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Naga organisations in Manipur object to India-Myanmar border fencing, demand restoration of FMR: Read how this open border has been fuelling violence and narcotics trade

Chandrani Das
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Naga organisations in Manipur object to India-Myanmar border fencing, demand restoration of FMR: Read how this open border has been fuelling violence and narcotics trade

In a significant step towards protecting the border of the nation, India has stepped up to work on fencing the long 1,643 km porous border with Myanmar. The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) will complete this project in phases over the next decade.

Over Rs 20,000 crore will be spent on the fence itself, and an additional Rs 11,000 crore on the construction of over 60 border roads, which will take place in this ambitious project. For the effective management of the India-Myanmar border, as well as ensuring the fencing in the north-east region, over 1,500 km of fencing, which includes 300 km of electric fencing, will be deployed.

Due to the ongoing ethnic violence between the Kuki-Zo and Meitei communities for a long time, and the signs of no normalcy in the specific region of Manipur have led to come up with this action has been taken. The violence has led to the deaths of over 250 people in total in the region.

The security has discovered that over 60,000 people have been displaced internally, and less than half of the around 6,000 weapons looted in the state. The vulnerable condition in the state amid the fighting between the military and armed opposition subsequent to the coup in February 2021, has also led to over 31,000 people fleeing and seeking refuge in India.

“Myanmar’s ongoing instability has further aggravated the situation, with a surge in smuggling, human trafficking, and movement of armed infiltrators. Drugs worth Rs 1,125 crore, for instance, have been seized along the border in the last six-seven months,” a source said.

Communities in other states like Manipur, Mizoram, and Arunachal Pradesh, which shared their boundaries with Myanmar, have opposed the proposal of a fence system. They also have shown opposition to the scrapping of the Free Movement Regime (FMR). The FMR allowed people residing along the border to venture 16 km into each other’s territory without such visas, earlier this year. Apex Kuki bodies, for instance, say the twin steps “threaten to infringe upon the cultural, traditional and historical rights of indigenous communities”.

Some critics argue that the expensive fencing initiative could create difficulties for communities with shared ethnic and cultural ties across the border, potentially disrupting connectivity, trade, and interpersonal relationships.

However, defence and security officials maintain that the fence is not meant to block civilian movement or break cultural and familial bonds between people on either side. “Plans are underway to install a network of gates equipped with biometric systems along the fence to enable cross-border movement while maintaining security,” said another source. These access points will be established in coordination with local communities.

The primary goal of the fence is to control the movement of armed groups and prevent smuggling of weapons, drugs, human trafficking, and illegal immigration, the source added. The successful completion of a 10-km stretch of fencing in Moreh, Manipur, is being cited as evidence of the project’s effectiveness in enhancing both security and trade regulation. “This initiative will also help streamline legal trade activities, bringing economic benefits to local populations while curbing the negative effects of illicit trade,” he said.

Several Naga organisations in Manipur, which include the United Naga Council, All Naga Students Association, Naga Women’s Union, and Naga People’s Movement for Human Rights South, submitted the petition through the Manipur governor through Ajay Kumar Bhalla. In fact, they urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to halt the fencing of the India-Myanmar border and to restore the free movement regime (FMR) within twenty days.

The Naga civil organisation has set several forms of protest, “including picketing of government offices in Naga-inhabited areas have been undertaken along with protest rallies in Naga-inhabited hill districts, in the way to express a strong resentment against the abrogation of the FMR and the ongoing border fencing construction along the Indo-Myanmar border.  

Previously, border tension has been witnessed, which has included conflict and clashes between the two communities. Last year, in July 2023, the heavily armed militants started to set buildings on fire. Soon, the uprising was settled by the state police after the people were cleared. Kuki militants arrived and opened fire.

The incident saw extensive looting and arson, and many private dwellings, including that of a journalist, were set on fire. The place was reportedly given to the people of the Meitei community who had escaped the area due to previous violence.

It was assumed that the attack was caused by the neighbouring country, Myanmar, formerly known as Burma. The probe was launched, which held four to five people for interrogation.

More than 700 illegal immigrants have reportedly entered from Myanmar on the Indian side and orders have been given to deport them. “Now, there are illegal migrants from Myanmar. 718 of them that the Assam Rifles have informed the Chandel Police and the Manipur Police. They have said that 718 fresh illegal migrants from Myanmar have come. The Manipur government has asked the Assam Rifles to deport them. This is a separate development,” unveiled Wasbir Hussain, a senior journalist.

He further continued, “On the other side of Moreh is the Burmese town of Tamu that is connected by an India-Myanmar friendship bridge and where Indians and Myanmarese can come and go within a distance of about 10 to 20 kilometres. There are no real documents necessary. Just an entry at the gate. You are allowed to go inside Tamu and come back. This is the situation in the border town.”

“There are a lot of Tamils in Moreh. There are a lot of Kukis. There are a lot of Meiteis of course. The Meities were attacked during the first wave of violence and they fled the town. They are in the relief camps in the Imphal Valley,” he mentioned.

Some north eastern state that share boundaries with Myanmar, like Mizoram, was also seen as an emerging major route for drug trafficking from Myanmar. Reportedly, the state provides a route for smuggling of Yaba tablets (methamphetamine or meth) and other synthetic drugs to not just the northeastern region. It was observed that the drug smuggling is benefiting some terrorist groups in Myanmar.  

Following this issue, the NGOs in Mizoram claimed for long border fence that the state shares with Myanmar to be  fenced as drugs worth US dollar 136,526 were seized in February-March this year.

Jharkhand’s 400-year-old twin Palamu forts to be restored, built by tribal Chero kings who fought against Mughals and destroyed by the British to crush freedom movement

Rukma Rathore
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Jharkhand’s 400-year-old twin Palamu forts to be restored, built by tribal Chero kings who fought against Mughals and destroyed by the British to crush freedom movement

In a significant decision, the long-awaited restoration and conservation efforts at the iconic twin forts in Palamau Tiger Reserve of Jharkhand are poised to commence soon. The renovation of the 400-year-old Mughal-era structures, which were constructed by the tribal Chero monarchs of Palamu, has already been the subject of a thorough project report.

Currently, the forts are in terrible shape with the enormous buildings slowly disintegrating into rubble. The interiors are filthy with parts of the walls in dangerous conditions. The landmark development put an end to a wait of more than two decades that was characterised by problems with forest clearance, bureaucratic hold-ups and Maoist terror.

Palamu ruins (Source: Peepul Tree)

Palamau Tiger Reserve (PTR) Deputy Director, Prajesh Kant Jena informed that a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the preservation of the forts has been produced. It is pending a final examination by Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) agencies.

The agencies under the ASI will start the process of requesting tenders for the repair and restoration of the forts after the Building Construction Department has verified the report prepared by the Indian Trust for Rural Heritage and Development. State ITRHD head Shree Deo Singh reported that the new fort occupies 11.5 acres while the old fort spans 18 acres.

It was decided to start the tendering process and hand over the contract to a company with previous experience in developing archaeological sites, at a recent high-level meeting.

The meeting was chaired by state Tourism Minister Sudivya Kumar and attended by Finance Minister Radha Krishna Kishore and secretaries of the tourism and forest departments, according to an official release. According to the statement, the project is expected to cost between ₹40 and ₹50 crore.

Jena stated, “It’s a dilapidated building of medieval architecture, built in 1628 and it needs technical intervention. In 2005 and 2011, proposals had come and ASI had visited the place, but somehow, it could not take off.” He affirmed that the project’s foundation has been laid.

“All hurdles have been cleared and all stakeholders have given their go-ahead to the restoration project. Once the tender is finalised, the restoration work will begin,” he pointed out and added, “Now, they have to find out a proper party or agency which can do justice to this cultural heritage.”

Jena and his team started a comics-based campaign to raise awareness of the architectural beauty and historic value of the buldings, in 2024. The project was reportedly approved by the state government in 2005, but it never started because of multiple obstacles, including forest clearance because the sites are under PTR’s purview in the Latehar district.

The Chero rulers

According to the Archaeological Survey of India’s book “The Chero of Palamau,” the Chero governed Palamu, starting in 1613 CE (Common Era). Their original home was the Rohtasgarh fort in Bihar but over the course of several centuries, they moved to Palamu and relocated in the areas of Shahabad, Saran, Champaran, Muzaffarpur and Palamu in Bihar and Jharkhand.

The area was ruled by the Mughals until the early 17th century. However, Chero chief Anant Rai expelled the Mughal imperial troops stationed there and proclaimed independence. He then founded the kingdom that would govern the territory until 1818 CE.

Man Singh, a Raksel Rajput leader and governor of Bihar during the Mughal era clashed with the early Chero kings. The Mughal-Chero conflict persisted for many years under Akbar, Jehangir and Shahjahan. Medini Rai, regarded as the most powerful king to have ever ruled Jharkhand, succeeded Anant Rai who died in 1619. The twin forts were constructed during the reign of these two monarchs.

The historic twin forts of Palamu

The ruins of the forgotten kingdom of Cheros can be found deep within the jungles of Jharkhand’s Palamu Tiger Reserve. The twin forts of Palamu were once inaccessible because of the Naxal threat. They narrate the story of a formidable kingdom that is largely unknown to those beyond Jharkhand, harboring secrets hidden within their ruins that will emerge once they are restored to their former glory.

The forts lie approximately 20 miles southeast of the tourist destination Daltonganj (currently known as Medininagar). It was the stronghold of the Chero tribe which governed the area for two centuries. During the early Mughal era, in 1628, the two forts Purana Quila and Naya Quila were erected on the banks of the Auranga River, deep within the forest.

Cheros defended the forts against the Mughals for several years, however, Daud Khan, the Governor of Bihar, eventually took control of the structures and the conquest is reflected in the Islamic-style architecture.

The old fort

Anant Rai is credited with building the fort on the lower plain, which is commonly referred to as the Old Fort. Later, Raja Medini Rai expanded and strengthened it employing the ruins of Navratangarh at Doisa, the capital of the Nagvanshi kings of Chotanagpur. Some historians, however, contend that the Raksel dynasty constructed the ancient fort and the Chero royals subsequently restored it.

The layout of the Old Fort is rectangular. Its walls are around 25 feet high, 7 feet thick and their dimensions are roughly 250 yards east to west and 150 yards north to south. The upper story of the fort forms a long verandah with small covered enclosures.

Old fort enterance (Source: Telegraph India)

The western half of the fort towards Betla has an entrance with remnants of stones with Meenakari. There is a broad passageway with tiny, covered alcoves (could have used as sentry posts) on the upper story. It might have served as a Naubat Khana, where musicians played “Naubat” or large war drums, whenever the Chero rulers passed through. The fort had three gates and defences on three sides.

An open courtyard is seen from the upper corridor upon entering through the gate. It has ventilator-equipped staircases on both sides and has multiple high-walled entrances to the fort.

Well in old fort (Source: Peepul Tree)

There is a deep well in the centre of the pathway via the western entrance and a decaying brick mosque with three domes and octagonal towers at the back wall’s corners. The Tarikh-i-Dandia by 16th-century poet Abdullah mentioned that in 1660 AD, Daud Khan installed the mosque in memory of his victory of Palamu. A short distance from the fort’s western entrance lay the remains of another mosque.

The fort still houses some living quarters, including an impaired palace of a king. Just beside the fort’s entryway, there is a secret tunnel located on the lower side of the wall which might have been employed as an escape route in times of crisis. Moreover, several small staircases are available for visitors to ascend the wall’s ramparts.

The new fort

The new fort appears impressive even from a distance as it stands atop a conical hill. It was constructed by Medini Rai, according to some historians, but Pratap Rai, his son and successor is credited by others. The rectangular building is slightly over 90 meters from north to south and 230 meters from east to west. A motorable road has now been built all the way up to the main gate of the fort which made the ascent simpler.

A continuous sequence of domed (vaulted) chambers housed within the structure’s walls which are 17 feet thick and hold garrison. The rampart consists of a 12-foot-wide passage and the standard battlements. On the southern wall, two enormous circular bastions are encased in domes that let in light through four windows. There are large circular bastions with dry pits for ammunition storage.

The new fort (Source: Peepul Tree)

The staggering Nagpuri Gate is the main entrance to the fort which is located around 80 feet past the fort wall. Despite being in terrible condition, the remnants of its fine exterior continue to exist and the inscribed names of the Chero kings are visible in Devangari on one side of the gate. However, the Persian inscriptions have vanished.

A gateway framed by stone blocks marks the entrance to the new fort and Devanagari inscription lists the names of the Chero kings near the main gate. (Source: Telegraph India)

The entryway is littered with several stone artefacts and what are likely fragments of the fort’s architecture. Visitors can see the Auranga River, the surrounding area and the landscape from the bastion which is reached by a pathway.

Staircase with ventilators (Source: Peepul Tree)

Unfortunately, very little of these two forts are left, save from the walls, wells and a few temples. Usually, this would be attributed to the whims of time, but in the middle of the 19th century, the British made the conscious decision to destroy them.

Britishers demolished the forts

Internal strife caused the Chero kingdom to start disintegrating after more than 150 years of peace and stability. The reigning King Ranjit Rai was assassinated amid a rebellion in 1722. He was replaced by Jai Kishan Rai but met the same fate, during his rule.  Thus, the Chero kingdom was to plunge into a perpetual civil war.

The British, who had seized power in the nearby Bengal province during the Battle of Plassey in 1757 became interested due the struggle in the kingdom. The British East India Company invaded and seized control of the Chero Kingdom of Palamu under the guise of “restoring peace.”

The kingdom was eventually disbanded and placed under direct British rule in 1817-1818 after which another rebellion erupted in Palamu during the 1857 uprising. The British recaptured the forts in January 1858 after the rebels used them as their headquarters. Furthermore, the Commissioner of Patna ordered the demolition of the majority of the structures and their fortifications to put an end to the movement and make sure that the people could not oppose the colonizers.

Red-terror and other challenges

According to HP Sinha, a former deputy director at the state archaeology department, restoration work had been started in 2007–2008 but was unable to proceed for two reasons: Maoists and the lack of authorisation from the forest department.

He outlined, “The entire area was affected by Maoist activities at that time. This was a major hurdle.” The major success of the Modi government in its commitment to eradicate leftwing extremism from the nation may have facilitated the progress of this crucial project.

He further disclosed, “Besides, a certain number of trees needed to be felled for the restoration work. But, we did not get the permission of the forest department for a long time.”

Artefacts in new fort (Source: Peepul Tree)

A team of ASI specialists and Latehar administrative representatives toured the twin forts in February 2021 to create a conservation plan. According to a former director of tourism, the ASI expressed interest in rehabilitating the forts but the forest department objected because they are located within the only tiger reserve in the state.

Jena highlighted, “When ASI undertakes any work, it requires the transfer of land into its name. Since the forts are in a tiger reserve area, land cannot be transferred.” He conveyed that further research revealed that while there is no legal requirement to carry out renovations, land in the Tiger Reserve area cannot be sold to any party.

“If a DPR for renovation is approved by ASI through its technical specification, the work can be done. So, a DPR has been prepared and it needs vetting,” he added.

Deo Singh informed, “Stone and Lakhori bricks were used in the original structure. Lime and ‘surkhi’, finely powdered burnt clay, were used as mortar. The same materials will be used in the restoration of the structure. The essence of the original architectural style will be maintained.

He explained that the presence of huge trees on campus, with their roots extending over the memorial walls, is a major obstacle and warned, “The structure is about 40-feet high and around three to four metres wide. If the trees and roots were not removed carefully, they may damage the structure after restoration.”

These forts are characterized by their distinctive architectural features. They represent a critical aspect of Jharkhand’s heritage and are among the final remnants of the Chero kings in Palamu. These historic buildings required maintenance and preservation.

Now, efforts are being made to restore this previously lost architectural jewel and to bring to light the valorous dynasty that not only fought against the Mughal invaders but also founded a powerful kingdom for its people. Cheros might have faded into the depths of time and history but their accomplishments should not remain the dark and Palamu’s twin forts are a pivotal part of their legacy and a gateway to their incredible past.

ED files FEMA case against Myntra alleging ₹1,654 crore FDI violation, says company was doing retail sales while declaring itself as wholesale business

OpIndia Staff
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ED files FEMA case against Myntra alleging ₹1,654 crore FDI violation, says company was doing retail sales while declaring itself as wholesale business

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed a complaint under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), 1999, against e-commerce company Myntra alleging violation of FDI norms. The agency claims that Myntra Designs Private Limited and its associated companies and directors violated foreign direct investment (FDI) rules involving a massive sum of ₹1,654.35 crore.

The complaint was filed by the ED’s Bengaluru Zonal Office. According to the ED, they received credible information that Myntra and its group companies were involved in multi-brand retail trading (MBRT), even though they had claimed to operate as a “wholesale cash and carry” business. This goes against the FDI rules that were in place at the time.

As part of the probe, ED found that Myntra had declared itself as a wholesale business to attract foreign investment. It then received over ₹1,654 crore in FDI from overseas investors. However, the ED says that Myntra was mostly selling its goods to a related company named Vector E-Commerce Pvt Ltd. Vector then sold the products directly to individual customers online.

The ED pointed out that both Myntra and Vector are part of the same group, and Vector was essentially used as a middleman to make it look like business-to-business (B2B) sales were happening. In reality, it was a case of business-to-customer (B2C) selling—something that is not allowed under the wholesale FDI policy.

According to Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) policy changes made in April and October of 2010, only up to 25% of sales can be made to group companies if a business claims to be “wholesale cash and carry.” But Myntra, as per ED, was making 100% of its sales to Vector, which violates these rules.

The ED has said that Myntra and its related entities have broken Section 6(3)(b) of FEMA, 1999, and also violated the 2010 FDI policy norms.

Myntra responds

After the ED’s announcement, Myntra, which is owned by Walmart Inc., said they haven’t officially received any copy of the complaint or related documents from the authorities. “We haven’t received any notice yet,” Myntra said in a short statement quoted by Reuters. “But we are fully ready to cooperate whenever needed.”

PM Modi set to visit Maldives: Read how India’s $400 million ‘Sanjeevani Booti’ rescued the island nation’s economy

Divyansh Tiwari
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PM Modi set to visit Maldives: Read how India’s $400 million ‘Sanjeevani Booti’ rescued the island nation’s economy

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is visiting the Maldives for the first time since Mohamed Muizzu became the President. Muizzu won the elections in November 2023 and came to power. Prior to that, he had led the “India Out” campaign. There had also been tensions between the two countries over the promotion of Lakshadweep as a tourism hub. Two Maldivian ministers had to resign due to objectionable remarks made against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Now, as India and the Maldives celebrate 60 years of diplomatic relations, PM Modi’s historic visit is taking place. When Muizzu visited India last October, India launched RuPay cards in the Maldives. In recent years, the Maldives has often been described as a close ally of China, but even then, if it realizes that it cannot move forward by ignoring India, there are certain reasons behind this.

One such key reason, which we will discuss in this article, not only proved to be a ‘Sanjivini Booti’ for the Maldives but also reflects India’s generosity and the principle of winning hearts through the philosophy of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” (the world is one family).

India’s timely $50 Million support steadies Maldives amid economic turbulence

Small island economies like the Maldives are especially susceptible to economic shocks amid the choppy waters of global finance. A credit downgrade was imminent, and the Maldives’ foreign exchange reserves were severely strained due to its tourism-driven economy and high external debt. Despite India’s State Bank of India subscription of USD50 million on government issued Treasury Bills by Maldives in May 2024 economy remained turbulent. SBI renewed the subscriptionof USD50 million at the Maldivian government’s request, the previous subscription, which was scheduled to mature on September 19, 2024, has now been extended. 

The Maldives thanked India for providing a $50 million Government Treasury Bill, which helped the island nation in its efforts to achieve economic stability through fiscal reform. “Timely assistance from India reflects the close friendship between the two countries and will support the government’s ongoing efforts to implement fiscal reforms for economic resilience,” Maldivian Foreign Minister Abdulla Khaleel wrote on X. 

In terms of India’s “Neighbourhood First” strategy and Vision MAHASAGAR – Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions, the Maldives is a crucial maritime neighbour and partner. Together with India’s earlier decision this year to extend a special quota for essential commodity exports to the Maldives, the Treasury Bill subscription highlights the two countries’ strong bilateral ties and New Delhi’s ongoing commitment to the welfare of the Maldivians.

RBI’s $757 million currency swap strengthens Maldives’ reserves and credit outlook

In light of this, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) offered the Maldives a $400 million currency swap through the SAARC Currency Swap Framework and 30 billion Indian Rupees ($357 million) under INR Swap window. In addition to temporarily stabilising the Maldivian economy, this action increased investor confidence and avoided a further credit rating downgrade. 

This article examines how the RBI’s intervention boosted the Maldives’ foreign reserves, improved its creditworthiness, and demonstrated India’s strategic financial diplomacy in the Indian Ocean region. 

A currency swap is essentially an agreement between two central banks to exchange currencies and provide liquidity support to the recipient country. The pandemic and global economic slowdowns had a significant impact on the Maldives, which relies significantly on tourism (which accounts for more than 70% of its foreign currency inflows). Imports of essentials such as fuel and food further strained reserves. The RBI’s $757 million swap occurred at a time when the Maldives’ import cover was dropping below safe levels, and repayment of foreign debt appeared difficult.

The agreement came on the same day i.e 7th October 2024 when Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi. The $400 million swap line, which is also available in Euros, will help the Maldives meet its foreign exchange needs, according to the MMA. It further stated that the $357 million rupee line will make it easier to settle trade in local currencies. 

Prior to the swap, the Maldives’ foreign exchange reserves were decreasing as a result of falling tourism receipts and growing import costs. The MMA said the Maldives’ total Foreign Exchange reserves stood at $443.9 million at the end of August, down from $694.2 million at the same time last year. The Maldives’ foreign exchange reserves were instantly increased by a currency swap from a large economy like India, guaranteeing that the country could pay for external debt servicing and necessary imports. 

India helps Maldives to avoid credit downgrade and stabilize its reserves

Foreign reserves are a crucial metric used by credit rating agencies such as Moody’s, S&P, and Fitch to assess a nation’s capacity to fulfil its external commitments. Downgrades frequently follow a significant reduction in reserves or an increase in external vulnerability, which raises the cost of borrowing for the nation. 

In August 2024, Fitch downgraded Maldivian bonds to CC from CCC+, indicating a high risk of default. The rating agency stated that rising public debt would limit the Maldives’ ability to get additional financial help from overseas. On September 11, 2024, Moody’s Ratings (Moody’s) lowered the Government of Maldives’ long-term local and foreign currency issuer ratings from Caa1 to Caa2, and the downgrade was reviewed.

India has expressed pleasure with the recent increase in Maldives’ foreign exchange reserves, citing the smooth implementation of a currency swap agreement between the two countries. In a post on X, the Indian High Commission in the Maldives stated that the increase in the Maldives Monetary Authority’s reserves was primarily due to the $400 million drawdown under the currency swap agreement with the Reserve Bank of India in October 2024.

Fitch Ratings noted Gross foreign exchange reserves stood at USD816 million in May 2025, boosted by a USD400 million drawdown under a currency swap agreement signed by the Maldives Monetary Authority with the Reserve Bank of India in October 2024. 

The RBI’s currency swap demonstrated to credit rating agencies and global investors that the Maldives had significant financial support from a key regional power. This averted the risk of a credit downgrade, preserving the Maldives’ sovereign rating and preventing an increase in foreign borrowing rates. 

Currents of stability: India’s currency swap rescues Maldives

The Maldives is strategically located in the Indian Ocean, and India has consistently positioned itself as the region’s “net security provider”. Extending financial support during a critical period boosted bilateral relations and demonstrated India’s economic leadership. India’s prompt financial involvement through the RBI swap confirmed New Delhi’s position as a reliable partner and quietly resisted Beijing’s expanding influence. 

EAM Dr. S Jaishankar speaking at the Indian Ocean Conference 2025: Voyage to New Horizons of Maritime Partnership on February 16, 2025, highlighted New Delhi’s role in stabilising Indian Ocean economies and communities that were under stress. He used the example of India’s $4 billion financial package to Sri Lanka to help stabilise the island nation’s economy, which had fallen into a crisis. 

The Maldives was saved from a reserve crisis, its currency was stabilised, and its credit rating was preserved thanks to the RBI’s $400 million currency swap. The importance of regional cooperation and India’s crucial role in maintaining economic stability in its neighbourhood were more significantly reaffirmed. In addition to improving the Maldives’ financial situation, India’s prompt assistance boosted its own strategic location in the Indian Ocean.

Although the swap provides temporary respite, in order to develop long-term resilience, the Maldives must now concentrate on debt management, economic diversification, and fiscal reforms.

Bombay HC questions Maharashtra govt’s policy for Visarjan of Ganesh idols, asks why taller idols allowed to be immersed in natural water bodies

OpIndia Staff
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Bombay HC questions Maharashtra govt’s policy for Visarjan of Ganesh idols, asks why taller idols allowed to be immersed in natural water bodies

The Maharashtra government on Wednesday, 23rd July, informed the Bombay High Court about its new policy regarding the immersion of Plaster of Paris (PoP) Ganesh idols during Ganeshotsav. According to the policy, only idols taller than 5 feet will be allowed to be immersed in natural water bodies like rivers, lakes, and the sea. All idols that are 5 feet or shorter must be immersed in artificial water tanks created by local authorities.

The State’s Advocate General (AG), Dr. Birendra Saraf, presented this plan before the division bench of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Sandeep Marne. He told the court that about 1.96 lakh Ganesh idols fall under the 5-foot limit and will be mandatorily immersed in artificial tanks. On the other hand, around 7,000 idols are more than 5 feet tall and will be allowed for natural immersion, with the condition that they will be removed from the water the next morning to protect the environment.

However, the judges were not fully convinced by this proposal. Chief Justice Aradhe raised concerns that immersing 7,000 PoP idols in natural water bodies could seriously harm the environment. 

He asked the AG why the state couldn’t consider immersing slightly taller idols, say up to 7 or 8 feet, in artificial tanks as well. “7,000 is a huge number,” CJ Aradhe noted. “Why not keep even the 7 or 8-foot-tall idols in artificial tanks to reduce environmental damage?”

In response, AG Saraf explained that immersing idols taller than 7 feet in artificial tanks was logistically difficult. A 10-foot idol, he said, could take up an entire tank by itself, leaving no space for others. He added that since PoP is not biodegradable, it does not dissolve easily in water. That is why the government has instructed local civic bodies to remove these idols from natural water bodies the very next morning after immersion.

The judges further questioned how many idols fall into the 5- to 10-foot category. AG Saraf replied that approximately 3,869 idols are between 5 and 10 feet tall, and more than 3,900 idols are taller than 10 feet.

The court again asked the State to rethink its policy and check if idols up to 7 or 8 feet could also be shifted to artificial tanks. CJ Aradhe said the court’s main concern was minimising the environmental impact of the immersions.

The bench then postponed the hearing till Thursday and asked the government to come back with a clearer stand on the matter. The judges also said they will issue temporary directions for this year’s Ganesh festival, but will keep the case open for a final decision later.

Agra conversion racket: Goa girl SB Krishna brainwashed by Kashmiri students at Panjab University to become Muslim, she then joined the gang and collected funds to convert others

OpIndia Staff
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Agra conversion racket: Goa girl SB Krishna brainwashed by Kashmiri students at Panjab University to become Muslim, she then joined the gang and collected funds to convert others

A Hindu girl from Goa arrived at Panjab University to pursue her studies where Kashmiri students persuaded her to embrace Islam. As a result of their influence, SB Krishna transformed into Ayesha. This case showcases how a girl was trapped in the conversion network linked to Agra.

According to media reports, Ayesha established multiple WhatsApp groups to solicit funds and maintained contact with prominent individuals through these channels. She also received assistance from the gang leader Abdul Rehman who was apprehended in Delhi. Several revelations about her have surfaced during police inquiry.

Kashmiri students facilitated the conversion of a Hindu girl from Goa

Ayesha hails from Goa and she was known as SB Krishna prior to her conversion. She enrolled at Panjab University to pursue an MSc in Data Science in 2020. During her time there, she was befriended by several students from Kashmir. They brainswashed her and highlighted the advantages of performing Namaz and donning a burqa. Over time, she began to be swayed by these manipulative ideas.

Subsequently, the students accompanied Krishna to Kashmir and she stayed with them for several days. Meanwhile, her parents were oblivious to this situation. The family members lodged a report in Delhi concerning their daughter’s disappearance. After many days, returned to Delhi alone as she did not like the valley.

Her family then took her to Goa and confiscated her mobile phone. As a result, she lost touch with all her friends and some persons connected to the conversion gang that she was acquainted with at that time. However, after six months, she escaped again and headed to Kolkata where she became Muslim and adopted the name Ayesha.

Her involvement with the group commenced in Kolkata where she started fundraising for conversion activities and utilized them for this nefarious purpose.

6 individuals who were formerly Hindus were part of the gang

Similar to Ayesha, five other accused joined the gang after their conversion. The police nabbed them from different states. Mohammad Ali, who was arrested in Jaipur, was formerly known as Piyush Pawar. He converted to Islam after developing a romantic relationship with a Muslim woman in order to marry her.

However, she left him after some time. Afterward, he married another Muslim girl from Bareilly. He became affiliated with the outlawed Popular Front of India (PFI) organization through the assistance of Kaleem Siddiqui. He began teaching religious studies in Kolkata as he was associated the jihadi organization. He met Ayesha there and received financial support from her to initiate conversion activities.

Another accused, Mohammad Ibrahim previously known as Reeth Banik, arranged for the arrival of two sisters from Agra to Kolkata. The gang leader, Abdul Rehman, who resided in Firozabad also converted to Islam. He was known as Mahendra Pal Jadoun before his conversion.

Kaleem Siddiqui operated the gang

Abdul Rehman, who has been taken into custody by the police in Delhi’s Mustafabad was known to be the one managing the conversion gang. However, a shocking truth was unveiled during the interrogation. It was uncovered that Maulana (Muslim cleric) Kaleem Siddiqui, who is serving a life sentence in prison is the brains behind the operation and Rehman worked for him.

Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) arrested the former in a mass conversion case in 2021. He along with eleven accomplices was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2024 and has been carrying out his activities through Rehman since then.

Agra girl was prepared to become a Mujahida

Two siblings from Agra, who were rescued from Kolkata were converted and indoctrinated similar to that of Salafi Muslims. One of the sisters was so profoundly impacted that she even became a Mujahida (female jihadi), indicating her readiness to sacrifice her life. She expressed a desire not to return home even after their rescue.

Simultaneously, Mohammad Ibrahim informed the police that Hindu girls were subjected to tales about the Mughal rule. They were shown videos depicting Muslim rulers governing India which not only led to their conversion but also made them willing to sacrifice themselves. As per media reports, the authorities have retrieved several videos from the phone of Ayesha, who converted the sisters.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seen inaugurating the Ram Mandir, accompanied by a voiceover from an Islamic fundamentalist declaring, “Enough temples have been constructed in Somnath, now they should be demolished,” in one of the clips.

Meanwhile, the police reported that the sisters were wearing hijabs when they arrived to save them. How, they hid and refused to return, claiming to have discovered their purpose. The female officers counseled the sisters and they were safely returned to Agra. The cops even discovered images featuring an AK-47 on the social media accounts of one of the girls.

The investigating agency suspects that the sisters might have been involved in an Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS)-module. Extensive conversations have also been disclosed with Abdul Rehman on social media. The sisters were being indoctrinated to die and kill in the name of Islam. All of these conversations have been documented in the case file being compiled against the culprits. The police are actively investigating the matter and are working to identify the victims.

‘Customer is king’: Supreme Court refuses to stay UP and Uttarakhand govt’s orders to display QR codes in restaurants during Kanwar Yatra

Shraddha Pandey
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‘Customer is king’: Supreme Court refuses to stay UP and Uttarakhand govt’s orders to display QR codes in restaurants during Kanwar Yatra

In a big win for the BJP governments in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, the Supreme Court refused to stay the order issued by both governments to display and scan QR codes in restaurants on 22nd July. The court said that the Kanwar Yatra is about to end, so its validity will not be considered now.

The top court has said that customers have the right to know whether non-veg was prepared in the restaurant earlier or not.

A division bench of Justice MM Sundaresh and Justice NK Singh dismissed the petition filed against the UP government’s order to install QR codes in restaurants.

The court has ordered the hotels and restaurants to follow the order of displaying their name and registration number as per the rules.

The apex court said that customers have the right to know whether the restaurant serves only vegetarian food or both vegetarian and non-vegetarian.

Highlighting that it is a matter of customers’ choice, the court said that if non-veg was served in the restaurant earlier, then this information should also be given to the customers.

 Appearing for the Uttar Pradesh government senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, said, “There are people in this country who do not eat non-vegetarian food at their brother’s house. The sentiments of devotees are also involved.”

The Supreme Court said that if vegetarian food is served in a restaurant throughout the year and non-veg is also being sold there, then the customer should know this because the customer is the king.

Furthermore, the court said that some people do not eat garlic and onion, and some do not even like to eat in non-vegetarian restaurants. In such a situation, the choice of the customers should be taken care of.

The court said that the license indicates whether it is a veg restaurant, a non-veg restaurant or both. It does not matter much who the shopkeeper is, rather, the customer should know what is cooked at the restaurant.

Trump’s H-1B visa overhaul: long-planned policy shift may hit Indians hardest

Chandrani Das
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Trump’s H-1B visa overhaul: long-planned policy shift may hit Indians hardest

The Trump administration is implementing major reforms to the way H-1B visas are granted. In a filing submitted on July 17 to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) proposed a “weighted selection process” for applicants under the visa cap system.

H-1B visas have consistently sparked political debate, particularly among President Donald Trump and his supporters, who have frequently disagreed with prominent figures such as Tesla CEO Elon Musk over immigration policies.

This visa program plays a vital role for US tech companies, enabling them to recruit highly skilled foreign professionals, many of whom are from India.

Indian nationals continue to be the primary recipients of H-1B visas. In 2022, they were granted 77% of the 320,000 approved visas. This dominance remained in fiscal year 2023, with Indians receiving 72.3% of the 386,000 visas issued.

How was Trump preparing for this?

The properly planned structure and its proposal indicate, Trump and his administration were working on this for a long time. The DHS filing provides few details about the weighted selection process that will follow, which further clarifies that the change could hamper the statutorily capped portion of the programme, currently limited to 85,000 visas per year.

Out of this, 20,000 are reserved for workers having a master’s degree. It is also crucial to note that the US citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will remain the key agency responsible for handling visa applications.

Currently, via a lottery system, the H-1B visas are distributed. This treats all applicants equally regardless of qualification or employer. Large firms like Amazon, Meta, and Microsoft submit high volumes of applicants. These applicants’ results in securing a bigger share of available visas. In the policy, universities and research institutions are not part of the annual cap, which allowed to hire foreign talent year-round.

How could the visa threaten Indians?

Indians have had a longstanding connection with the H-1B visa program, which has played a crucial role in shaping the Indian-American success story in the United States. According to a BBC report, the H-1B visa has been instrumental in making Indian-Americans one of the highest-earning and most highly educated groups, whether immigrant or native, in the country.

US-based scholars Sanjoy Chakravorty, Devesh Kapur, and Nirvikar Singh observed that recent Indian immigrants differ significantly from earlier arrivals. The newer wave includes more speakers of Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu, and has seen a shift in settlement patterns from traditional hubs like New York and Michigan to growing communities in California and New Jersey. This evolution, driven largely by the skilled worker visa program, has effectively redrawn the “map of Indian-Americans.”

Though the H-1B is a temporary work visa, it allows foreign professionals to live and work in the US for up to six years. During this time, many apply for permanent residency through employment-based green card categories, often with employer sponsorship. However, the process is notoriously slow. Currently, over a million Indians, including family members, are stuck in the green card backlog. “Getting a green card means signing up for an endless wait of 20 to 30 years,” says Atal Agarwal, the founder of an Indian firm that uses AI to explore global education and job visa options.

Amid this backdrop, the Trump administration’s abrupt changes to the H-1B visa policy have raised concerns. The revised regulations may pose serious challenges not only to Indian professionals already in the U.S. but also to those planning to move there under the H-1B program.

Around 51 lakh voters to be removed from Bihar voter list as ECI finds major discrepancies in SIR exercise due to duplicate entries, death and shifting of voters

OpIndia Staff
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Around 51 lakh voters to be removed from Bihar voter list as ECI finds major discrepancies in SIR exercise due to duplicate entries, death and shifting of voters

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has found major differences in the voter roll of Bihar through a special verification campaign referred to as the Special Intensive Revision (SIR). The ECI reported that approximately 18 lakh enrolled voters have died, 26 lakh have shifted, and 7 lakh names are duplicates.

The ECI revealed that nearly 97.30% of Bihar’s total 7.89 crore voters have completed the enumeration forms till now. That is more than 7.68 crore voters have already replied.

Officers such as the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), District Election Officers (DEOs), Electoral Registration Officers (EROs), and Booth Level Officers (BLOs) are coordinating with political party workers to sanitize the voters’ list. The ECI has also published a list of 21.36 lakh voters whose forms are yet to be submitted, and approximately 52.30 lakh names of individuals who are deceased, have migrated permanently, or are listed in more than one location.

The ECI further stated that the BLOs and EROs are providing detailed lists of such voters to all political parties so that the process remains transparent. The people will be allowed a complete one-month period in order to object to or make corrections on names being added or removed from the voter list.

Opposition raises concerns

But the Opposition is strongly criticising this exercise. Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has charged the NDA alliance with attempting to delete names of people from the voter roll. She complained that voter rolls were inflated in Maharashtra elections, and now, voters are being deleted in Bihar in the guise of revision.

She stated, “Earlier, in Maharashtra, votes were tampered with by padding electoral rolls. Now, in Bihar, efforts are being made to do the same by deleting voters’ names. The ‘vote ban’ under the pretext of SIR is a plot to grab the right to vote given by the Constitution. We oppose every attempt to crush the Constitution.”

SIR exercise in Bihar

The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is being conducted in Bihar to revise the voters’ lists for the upcoming assembly elections in the state. This kind of intensive revision occurred in the state for the last time in 2003. Due to changes such as urban migration, fatalities, new young voters, and the problem of illegal immigrants, a new verification became necessary. 

BLOs have been designated to go to houses and ensure the rolls are correct. The objective is straightforward: to register all legitimate voters, eliminate illegitimate ones, and maintain transparency in the procedure.

The elections for the Bihar Assembly are scheduled later in the year sometime around October or November, but the official release date has not been declared yet.

Agra Islamic conversion racket: Rescued Hindu victim tells police how Muslim girls brainwashed her and only those girls who refused to become Muslim were sexually abused

OpIndia Staff
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Agra Islamic conversion racket: Rescued Hindu victim tells police how Muslim girls brainwashed her and only those girls who refused to become Muslim were sexually abused

In the Agra Islamic conversion racket case involving conversion of two Hindu sisters to Islam, shocking revelations have been made. the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and the Intelligence Bureau (IB) have arrested mastermind Abdul Rehman from the Mustafabad area of Delhi. The police had also rescued a Dalit Hindu girl named Mamta from Haryana, who had been brought there for conversion. Now, the girl rescued girl has become a government witness in the case.

The UP ATS and the police are tracing one Junaid, a member of the same Islamic conversion racket based on the information provided by the rescued Dalit Hindu girl.

In the police investigation, the connection of Shaheen Bagh, which was the hotspot of anti-CAA protests in 2019, has also come to the fore in the present case. During interrogation, the girl told the investigators, “I was being brainwashed. They kept me in a hostel in Shaheen Bagh, Delhi. Abdul Rehman Qureshi took me to his house, converted me there and got me married to Junaid. Then they were preparing to send me to Kolkata.”

She added that there were many girls in that hostel, however, only those girls who refused to convert to Islam were raped.

On being asked about accused Junaid and how she came in contact with him, the Dalit Hindu girl said, “In 2019, I became friends with Junaid from Delhi on Facebook. Slowly I started sharing my problems with him. My father works in a factory and the financial condition of the house is not very strong. Junaid used to insist on meeting me, but I did not go to meet him.”

She added that in November 2024, her wedding was fixed and when she informed Junaid about this, the accused allegedly began pressuring her to leave everything for the sake of Allah and come to him.

“I left home 12 days before the wedding after being influenced by Junaid’s words and came to Delhi. Junaid made me stay in a hostel in Shaheen Bagh. A Maulana came there and started telling me about Islam. He said that there is nothing in Hinduism. Then a girl was sent to me. She showed me some Islamic videos,” the girl told the authorities.

When asked about how the conversion to Islam happened, the girl said that Junaid took her to main accused Abdul Rehman, who asked several questions to analyse the extent of brainwashing she had been subjected to.

The girl said that Junaid would not allow her to establish any contact with her family and that she was converted to Islam and had Nikah with Junaid in April 2025. The two, however, did not stay together as per Abdul Rehman’s instructions.

After conversion to Islam, the Dalit Hindu girl’s name was changed to Shifa. It has emerged that Junaid is already married, has a child, and that the Hindu victim was aware of this. Abdul Rehman had told her that everything is permissible in his religion.

When the police questioned about other girls in Shaheen Bagh, the girl said, “I was kept in a hostel in Shaheen Bagh, Delhi for a long time. There were other girls in that hostel. No one is allowed to talk to anyone. All day long, my mind was poisoned against Hinduism. Muslim girls surrounded me and told me the supposed virtues of Islam. This was the daily routine there. All this goes on until you surrender yourself to Islam.”

She added that the Muslim girls brainwashing non-Muslim girls used to tell that Qayamat (Doomsday) will come. Everything will be ruined. “A mountain of troubles will fall on my family. I used to get scared on hearing all this,” she said.

Meanwhile, the Agra Police has deployed a team to Delhi to arrest Junaid. The police said that Junaid used to trap young Hindu girls, especially from poor families, on Facebook and lured them to convert to Islam. The police said that these newly-converted Hindu girls were to be trained as Mujahida(s) or female Jihadis.

ISIS-style Islamic conversion racket exposed in Agra

After busting a massive Islamic conversion racket in Balrampur,  the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad, exposed a large-scale Islamic religious conversion and radicalisation syndicate that operated with tactics mirroring those of the ISIS rooted in Agra.

The racket, which spanned across six Indian states, involved terror funding through the dark web and targeted vulnerable Hindu women and minors through coercion, deception, and ‘love jihad’. The ATS’s operation led to the arrest of ten individuals from Delhi, Goa, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, and Uttar Pradesh.

As reported earlier, the 10 accused arrested by the Agra Police from Delhi, Goa, West Bengal, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh, have been identified as Aisha alias S.B. Krishna (Kolkata, West Bengal), Osama (Kolkata, West Bengal), Rehman Qureshi (Agra, UP), Abbu Tariq (Muzaffarnagar, UP), Abdur Rehman (Dehradun, Uttarakhand), Mohammad Ali (Jaipur, Rajasthan), Junaid Qureshi (Jaipur Rajasthan), Mustafa alias Manoj (Delhi), and Mohammad Ali (Jaipur, Rajasthan).

The accused have been booked under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (Sections 87, 111(3), and 111(4)) and the UP Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2021.

On 21st July 2025, the Anti-Terrorism Squad and the Intelligence Bureau (IB) arrested mastermind Abdul Rehman from the Mustafabad area of Delhi. Abdul Rehman, originally from Firozabad, was earlier a Hindu named Mahendra Pal. He had converted to Christianity first, and later converted to Islam. His involvement in the racket was reportedly inspired by jailed cleric Kaleem Siddiqui, who is currently serving a life sentence for running a similar conversion network.

During questioning, the accused persons who are mostly Hindus converted to Islam, said that they were taught that converting others was the only way to attain heaven, or “jannat,” and they began to actively target vulnerable people, calling it “adding new relations.”

Two sisters had gone missing from Agra’s Sadar Bazar area. One of the sister’s photo with an AK-47 was shared on social media which prompted the investigation. During questioning, the girls told the police they were willing to return home, but only on the condition that the arrested accused be released. According to them, those arrested had done nothing wrong and were only “serving religion.” The sisters claimed that if the accused remained in jail, none of them would go to heaven.

Mission Asmita: Coordinated crackdown on conversion syndicates

The entire operation is part of Mission Asmita, a state-wide campaign initiated by the UP Government to eliminate threats to national security stemming from foreign-funded religious conversions, radicalisation, and communal subversion.

As DGP Krishna confirmed, coordination with national agencies is ongoing, and custodial remand for the accused will be sought to unravel the full scope of the conspiracy. Specialised agencies including the ATS and STF have been roped in due to the terror-linked nature of the case.

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