Thereafter, he released the leader of the radical outfit ‘Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT)’ Muhammad Jasimuddin Rahmani.
At the same time, Muhammad Yunus downplayed the targeted attacks on the Hindu community by violent Muslim mobs. He has gone on record from lamenting about attacks on Hindus to saying that the claims of atrocities are ‘exaggerated‘.
In that way, the controversial US asset was able to placate Islamic extremists. Given that Awami Legaue was against Islamism, the interim government first banned its student wing ‘Chhatra League,’ and then the parent party.
Under the watch of Muhammad Yunus, Bangladesh saw a drastic rise in vigilante Muslim mobs, which unleashed violence under the pretext of protecting the tenets of Islam.
These mobs were largely unorganised and called themselves ‘Tawhidi Janata (meaning Revolutionary People).’ They came under the spotlight over acts of vandalism and harassment of people.
The Yunus regime introduced new textbooks for primary and secondary students, which falsely claimed that the first declaration of independence of Bangladesh was made by Ziaur Rehman (a favourite icon of Muslim hardliners in Bangladesh).
The interim government also appointed a Hizb ut-Tahrir terrorist named Mohammad Azaz as the administrator for the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC).
The situation had become so grim that Bangladeshi ambassador to Morocco Mohammad Harun Al Rashid was forced to slam the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government in a scathing Facebook post in March 2025.
The Supreme Court on Thursday, 24th July, sharply criticised the Karnataka High Court for granting bail to Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa in the kidnap and murder case of 33-year-old Renukaswamy. The top court said the High Court’s decision looked like a “perverse exercise of judicial power.”
This is the second time in just a week that the Supreme Court has taken issue with the High Court’s handling of this case. Last week, it pointed out that the High Court had failed to properly use its discretion while granting bail to the actor.
A bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan expressed deep concern over the High Court’s December 2024 bail order. The bench told the lawyer for actress Pavithra Gowda, the main accused, that they would not repeat the same mistake. “We are not here to decide if someone is guilty or not,” said an upset Justice Pardiwala. “But don’t you think the High Court’s bail order sounded more like an acquittal?” he asked.
The Supreme Court judges were unhappy with the way the High Court explained its reasons for giving bail. One particular reason that “the grounds of arrest were not provided” seemed especially troubling to the bench. “We are very sorry to say this,” Justice Pardiwala said, “but does the High Court use the same language in other murder cases too?”
Calling the bail order “prima facie a perverse exercise of judicial power,” the bench added, “If a trial court judge makes such a mistake, it can be accepted. But a High Court judge?”
The Supreme Court was also not satisfied with the state government’s handling of the case. When the court was informed that the trial would now take place daily, Justice Pardiwala questioned why this case was being given special treatment. “There are so many people in jail who have been waiting for years for their trials to begin,” he said.
The state later told the court that the trial would be completed within six months.
Background of the case
Darshan and 13 others are facing charges of kidnapping, torturing, and murdering Renukaswamy in June last year. Police say the victim had sent obscene messages to Pavithra Gowda, who is a friend of Darshan. He was then allegedly abducted, beaten, and murdered by the actor’s associates. His body was later found dumped in a stormwater drain in Bengaluru on 9th June, 2024.
According to investigators, Darshan paid Rs 50 lakh to those involved in the crime. Out of that, Rs 30 lakh reportedly went to a man named Pradosh (alias Pawan), who is believed to have handled the entire operation, including the murder and body disposal. Two other men, Nikhil and Keshavamurthy, were allegedly paid Rs 5 lakh each for their roles. Another Rs 5 lakh was reportedly promised to the families of Raghavendra and Karthik, who gave false confessions and went to jail in place of Darshan and Pavithra.
Earlier this year, public outrage erupted when Darshan skipped a court hearing, citing back pain. But just hours later, he was seen attending a movie screening. The photographs last year also generated outrage, with Darshan and others lounging in lounge chairs, smoking in the jail garden.
The much-awaited landmark India-UK Free Trade Agreement was signed on Thursday, in the presence of Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Keir Starmer, providing greater access to goods and services between the two countries.
PM Modi is on a two-day visit to the UK.
“A landmark deal with India means jobs, investment and growth here in the UK. It creates thousands of British jobs, unlocks new opportunities for businesses and puts money in the pockets of working people. That’s our Plan for Change in action,” UK PM Starmer wrote on X ahead of the signing ceremony.
On May 6, Prime Minister Modi and his UK counterpart, Keir Starmer, announced the successful conclusion of a mutually beneficial India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA). This forward-looking Agreement is aligned with India’s vision of Viksit Bharat 2047 and complements the growth aspirations of both countries.
The idea behind the trade deal is to eliminate or reduce tariffs on imports and exports between the two nations. This should make Indian products competitive in the UK and vice versa.
Both nations desire to increase their trade to USD 120 billion by 2030.
The FTA is expected to boost key sectors such as textiles, leather, footwear, sports goods and toys, marine products, gems and jewellery, engineering goods, auto parts and engines, and organic chemicals.
“The FTA ensures comprehensive market access for goods, across all sectors, covering all of India’s export interests. India will gain from tariff elimination on about 99% of the tariff lines covering almost 100 per cent of the trade value offering huge opportunities for increase in the bilateral trade between India and the UK,” India’s Commerce and Industry Ministry had said in its release on May 6.
Today, the UK government said India’s average tariff on UK products will drop from 15 per cent to 3 per cent under India-UK FTA.
The UK statement asserted that British companies selling products to India — from soft drinks and cosmetics to cars and medical devices — will find it easier to sell to the Indian market.
Further, British whisky producers will benefit from tariffs slashed in half, reduced immediately from 150 per cent to 75 per cent and then dropped even further to 40 per cent over the next ten years – giving the UK an advantage over international competitors in reaching the Indian market, the UK statement noted.
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
US President Donald Trump has called for eschewing “radical globalism” pursued by some of the country’s firms, including tech giants like Google, Meta and Microsoft, among others, to “stop building factories” and “hiring workers” from countries including India.
“For too long, much of our tech industry pursued a radical globalism that left millions of Americans feeling distrustful and betrayed. And you know that,” Trump said.
“Many of our largest tech companies have reaped the blessings of American freedom while building their factories in China, hiring workers in India, and slashing profits in Ireland. You know that. All the while dismissing and even censoring their fellow citizens right here at home,” Trump said ahead of unveiling his administration’s “AI Action Plan.”
He said this in his address to the All-In Podcast and Hill & Valley Forum AI Summit in Washington, DC on Wednesday (local time) Washington, DC.
Trump signed three new executive orders: expediting permitting for AI infrastructure, boosting exports of US-developed AI, and banning federal procurement of AI systems with political or ideological bias.
During his remarks at the AI Summit, Trump urged US tech companies to be “all in for America.”
“We want you to put America first. You have to do that. That’s all we ask. That’s all we ask to partner with our tech geniuses and achieving this vision. Today, we’re releasing the White House AI action plan. Big stuff,” Trump said.
The US President said that in a few months, “Meta, Amazon, Google, Microsoft are all investing $320 billion dollars or more in data centers and AI infrastructure this year” adding that Nvidia has committed $500 billion over the next four years.
“For decades, we had leaders who spent their time focused on building up foreign nations. Under the Trump administration, we are going to have leaders who are going to build up our nation. This colossal investment in AI infrastructure and many other industries for that matter such as automobiles and so many other things will also create thousands and thousands of great paying jobs. the kind of jobs we want, including lots of blue collar jobs,” Trump said.
Taking aim at his predecessor Joe Biden, Trump said, “The last administration was obsessed with imposing restrictions on AI, including extreme restrictions on its exports.”
This he said “alienated American partners and drove even our friends into the arms of China and other countries,” Trump said noting that he had upon assuming office “repealed the so-called Biden diffusion rule,” which crippled American AI exports.
Further he said,” We created the digital age, and now we are leading the world into the golden age.
Indeed, the golden age of America. With your help, that golden age will be built by American workers. It will be powered by American energy. It will be run on American technology, improved by American artificial intelligence.”
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
India’s Intelligence Bureau (IB) is preparing to tackle the increasing menace of illegal Rohingya infiltration, particularly at the eastern frontier with Bangladesh. For the first time, the organisation is going all out to recruit young professionals who speak the Rohingya language. They will be recruited as Security Assistants and deployed in Kolkata, where the problem is fast becoming serious.
As per the report, the Ministry of Home Affairs has initiated a major recruitment process, calling for applications for almost 5,000 Security Assistant positions (4,987 to be precise). They are under the Subsidiary Intelligence Bureau (SIB) in 37 centres in the nation.
From Trivandrum to Jammu and Kashmir and from Kolkata to Jaipur, the IB is searching for youth who speak the language of the region.
For the Kolkata unit alone, the agency has 298 vacancies it wants to recruit. These aspirants should be familiar with at least one among these languages – Bengali, Nepali, Bhutani, Urdu, Santhali, Sylheti, or Rohingya.
Why Rohingya language is important now
The reason why IB wants individuals with knowledge of Rohingya is self-evident: numerous Rohingya migrants are entering India from Bangladesh through West Bengal. The migrants predominantly use Rohingya, a language that is not commonly known in India. To interrogate them or interview them, security agencies require individuals who have knowledge of their language and culture.
The authorities hope that by appointing such candidates, they will be able to enhance the communication process during interrogation and also trace illegal activity more efficiently.
How the selection will work
The online application process for this recruitment will begin on Saturday, 26th July 2025. Applicants can complete the application process online by visiting the official website www.mha.gov.in. The last date to submit the form is August 17, 2025.
The selection procedure will involve an internet-based test, and those who clear it will be appointed at a Level-3 (Group C Central Service) scale with a basic pay of ₹21,700 to ₹69,100.
This is a great opportunity for the youth who not only wish to have a secure government job but also want to serve the nation’s internal security.
Rising alarm over Rohingya infiltration
International agencies have sounded alarms through recent reports. According to the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) that in just 18 months, almost 1.5 lakh Rohingyas have escaped Myanmar and sought refuge in Bangladesh. Bangladesh itself has more than 10 lakh Rohingyas settled in refugee camps such as Cox’s Bazar, and now many are attempting to cross illegally into Indian states such as West Bengal, Assam, and Tripura that share open borders with Bangladesh.
The matter worsens with reports alleging that Pakistan’s intelligence agency ISI and Bangladesh-based extremist Islamic groups are attempting to recruit and train some of these refugees. The objective, according to some reports, is to utilize them against Myanmar’s military regime and possibly even to conduct disruptive operations in India as well.
A timely and strategic move
With the very serious national security implications involved, IB’s move to recruit Rohingya-speaking security assistants is being regarded as a wise and imperative one. It’s not merely a matter of staffing jobs, it’s about preparing oneself to handle an increasing threat that needs linguistic and cultural familiarity.
By employing locals who will be able to fill this gap, the IB plans to improve its on-ground presence and monitor illegal activities taking place along the borders more closely.
