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Rajasthan: Shahrukh and others lynch Hindu man near a mosque, set his vehicle on fire after it accidentally hits the cart of a Muslim seller

OpIndia Staff
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Rajasthan: Shahrukh and others lynch Hindu man near a mosque, set his vehicle on fire after it accidentally hits the cart of a Muslim seller

On Friday (4th July), communal tensions broke out in Jahazpur in Bhilwara district of Rajasthan after a Hindu man was beaten to death by a violent Muslim mob, following a minor accident near a mosque.

As per police and witness reports, four friends namely Sikandar, Sitaram, Dilkhush, and Deepak, were in Jahazpur when their car skidded and knocked over a vegetable cart loaded with onions and potatoes near Takia Masjid.

The cart was owned by a local seller named Raees Fakir. When vegetables spilled over and the cart fell over, Sitaram got out and folded his hands in apology, even promising to pay for the damage.

But soon the situation became violent. A group of some Muslim men, including Babu Khan, Wasim, Shahrukh, Saddam, Hasnain, Mohsin, Sahil, Islam, Tanveer, Sharif, Hanif, Abid, Idrees, Gulzar, and Murtaza, brutally assaulted the Hindu man.

Even though his friends attempted to stop them, the mob beat Sitaram mercilessly and he succumbed to injuries on the spot. The crowd also torched their car, cutting its wires so that no one could escape. Sitaram’s friends somehow managed to get him to the nearby hospital on a motorcycle, but doctors declared him dead upon arrival.

When the news of the murder spread, a huge mob of agitated locals massed at the government hospital, seeking instant action and justice. BJP MLA Gopichand Meena arrived at the scene and lashed out at the incident, calling for severe punishment for the perpetrators.

To manage the increasing tension, a large police contingent has been sent to the region, and all markets have been closed. One suspect has been arrested so far, and others have been taken into custody for questioning.

The brutal murder of a Hindu boy by a Muslim mob has caused unrest among the community, with locals demanding a proper and open investigation into what they are terming as a targeted and communal act of brutality.

Read all about the ancient origins of the Amarnath yatra and the mythological significance of the holy shrine

Aditi
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Read all about the ancient origins of the Amarnath yatra and the mythological significance of the holy shrine

The annual Amarnath Yatra was flagged by J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Wednesday (2nd July) from Jammu. The 38-day-long yatra, which will continue till 9th August, commenced amid tight, multi-tier security arrangements.

The first batch of 5,485 pilgrims, who left for the holy shrine of Lord Shiva yesterday under the protection of security forces, has returned safely. A second group of pilgrims left for the journey on Friday morning.

Yatra taking place amid hightened security arranegements

In the wake of the Pahalgam terrorist attack, the government has ramped up security arrangements for the Amarnath Yatra. From the base camps in Anantnag and Ganderbal districts till the holy cave shrine, the yatra is being closely guarded. The government has augmented the existing security arrangements comprising the Indian Army, BSF, CRPF, SSB, and local police. 180 companies of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) have been added to enhance security. A total of 581 CAPF teams have been deployed for the security of the yatra. Out of which 219 teams are from the CRPF and the rest are from the BSF, ITBP, CISF, and SSB. The entire stretch of the yatra is under constant surveillance to prevent any untoward incident. The CRPF has also deployed a team of all-women personnel at the Baltal route to assist female yatris during their journey.

Considering the cold temperatures and the challenging terrain, authorities have made arrangements for medical teams, air ambulances, and emergency evacuation to ensure the safety of all pilgrims during the yatra. Additionally, a team of 30 personnel from the CRPF’s mountain rescue team (MRT) has been deployed along the two routes of the yatra. They will attend to any medical emergency that may arise. The pilgrims will face high altitudes, about 3,888 metres, and low temperatures.

Image via Shrineyatra.in

There are two routes to the Amarnath Cave, one is the traditional 48-km-long Nunwan-Pahalgam route in Anantnag district, and the other is the 14-km shorter but steeper Baltal route in Ganderbal district.

Image via Shrineyatra.in

This year’s Amarnath yatra is expected to attract around 8 lakh pilgrims. Last year’s number was 5 lakh, the highest in the last 12 years. The holy journey to the shrine of Lord Shiva in the Amarnath cave holds immense religious significance in Hinduism.

Ancient origins of the Amarnath Cave

The Amarnath Cave is located in the Lidder valley of the Pahalgam tehsil of the Anantnag district, J&K. It is one of the most popular pilgrimage sites of the Sanatan Dharma. Since it is located at a high altitude, the shrine is covered in thick snow for most of the year, except for a brief period during the months of July-August. This period coincides with the holy month of Shravan as per the Hindu calendar. This is when devotees from across the country flock to visit the holy shrine for darshan of Baba Amarnath.

Image via X

Inside the cave is a Swayambhu (formed on its own) Shiva Lingam. It is a stalagmite formation is formed when water drops fall from the cave’s roof onto the floor and freeze, resulting in an upward vertical development of the Lingam. The pilgrimage to the Amarnath caves is an ancient custom mentioned in Kalhana’s Rajtaringini, Nilamata Purana, Francois Bernier’s memoirs, and many others. Different stories have been associated with the pilgrimage

Mention of the Amarnath yatra in ancient scriptures

As per Hindu scriptures, the Amarnath cave was first discovered by Rishi Bhrigu. It is said that for centuries, the Kashmir valley was immersed in water, and Rishi Kashyap drained it by creating rivers and tributaries. As the water receded, Rishi Bhrigu, who was on his way to the Himalayas, discovered the Amarnath cave. The Amarnath Cave also finds mention in texts like the Bhringish Samhita and the Amarnath Mahatmy. These describe the topographical details of the cave.

Folklore related to the Amarnath Yatra

According to folklore, Lord Shiva narrated the secret of immortality to his consort Devi Parvati in the Amarnath cave. When Devi Parvati requested Lord Shiva to reveal the secret of immortality, he agreed to her request but said that he would narrate the secrets at an isolated place where no living being is able to hear the secrets. And, so Lord Shiva, along with Devi Parvati, left for the Amarnath Cave. On their way to the cave, Lord Shiva left his Nandi at Pahalgam. He left the moon on his head at Chandanwari, the snake (Sheshnag) around his neck at Lake Sheshnag, his son Ganesha at Mahaguna Parvat, and the Five Elements (Earth, Water, Air, Fire and Sky) at Panjtarni. He performed the Tandav dance as he kept leaving his belongings behind.

Image via X

Thereafter, Lord Shiva entered the Amarnath cave with Devi Parvati and sat in Samadhi. Before that, he created Kalagni and ordered him to spread fire around the holy cave to ensure that no living being was able to hear him narrate the secrets of immortality. However, a pair of pigeons overheard the secrets of immortality. It is said that pilgrims often see pigeons around the Amarnath cave, surviving in such high altitudes and low temperatures, which affirms their belief in the folklore.

The fake story of Buta Malik

The Amarnath Cave has existed since time immemorial, but a fake, recent story related to the discovery of the cave by a Muslim shepherd from Batakot, named Buta Malik, became quite popular over time. According to the story, Malik took shelter in the cave after his flock strayed in the mountains, where a Sufi saint gave him a Kangri, a small pot filled with burning coal that is held close to the body to keep it warm. When he went home, he saw that the pot of coal had turned into a pot of gold. Overjoyed, he went back to the cave to thank the saint. But instead, he found only the cave and the Shiva Linga. 

The folklore of Buta Malik is told by his descendants and local Kashmiris, as the legend is an amalgamation of Hindu religious traditions and its relation to the local Kashmiri Muslim population. The fake story is also peddled by left liberals and historians as an example of ‘Ganga-Jamuni Tehzib’. However, even a cursory search on the internet can expose the falsehood of the Buta Malik story.

Terrorists attacks on the yatra

The holy Amarnath Yatra is conducted under strict security arrangements due to the threat it faces from Islamic terrorists. In the last three decades, the Amarnath Yatra has been attacked by terrorists around 40 times. The yatra has been the target of Islamic terrorists since 1990. The first terrorist attack on the yatra took place in 1993. After that, the terrorists kept attacking the yatra for four consecutive years, till 1996.
The biggest attack on the yatra happened in 2000. Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists opened indiscriminate fire at the Pahalgam base camp, in which 32 people died and about 60 people were injured. After this, there was another attack in 2001. 
This was followed by another terrorist attack on the yatra in 2001. In this terrorist attack, grenades were thrown at the pilgrims’ camp near Sheshnag Lake, leaving 12 people dead and 15 injured. Similar terrorist attacks on the yatra took place in 2002 and 2006. In these attacks, buses carrying pilgrims were attacked with grenades. There was another terrorist attack on the yatra in 2017. After this, the government strengthened security arrangements for the Amarnath yatra, and as a result, no major terrorist attack took place on the yatra.

For the peaceful completion of Amarnath yatra this year, the government made all the security arrangements well in advance.

Urdu is the real ‘North Indian imposition’, not Hindi: Somehow MNS goons, Uddhav Sena leaders, Dravidian-Tamil politicians to Kannada warriors of Congress, everyone seems to ignore the fact

Shraddha Pandey
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Urdu is the real ‘North Indian imposition’, not Hindi: Somehow MNS goons, Uddhav Sena leaders, Dravidian-Tamil politicians to Kannada warriors of Congress, everyone seems to ignore the fact

Linguistic chauvinism and hooliganism, have been an opprobrious element of the Indian socio-political landscape. In yet another incidence of self-declared preservers of the Marathi language, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) workers assaulted a 48-year-old sweetshop owner in Mumbai’s Mira Road suburb on 29th June 2025. The incident sparked state-wide outrage over escalating language-based violence and the tacit endorsement of such tactics by regional parties, especially the ones with negligible political standing seeking to fetch some relevance.

The victim, Babulal Khimji Chaudhary, owner of Jodhpur Sweets and Namkeen, was targeted when seven MNS members, including identified assaulters Karan Kandangire (MNS deputy city chief), Pamod Nilekat (Vaahtuk Sena district organiser), and Akshay Dalvi (MNS worker), Sachin Salunkhe and Amol Patil, and others entered his shop demanding transactions in Marathi. The confrontation escalated when Chaudhary questioned their claim that the state assembly mandated Marathi usage in businesses and that the shopkeeper needs to hire all Marathi-speaking staff by a government order.

Marathi pride or politically driven linguistic hooliganism?: Regional parties using language as a tool to regain their diminutive political relevance

While the outrage over such blatant language-based harassment was yet to subside, the accused MNS workers were detained, interrogated, and released on bail in no time. Maharashtra has been a hotbed of linguistic aggression, where regional parties like MNS, and Shiv Sena (UBT) among others have long claimed to champion Marathi pride. However, their pursuit of protecting ‘Marathi Asmita’ has been more about dominating, harassing, and assaulting innocent non-Marathi speakers who are simply minding their own business.

Just days back, Shiv Sena (UBT) supremo Uddhav Thackeray and MNS chief Raj Thackeray invoked the unity of ‘Marathi Manoos’ after the BJP-led government rolled back its government resolutions (GRs) on the introduction of Hindi in state schools. To turn things more dramatic, Uddhav Thackeray, joined by Sanjay Raut, burnt the copies of the said GR.

Maharashtra is home to people with diverse linguistic backgrounds, the heart of the Hindi film industry Bollywood, while the common Marathis are essentially not in support of intimidating and excluding non-Marathi speakers in the state, regional parties, especially MNS which has zero assembly seats but infinite arrogance, has been at the forefront of stoking linguistic tensions.

The ruling BJP-led government, however, has taken a mature stand and condemned violence against non-Marathi speakers in the name of Marathi pride. During a media interaction on 4th July, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said, “It is not wrong to be proud of the Marathi language in Maharashtra. But if someone indulges in hooliganism due to language, we will not tolerate it. If someone beats up people on the basis of language, this will not be tolerated. The police have filed an FIR and taken action on the incident, and if anyone creates such a language dispute in future, legal action will be taken.”

“We are proud of our Marathi, but injustice cannot be done to any language of India in this manner; we will have to keep this in mind. And sometimes I am surprised that these people embrace English and create disputes over Hindi. What kind of thinking is this and what kind of action is this? Therefore, strict action will be taken against those who take the law into their own hands,” he added.

While Hindi, Gujarati and other non-Marathi-speaking migrant workers and residents are harassed and assaulted by political goons, what remains a less-discussed aspect of linguistic politics is the curious exemption of Urdu from the ire of such regional language chauvinists. Despite its roots as a product of foreign Islamist imposition, Urdu gets a pass. While Hindi, an Indic language with Sanskrit origins and a shared Devnagri script with Marathi, is vilified as a ‘North Indian Imposition’ by parties like MNS, Shiv Sena (UBT), DMK and ‘Dravidian’ parties in Tamil Nadu, and Congress-backed Kannada language crusaders in Karnataka, Urdu has somehow escaped similar scrutiny.

The DMK government in Tamil Nadu made a huge hue and cry over the National Education Policy (NEP) since it allowed Hindi among others as a third language to be taught in government schools. OpIndia reported earlier, how the state government dubbed the NEP as the Modi government’s tool to impose Hindi on Tamilians even though Hindi is not mandatory and children can opt for any other language other than their mother tongue Tamil and English.

In March this year, a 34-year-old man from Pune, Maharashtra was attacked on a bus in Tamil Nadu by language chauvinists for not speaking in Tamil. Bhushan Mandalik came to Coimbatore to attend the Mahashivratri event at the Isha Yog Centre, he was going to Theni when Tamil language chauvinists asked him if he knew Tamil after Bhushan said that he was from Maharashtra and didn’t know Tamil, following this, he was punched in the face leaving him severely injured.

In Karnataka’s Bengaluru, an Odia restaurant was forced by Kannada ‘language warriors’ to remove Odia nameboard even though a Kannada nameboard was already put up. The Kannada language goon asserted that in Karnataka, the Kannada language and Kannada people should get first priority.

The language row in Karnataka has been simmering for years, with signboard disputes, hooliganism over Hindi signages in the Bengaluru metro in 2017 even though it was perfectly legal to use Hindi signages alongside Kannada and English, and private businesses caught in the crossfire. The fringe groups like Karnataka Rakshana Vedike and political parties like Congress have seized on ‘Kannada pride’ theatrics as a cheap vote-grabbing gimmick, magnifying it into a divisive us-versus-them narrative.

In 2022, the Linguistic department of the Jharkhand Government led by JMM’s Hemant Soren, issued a notification to remove Bhojpuri and Magahi as regional languages for the Dhanbad and Bokaro districts of Jharkhand, while Urdu was retained whereas Hindi was not recognised as a regional language even in any single district. This came even as a significant population spoke Hindi and other tribal languages. A massive uproar had erupted back then and the government was accused of appeasing Muslims.

Interestingly, back in 2023, the self-proclaimed Hindutva party Shiv Sena (UBT) had put up posters and banners in Urdu in a Muslim-dominated area with Uddhav Thackeray designated as Ali Janab Uddhav Thackeray in those posters. Apparently, Urdu is more close to Marathi than Hindi that’s why Hindi is intolerable but Urdu is not.

Even in West Bengal, where the Muslim-appeasing TMC government with a CM having a pathological obsession with fighting Kafirs, Urdu gets special treatment so much so that leaders like Firhad Hakim endorse the Urduisation of the state.

In Telangana too, CM Revanth Reddy launched a vigorous campaign earlier this year to revive Urdu in the state’s education system, even as his government continues its vehement opposition to Hindi a language he dismisses as “imposed.”

Similarly, the Samajwadi Party raised the demand for Urdu translations in UP assemblies, a move CM Yogi Adityanath rightly condemned as an attempt to “make children maulvis” rather than scientists. Meanwhile, AIMIM’s Asaduddin Owaisi weaponizes Urdu as “India’s language of Independence”, whitewashing its divisive history.

Hindi gets hate, Urdu gets embrace: Why an Indic language hurts regional language chauvinists but a language with literal foreign origins is acceptable to them

Language supremacists are outraged over Hindi and accuse the government of imposing the language on them even claiming that the Central government wants to eradicate regional languages like Tamil, Marathi and Kannada, however, they have no problem with Muslim-appeasing political parties patronising and promoting Urdu even to the extent of making it second official language or additional official language. In Uttar Pradesh, the Congress government made Urdu the state’s second official language in 1989 despite massive protests, just to appease its Muslim vote bank. Similar motivation drove state governments to recognise Urdu as a second official or additional official language in West Bengal, Delhi, Telangana and Bihar.

Unlike Hindi, which has its roots in Sanskrit and evolved gradually within the Indian subcontinent, Urdu emerged as a camp language in the court of Islamic invaders, blending Persian, and Arabic with local dialects. If we go into the history of Urdu, it is an imposed language. During the medieval period, Muslim invaders brought Persian and Arabic to the subcontinent. The campaigns were marked not only by territorial conquest but also by Islamic Jihadist barbarism including rape, killings, pillage, destruction of temples, desecration of idols, destroying Hindu culture and inflicting brutalities of all sorts on the local non-Muslim populace, especially their forced conversion to Islam.

Urdu emerged as a hybrid language of communication since the Muslim rulers faced the challenge of communicating with the populace that did not speak Persian (Farsi), Arabic or Turkish. The Mughal tyrants incentivised the use of Urdu, making it somewhat a prerequisite for access to administrative posts and courtly patronage. Urdu was widely promoted by the Mughals even in South India (Deccan), where the language became a lingua franca for intercommunication and came to be known as Dakhani in some areas, especially the Sultanates of Golkunda.

The Urdu language developed in Delhi over their years during Mughal era and further thrived in Lucknow. While the Urdu language is a blend of Farsi and Arabic and is written in Nastaliq form, it essentially uses Hindi grammar, in fact, many language experts opine that without Hindi grammar, Urdu is a just a dialect.

Beyond the glorification in the books authored by Mughal-loving ‘historians’, Urdu’s increased prominence symbolised the oppressor’s authority over the native population which had its own rich linguistic and cultural treasure, rather than voluntary ’embrace’.

Even in the 19th century, Urdu written in Nastaliq script was widely promoted by the Sunni Islamist Deobani Movement. Even after India’s independence in 1947, Urdu’s propagation and glorification persisted through Bollywood and political support to garner Muslim votes since the language was mostly known, spoken and written by the converted descendants of Hindus and other non-Muslim victims of Islamic invaders.

Bollywood lyricists and screenplay writers like Kaifi Azmi, Majrooh Sultanpuri, Javed Akhtar, Salim Khan, and several others played a significant role in mainstreaming Urdu in Hindi cinema, by embedding it along with Islamic religious concepts like Jannat, Hoor, Khuda, Maula, Mehram, even Kafir (infidel, as per Islam) and whatnot in songs, dialogues and stories, to romanticise its aesthetic and Islamic associations. Bollywood’s portrayal of Urdu as a language of sophistication and poetry not only obscured its historical roots which could be traced to Islamic invasion in the medieval era, but also marginalised pure Hindi, by portraying it as less refined.

On one side, Urdu gained prominence in cinema and literature in the post-independence era, and its cultural elevation continued with ‘secular’ state governments recognising it as an official language and allocating massive funds for its promotion. While Urdu enjoys preferential treatment just as the so-called oppressed, suppressed, depressed Muslim minority, the speakers of Hindi and other Indic languages are often at risk of being attacked or harassed by regional language chauvinists.

Be it in Karnataka, Maharashtra or Tamil Nadu, the language ‘warriors’ always target common and innocent migrant people who are simply trying to earn their livelihood. However, they never target Muslims for conversing in Urdu. Do Muslims in Maharashtra offer namaz in Marathi? Earlier this year, a Marathi language ‘warrior’ belonging to the MNS entered a Muslim-dominated neighbourhood and tried forcing people to speak in Marathi. However, he was met with a rather shocking reaction as the local Muslims cornered him and forced him to apologise in Hindi while holding his ears.

Apparently, the Muslim street veto and their tendency to resort to violence using any real or imaginary excuse, the language warriors do not dare to their language on Muslims. Meanwhile, politicians who bend over backwards to appease their Muslim votebank also never target the community for conversing in Urdu.

The attacks on non-state language speakers or outsiders, protests against Hindi and mindless villainisation of the Indic language are symptomatic of a broader disgraceful and divisive trend wherein Indic languages, particularly Hindi, are targeted to assert regional-linguistic dominance, while Urdu, a language foisted by medieval Islamists marauders and later entrenched by colonial and post-colonial policies remains sacrosanct since it is linked to Muslims and they must not be ‘offended’.

The outrage against a language by language chauvinists is directly proportional to the ability of the speaker of the target language to retaliate. Hindus and their religious beliefs are often targeted because the anti-Hindu elements know that doing so will not trigger a violent response, however, even quoting the Islamic text can trigger Sar Tan Se Juda-level outrage from the Muslim community. While Urdu is the real ‘North Indian imposition’, not Hindi, politicians deliberately ignore this common fact, since targeting Urdu does not align with their agenda.

Taking pride in one’s language is not wrong, and people coming to a state or country learning the language of the land is a good gesture, however, imposing one’s language on another, forcing businesses not to put up signboards in their native languages alongside state language is not only unjustified and illegal but also counterproductive. For genuine promotion and preservation of regional languages, constructive efforts should be made, attacking and harrassing people over not knowing Marathi or Kannada or Tamil serves no purpose but to fuel resentment and widen linguistic and cultural divides while the politicians enjoy two seconds of fame and political mileage. In fact, this whole language issue is about petty politics done by politicians to target the Modi government and to gain relevance by invoking regional pride rather than genuine concern for the preservation or promotion of regional languages.

DRDO is building a hypersonic bunker buster that can strike 3,000 km deep into Pakistan or China and destroy underground targets: Read what India has that even Israel doesn’t

श्रवण शुक्ल
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DRDO is building a hypersonic bunker buster that can strike 3,000 km deep into Pakistan or China and destroy underground targets: Read what India has that even Israel doesn’t

India is quietly preparing a new, game-changing weapon that could tilt the strategic equation in South Asia decisively in its favour. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is developing a lethal bunker-buster variant of the Agni-V missile—a weapon that could obliterate underground enemy facilities deep beneath mountains, concrete bunkers, and fortified command centres.

This isn’t just an incremental upgrade to India’s existing missile capabilities. The new Agni-V is designed to pierce through 80 to 100 meters of reinforced concrete or rock, carrying a colossal warhead weighing between 7,500 to 8,000 kilograms. Such deep penetration capability makes it one of the most powerful non-nuclear conventional weapons under development globally.

What sets this missile apart is not just its raw destructive power, but its ability to travel at hypersonic speeds, estimated between Mach 8 and Mach 20—that’s nearly 10,000 to 24,500 km per hour. At such speeds, enemy air defence systems become virtually useless. By the time detection happens, it’s already too late.

Targeting enemy nuclear nerve centres

India’s primary adversaries—Pakistan and China—have invested heavily in underground military infrastructure. From hidden nuclear weapon sites to deeply buried command-and-control bunkers, these facilities are designed to survive conventional air strikes.

For Pakistan, critical sites such as the Kahuta nuclear facility, Kirana Hills complex, Noor Khan Airbase, and Masroor Airbase represent the backbone of its nuclear and missile programs. Similarly, China has developed numerous hardened missile silos and military bunkers along the Tibetan plateau and in its hinterland.

The Agni-V Bunker Buster is being specifically designed to neutralise such threats. With its deep-penetration capabilities and heavy payload, this missile gives India the ability to disable an enemy’s nuclear infrastructure in a matter of minutes—without needing nuclear warheads.

Agni-V bunker buster missile

Why a bunker buster is essential for India?

The South Asian security environment remains volatile, with both Pakistan and China posing persistent strategic challenges:

  1. Pakistan’s Nuclear Shield:
    Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal is the cornerstone of its military strategy. Its nuclear sites are intentionally hidden underground to ensure survivability in case of conflict. Facilities like Kahuta, nestled beneath mountain ranges, are nearly impossible to target with conventional bombs. The Agni-V changes that calculus.
  2. Chinese Military Buildup:
    China’s extensive underground missile silos, storage sites, and command centres, especially along the Himalayan frontier, provide it with considerable military leverage. In the event of a border conflict, India needs the ability to strike these hardened facilities swiftly and decisively.
  3. Geographic Challenges:
    The rugged terrain of the Himalayas and fortified bunkers in both adversary nations make traditional air strikes difficult. Bunker-buster missiles offer a more reliable, stand-off solution.
  4. Lessons from Global Conflicts:
    The June 2025 U.S. strike on Iran’s Fordow nuclear facility using the GBU-57 bunker-buster bomb underscored the importance of such weapons. That operation demonstrated how underground nuclear programs can be neutralised without resorting to all-out war. India has clearly taken note.
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Agni-V vs. America’s GBU-57: How India’s missile stacks up

Globally, the U.S. GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) is considered the gold standard in bunker-busting munitions. Weighing 13,600 kg and capable of penetrating up to 60 meters of reinforced concrete or 130 feet of rock, it is a formidable weapon. However, its deployment is complex—it requires the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber, one of the most expensive and limited military aircraft in the world.

India’s Agni-V Bunker Buster offers several advantages:

  • Greater Payload: Agni-V carries up to 8,000 kg of explosives, compared to GBU-57’s 2,700 kg payload, meaning greater destructive potential.
  • Deeper Penetration: Capable of boring through up to 100 meters underground, Agni-V outperforms the American MOP’s 60-meter penetration.
  • Mobility and Flexibility: Unlike the GBU-57, Agni-V is a canister-launched missile, deployable from road or rail platforms. It doesn’t require strategic bombers, making it faster, more mobile, and significantly cheaper to operate.
  • Hypersonic Speed: The missile’s speed (Mach 8 to 20) means interception is nearly impossible. The GBU-57, dropped from 50,000 feet, travels at subsonic speeds, making it vulnerable to some defences.
  • Indigenous and Cost-Effective: Developed entirely in India, Agni-V reduces reliance on foreign technology and offers a more economical solution for strategic strike missions.
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Technological edge and precision

The Agni-V Bunker Buster incorporates state-of-the-art technology to ensure precision targeting. Its guidance system integrates:

  • NavIC Navigation: India’s own satellite navigation network ensures accuracy, independent of foreign systems like GPS.
  • Ring Laser Gyroscopes and Micro-Inertial Navigation Systems: These enhance mid-course correction capabilities, ensuring the missile remains on target even under electronic warfare conditions.
  • Two Warhead Options:
    • Airburst Warhead: Destroys surface targets like airfields, radar stations, and enemy troop concentrations.
    • Deep-Penetration Warhead: Targets underground bunkers, missile silos, command centres, and hardened storage facilities.

The missile’s canister-based design allows for rapid deployment from mobile platforms, enhancing survivability and tactical flexibility. In a crisis, this means India can quickly position and launch the missile, catching adversaries off-guard.

Global bunker-buster arsenal: How India fares

Only a handful of nations possess credible bunker-busting capabilities:

  • United States: GBU-57 MOP, GBU-28, and BLU-109 bombs. Delivery depends on expensive, limited bombers.
  • China: DF-15C ballistic missile with limited 20-25 meter penetration.
  • Russia: KAB and BetAB bombs, capable of shallow penetration (up to 5 meters).
  • South Korea: Hyunmoo-4 and Hyunmoo-5 missiles, 24-meter penetration, 600 km range.
  • Israel: Jericho-3 missile with 11,000 km range but only 800-900 kg payload.

With its combination of deep penetration, hypersonic speed, and heavy payload, India’s Agni-V Bunker Buster will likely rank as the second-most powerful system after the U.S. MOP—and arguably more flexible due to its mobile, canister-based launch capability.

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Pakistan’s vulnerable military installations

Several high-value Pakistani facilities would be within Agni-V’s strike range:

  • Kahuta Nuclear Facility: Pakistan’s primary nuclear weapons research and production centre, buried beneath mountains.
  • Kirana Hills: Secret underground tunnels and bunkers storing nuclear weapons and hosting tests.
  • Noor Khan Airbase: Underground weapons depots and command centres supporting Pakistan’s air force.
  • Masroor Airbase: Near Karachi, known for missile storage and nuclear warhead stockpiling.

Neutralising these facilities could significantly degrade Pakistan’s retaliatory strike capabilities in a conflict scenario.

The bigger strategic message

Agni-V is more than a weapon—it’s a statement. It reflects India’s growing defence self-reliance, technological prowess, and willingness to prepare for high-intensity conflict scenarios. In particular:

  • Credible Deterrence: The ability to destroy hardened enemy sites reinforces India’s strategic deterrence posture.
  • Self-Reliant Defence: Fully indigenous design aligns with India’s push for defence self-sufficiency under ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’.
  • Regional Power Projection: Signals to adversaries that India is capable of swift, precise, and overwhelming retaliation, even against underground targets.

With the Agni-V Bunker Buster, India is entering an elite league of nations possessing deep-strike, high-speed, bunker-penetrating missile technology. Its development underscores India’s intent to neutralise emerging threats proactively, ensuring no underground enemy site remains beyond reach.

In the evolving security dynamics of South Asia, where nuclear posturing and hardened military facilities are the norm, such a capability isn’t just desirable, it’s essential for maintaining peace through strength.

Amid reports of hurried deal before Trump’s deadline, Piyush Goyal affirms India does not do trade deals based on timeline, will happen only when it is win-win for both sides

OpIndia Staff
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Amid reports of hurried deal before Trump’s deadline, Piyush Goyal affirms India does not do trade deals based on timeline, will happen only when it is win-win for both sides

Amid reports claiming that a trade deal between India and the USA will be signed withing the next 48 hours ahead of president Donald Trump’s July 9 deadline for reciprocal tariff, Indian govt has firmly said that the country does not do trade deals based on timeline. Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal on Friday made it clear that any trade deal with America would only happen when it is a win-win situation for both the countries, and it can’t be subject to any deadline.

Talking to reporters in Delhi, Goyal said, “India discusses on its own terms and we never make a trade deal based on a timeline. When the deal is good, fully matured, and in the national interest, then we accept it.”

He added that discussions are ongoing with various countries, including the European Union, New Zealand, Oman, the United States, Chile, Peru etc. Goyal said, “negotiations for agreements are underway with many countries. A free trade agreement happens only when there is mutual benefit. When the deal is made while safeguarding India’s interests, keeping in mind that national interest will always remain paramount, then India is always ready to make deals with developed countries.”

Earlier, reports citing sources claimed that an interim trade deal between India and the US is likely to be signed within the next 48 hours – days before the 9 July deadline of Donald Trump’s reciprocal tariffs is set to expire.

President Trump threatened a 26% duty on Indian goods as part of his April 2 “Liberation Day” reciprocal tariffs, which were temporarily lowered to 10% to buy time for negotiations with the 9 July deadline.

As per reports, a trade delegation from India was still in Washington for the negotiations that started last week. The Indian trade delegation led by special secretary Rajesh Agarwal has extended its stay in Washington due to non-conclusion of the deal.

It was reported that while negotiations were in the final stages, it was stuck with India not relenting on Trump’s demand to open the agriculture and dairy sectors completely to the US. According to sources, India has refused to budge on lowering tariffs on genetically modified corn, soybeans, rice and wheat grown in the US.

Earlier on  June 27, Donald Trump said that US will soon have a trade deal with India and said that it will be a great deal. Trump said, “Everybody wants to make a deal and have a part of it. Remember a few months ago, the press was saying, You really have anybody of any interest? Well, we just signed with China yesterday. We are having some great deals. We have one coming up, maybe with India. Very big one.”

The proposed India-USA bilateral trade agreement (BTA) aims to double trade between the two nations to USD 500 billion by 2030.

Kashmir: Palestinian and Hezbollah flags, banners of Khamenei and others waved during Muharram procession, deceased Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah’s poster pasted on police station

OpIndia Staff
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Kashmir: Palestinian and Hezbollah flags, banners of Khamenei and others waved during Muharram procession, deceased Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah’s poster pasted on police station

The Islamic month of Muharram is currently underway and processions are being carried out throughout the nation. On 4th July, a significant procession took place in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir. Thousands of individuals took part in this event. However, the participants waved flags associated with Iran and the terrorist organization Hezbollah during the event.

Additionally, many took to the streets carrying images of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Hosseini Khamenei and the Iranian commanders as well as terrorists who lost their lives in the Israeli assault including Hassan Nasrallah.

The authorities and law enforcement had previously taken down such flags from public areas. However, the situation escalated when they reappeared during the procession. The people also chanted slogans in favour of Iran. Furthermore, images of the deceased high-ranking commanders of Iran were displayed. A similar occurrence was noted during the Muharram procession in Budgam.

On 3rd July, a day after the police had taken banners with Hassan Nasrallah’s picture out of public spaces, a massive number of mourners demonstrated outside a police station in the town of Magam, which is outside Srinagar.

The action had infuriated the agitators who were chanting slogans while holding photographs of Shia religious and political leaders, including Ali Hosseini Khamenei, the current supreme leader as well as Iranian spiritual and political leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. Additionally, they plastered posters of Hassan Nasrallah on the police station’s wall amid chaos and sloganeering.

A sea of Palestinian flags was also witnessed during the procession on 8th Muharram alongside giant portraint of Ali Khamenei and other leaders of the Islamic Republic. There were no adverse incidents, however, diversions transpired. Last year, the police had to register multiple First Information Reports (FIRs) over similar occurrences as the attendees rasied pro-Palestinian slogans. Hence, the main road had been inaccessible for procession.

On the eighth day of Muharram, the Shia community organized a procession in Srinagar along the traditional route. This marks the third consecutive year that the police have granted permission for the procession. It commenced at Guru Bazaar in the downtown area and proceeded to Dalgate via Jahangir Chowk, Lal Chowk, Tanki Pora and Maulana Azad Road. The administration has established a specific time for the mourners to ensure that daily life in the city remains undisturbed.

The Muharram processions were prohibited in Srinagar and other areas of Kashmir following the jihad and terrorism supported by Pakistan in the early 1990s. However, the authorities rescinded the ban in 2023 after observing the progress and peace in the valley. According to the police, comprehensive security arrangements have been put in place for the processions.

Moreover, a traffic advisory had been issued. Security and traffic arrangements will also be coordinated for Yaum-e-Ashura, the 10th day of Muharram. CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force) has also been deployed at multiple places along with local cops and traffic police.

‘Pakistan had just 30 seconds’: Shehbaz Sharif’s advisor exposes how BrahMos strike shattered Pak military’s nerve centre

OpIndia Staff
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‘Pakistan had just 30 seconds’: Shehbaz Sharif’s advisor exposes how BrahMos strike shattered Pak military’s nerve centre

In a startling admission that exposes Pakistan’s agenda, a top aide to Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has revealed that his country’s military had merely 30-45 seconds to determine whether an incoming BrahMos missile carried a nuclear warhead during a critical moment in this May’s Operation Sindoor.

During an interview, Rana Sanaullah, Prime Minister Sharif’s special advisor, described the scenario. He was detailing how the supersonic BrahMos cruise missile’s strike on Pakistan’s strategically vital Nur Khan Airbase left decision-makers scrambling to avert Armageddon. “When India fired BrahMos and it hit Nur Khan airbase, Pakistan’s military had 30 or 45 seconds to determine if it carried a nuclear warhead,” Sanaullah stated, emphasising that any misjudgment could have ignited global nuclear conflict.

Operation Sindoor: The trigger

The missile crisis erupted against the backdrop of soaring tensions following the 22nd April Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, where Pakistan-linked terrorists killed 26 tourists. India responded on 7th May with Operation Sindoor, a multi-pronged military campaign targeting terrorist infrastructure. Initial strikes destroyed camps of Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed, and Hizbul Mujahideen, killing over 100 terrorists.

When Pakistan retaliated with drone and missile attacks on India, it was all intercepted by Indian defences. India escalated dramatically. On the night of May 9-10, BrahMos missiles screamed toward eleven Pakistani airbases, including Sargodha, Jacobabad, Rafiqui, and the crown jewel of Pak military, Nur Khan in Chaklala, Rawalpindi.

The Nur Khan Strike: A 45 second nightmare for Pakistan

Nur Khan Airbase is no ordinary facility. Housing the Pakistan Air Force’s VIP fleet, advanced Turkish Bayraktar TB2 drones, and serving as a key command node. Its location just outside Pakistan’s military headquarters in Rawalpindi makes it a strategic nerve centre of Pakistan’s military. The base had been targeted before by India during the 1971 war, but never with such terrifying speed.

  • The Missile’s Lethal Edge: The air-launched BrahMos, an Indo-Russian co-developed supersonic cruise missile. It travels at Mach 2.8-3.0 (~3450 km/h), leaving target areas with virtually no warning time. Its low-altitude “terrain-hugging” flight path makes detection extraordinarily difficult.
  • The Decision Window: Sanaullah’s account underscores that Pakistan’s air defence systems identified the missile with only half a minute to analyse its payload and trajectory. “This BrahMos missile coming silently if it had been nuclear… to make the decision in just 30 seconds… shows how dangerous it was,” he stressed.
  • Near-Apocalypse: Though the missile was conventionally armed, Sanaullah admitted the blinding uncertainty nearly provoked catastrophe: “Had there been a misunderstanding… action taken from that side… the entire world could have been plunged into nuclear war”.

Satellite evidence and damage

Satellite imagery later confirmed the BrahMos’ devastating precision. At Nur Khan, images showed shattered hangars, cratered runways and damaged radar installations. Similar destruction was documented at Sargoda, Sukkur, Bholari, and Rahim Yar Khan airbases – crippling Pakistan’s air defense readiness.

Pakistan initially denied the extent of damage, but Deputy PM Ishaq Dar later conceded: “India attacked two important airbases.” The blow was so severe that Army Chief Gen. Asim Munir woke PM Sharif at 2:30 AM to report the Nur Khan strike.

Ceasefire: Competing narratives of de-escalation

  • Pakistan’s False Version: Sanaullah credited former U.S. President Donald Trump with brokering peace, even nominating him for a Nobel Prize. Saudi Prince Faisal allegedly relayed Pakistan’s ceasefire request to Indian EAM Jaishankar.
  • India’s Rebuttal: New Delhi flatly denies third-party involvement, insisting Pakistan’s DGMO initiated de-escalation talks after absorbing the airbase strikes.

The unspoken doctrine: India’s nuclear posture and aftermath

After four days of fire exchanges, the ceasefire took hold on 10th May, but the BrahMos episode exposed Pakistan’s defence vulnerabilities. Sanaullah’s alarm omits a critical factor. It is India’s No First Use (NFU) nuclear policy. Pakistan’s military planners would likely have assumed that BrahMos wasn’t nuclear-tipped, as India reserves such payloads for ballistic missiles under its NFU framework. This suggests the “30-second panic” narrative may exaggerate the nuclear risk for political effect and gain international attention for the victim card.

India’s possible missile sale to Greece sparks tensions in Pakistan’s ally Turkey, Turkish media claims it will be used to target Ankara

OpIndia Staff
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India’s possible missile sale to Greece sparks tensions in Pakistan’s ally Turkey, Turkish media claims it will be used to target Ankara

During the recent visit to Greece, the Indian Air Force Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari met with his Greek counterpart. According to a local Greek media report, both nations have signed an agreement on defence cooperation. The agreement reportedly included potential deal for India to supply its Long-Range Land Attack Cruise Missile (LR-LACM) to Greece.

Turkish media outlet TR Haber has reported that India has extended an offer to supply the missile, which has been developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). While no official confirmation has been made by India or Greece regarding the missile transfer, TR Haber claimed that India has offered a cruise missile with a range exceeding 1,000 kilometres to Greece, citing various Greek media sources.

This probably missile transfer has reportedly triggered unease in Türkiye. This development has reportedly raised an alarm over the possibility of Greece acquiring such strategic weapons from India.

The missile is capable of targeting major sites like airbases, a defence system, radar installations, and other high-value targets with precision. This raises a serious concern in Ankara. The speculation comes amid already tense India-Turkey relations, especially following Turkey’s excessive military support and cooperation with Pakistan during India’s “Operation Sindoor”, where Turkish drones and weapons were reportedly supplied to Pakistan.

Growing tension in Turkey

India-Greece agreement has raised tension within Turkish defence circles. If Greece acquires the Indian LR-LACM, it could carry out major strikes on Turkish airbases. Then this will be similar to how India allegedly targeted Pakistani bases during Operation Sindoor. The LR-LACM is said to be developed along similar lines at the BrahMos missile, known for its low altitude, high speed flight path that makes interception extremely difficult.

The LR-LACM has a range exceeding 1,000 Km and is capable of carrying both conventional and unconventional warheads. It is developed by India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the LR-LACM underwent its maiden test flight in 2024

Turkish media reaction: “Targeting Ankara”

The Turkish media has responded firmly to the speculation. A TR Haber article titled “India brings 1,000-km range cruise missiles to the Aegean! They will target Turkey!” suggests that Greece may have sought operational insights from India’s Operation Sindoor to prepare for potential strikes on Turkey. The article also claimed that Greece has gathered specific performance data on India’s Rafale fighter jets.

Historical hostility between Greece and Turkey

Tensions between Greece and Turkey are not new. The two NATO members have had a long-standing rivalry marked by military conflicts and territorial disputes over the Aegean Sea, airspace violations, the Cyprus issue, and, more recently, competition over energy resources in the Eastern Mediterranean. Despite being part of the same military alliance and sharing certain EU cooperation frameworks, the relationship remains fragile.

Muslim mob vandalises Hindu temple, beheads idol of Goddess Shitala: Read how Islamic extremists are fanning communal tension in Tripura, one act at a time

Dibakar Dutta
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Muslim mob vandalises Hindu temple, beheads idol of Goddess Shitala: Read how Islamic extremists are fanning communal tension in Tripura, one act at a time

On Wednesday (2nd July) night, a violent Muslim mob desecrated a Hindu temple and beheaded the idol of Goddess Shitala. The incident occurred in Tatuatilla locality in Udaipur in the Gomati district of Tripura.

According to reports, the matter came to light only on Thursday (3rd July) morning. Local Muslims in the area have been raising objections against Hindus performing Puja at the temple since 29th June.

They claimed that the timing of the Hindu rituals coincided with that of Azaan. Three days later on Wednesday, they vandalised the Hindu Mandir to hurt religious sentiments of the Hindu community.

On learning about the matter, the police reached the spot and pacified the situation. A large contingent of security forces, including CRPF and TSR, was deployed to avert any untoward incident.

The visarjan (immersion ceremony) of the broken idol of Goddess Shitala was arranged and conducted by local Hindus in their presence.

According to Hindu residents, the area is home to illegal Bangladeshi Muslims. It has come to light that a temple of Goddess Shani was demolished in a similar fashion a few days earlier.

In the meantime, Udaipur SDPO Nirman Das claimed, “We are treating the matter with utmost seriousness. Additional forces have been deployed to ensure peace and prevent any escalation.” So far, none of the accused have been arrested.

Islamic extremists fomenting trouble in Tripura

This is not the first time that violent Muslim mobs have resorted to creating communal tension in the State of Tripura.

Over the past 1.5 years, Islamic extremists have resorted to multiple acts, aimed specifically to hurt the religious sentiments of the Hindu community.

These include cow slaughter in public, violent agitation in the name of Waqf protests, targeting of Hindu homes and shops, multiple cases of temple vandalism and idol desecration, and even co-opting the national ‘Hijab movement’ to destroy peace and harmony in the Northeastern State.

1. Public Cow slaughter on BakriEid

In June 2025, Muslims publicly slaughtered a cow on BakriEid to hurt the religious sentiments of the Hindu community. The police in the Gomati district of Tripura arrested four people in connection with the case.

The case is from Chanban area of ​​Udaipur subdivision. After receiving the information, Tripura Police reached the spot and confirmed the violation of rules related to animal sacrifice.

Soon after, arrangements were made to bury the remains of the cow in the ground. Seeing the tension rising in the area, adequate security forces were deployed to prevent the repetition of cow slaughter in the open.

2. Violence in the name of Waqf

In April this year, Muslims protesting against the newly enacted Waqf Amendment Act attacked police personnel on the Kailashahar highway in Unakoti district of Tripura.

According to reports, several people including police personnel were injured during the attack. The Muslim mob targeted the law enforcement authorities after being told to stop their rally owing to security concerns.

They were scheduled to take out a procession from Tilabazar to SDM’s former office. A Muslim man anonymously admitted to attacking the police after their plans were thwarted.

Tripura: Muslims attack police personnel during protest march against new Waqf law
Muslims attack police in Kailashahar, image via North East Today

“Everything was going peacefully until we were stopped at Kubjar. We were only raising our democratic demand. Suddenly, the police intervened, and in the confusion, a scuffle broke out,” he said.

The police resorted to a lathi charge in defence. The Muslims continued their attack, injuring police constable Debjit Das and SDPO Kailashahar Jayanta Karmakar in the process. The cops arrested 7 attackers in connection with the case.

With the help of DIG Rathiranjan Debnath, the situation was brought under control. A team of TSR, CRPF and BSF were deployed in the area to prevent any untoward situation. A local Congress leader named Badruj Jaman was leading the protest march against the new Waqf law.

3. Riots and targeting of Hindu homes and shops

In October 2024, violent clashes broke out in the Kadamtala block area of North Tripura after a Muslim mob attacked Hindu houses and members of a local club over the collection of paid subscriptions (chanda) for Durga Puja.

The attack comes 3 days before the commencement of the annual Hindu festival. According to a report by Tripura Chronicle, a local club organising the Durga Puja sought a contribution of ₹5000 from a Muslim driver named Jahar Mia.

He was reportedly travelling to Assam with some of his relatives. Mia refused to pay, leading to a heated argument and confrontation between him and the club members.

Later, a Muslim mob siding with the driver broke into the houses of the Hindu club members and attacked their families.

They did not spare women and children during the targeted attack. The victims sustained injuries and an atmosphere of tension gripped the entire neighbourhood.

During the orgy of violence, the Muslim mob vandalised two homes and a beauty parlour. In visuals that have surfaced on social media, scared Hindu residents were seen narrating their ordeal and showcasing the extent of damage caused to their property.

An arson attack was also carried out in the Kadamtala Bazar area. Muslim mobs, armed with machetes, terrorised Hindus and looted shops in the market area. One man was brutally killed and 17 others were injured during the onslaught on the Hindu community.

The attack triggered retaliatory measures, prompting the law enforcement authorities to intervene. A large contingent of police and paramilitary forces, including Tripura State Rifles (TSR), was deployed to pacify the situation.

Following the incident, the local administration imposed Section 163 of the Bhartiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) in the area for 3 days, preventing the assembly of 5 or more people.

4. Multiple cases of temple vandalism

In the same month, extremists vandalised a Shiva temple in Pekucherra village in Panisagar block in North Tripura district. This led to communal clashes in the area.

Communal clashes erupt in North Tripura after unknown miscreants vandalise Shive Temple (Source: ENews Time and Northeast Herald)

In August 2024, an idol of Goddess Kali was found beheaded in Katraibari village in Ranirbazar area of Tripura. The incident sparked communal tension in the area over the desecration of the 30-year-old temple.

Idol of Goddess Kali found beheaded: Tripura witnesses communal violence over temple desecration, houses and vehicles set on fire
Idol of Goddess Kali vandalised, car burns after arson attack, images via East Mojo

5. Hijab row in Tripura

The debate over the wearing of hijab by female Muslim students, in complete disregard to existing school uniform rules, reached the northeastern State of Tripura in August 2023.

Muslims students, studying at the government-run Koroimura Higher Secondary School in the Sepahijala district courted controversy after they flouted school norms and attended classes in hijab.

The headmaster of the Koroimura Higher Secondary School, Priyatosh Nandi, intervened in the matter and urged all students to wear school uniforms irrespective of religion.

He told the media, “After a meeting with teachers, I recently directed all students to attend school wearing proper uniform. However, girl students from the minority community said they cannot follow this directive as wearing hijab is a religious belief.”

A group of Hindu boys thereafter wore saffron-coloured kurta to the school in protest. They however assured to wear school uniform if every student, irrespective of their religion, followed it.

In the meantime, a 10th Std Muslim student (studying at the same school) vandalised the room of the headmaster in ‘protest’. He was thereafter thrashed by a group of people. 

‘Monojit’s Bar’: How Kolkata Law College Union room became a den of alcohol, intimidation and violence under rape-accused TMC leader’s control

Balendu Singh Angad
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‘Monojit’s Bar’: How Kolkata Law College Union room became a den of alcohol, intimidation and violence under rape-accused TMC leader’s control

For years, South Calcutta Law College’s student union room was not a space for debate or leadership training. Instead, under the control of Monojit “Mango” Mishra, it transformed into an unauthorised bar a nightly hub for alcohol, intimidation, and criminal activity that foreshadowed the horrific gang rape of a 24-year-old student on 25th June. Multiple sources, including students and faculty, describe a reign of terror enabled by systemic inaction despite Manojit’s extensive criminal history.

The union room: From campus hub to ‘Monojit’s bar’

Speaking to NDTV, a batchmate of Manojit said, He seized the union room for his personal fiefdom. Every evening, Monojit and his associates used to drink alcohol in the union room, turning it into a de facto bar and party spot. The union room became synonymous with harassment, where female students were photographed, their images allegedly morphed and circulated in WhatsApp groups. Manojit reportedly threatened to shoot staff over minor issues and once brutally assaulted a security guard.

A decade of impunity: Complaints ignored, crimes unchecked

Monojit’s ability to operate freely stemmed from a shocking pattern of institutional failure. At least 11 criminal cases were filed against Monojit across Kolkata police stations since 2013, including assault, molestation, theft, and vandalism. A 2019 complaint accused him of tearing a woman’s clothes on campus and molesting a woman in Swinhoe Lane in March 2022. 

In 2023, he was rusticated for stabbing a guy. Despite the fact that he was readmitted in 2017. In 2024, he was inexplicably hired as a contractual clerical staff member, earning ₹500 daily. As a former Trinamool Congress Chhatra Parishad (TMCP) functionary, Manojit wielded political influence. Though TMCP claims he was removed in 2021, his ties allowed him to bypass accountability for years.

The 25th June attack: A crime enabled by negligence

The rape inside the college guard room was a culmination of this unchecked culture. On Manojit’s order, security guard Pinaki Banerjee allegedly locked the campus gate and ignored the victim. He is now in arrest. Police suggest he may turn approver, confirming Manojit’s control.

In the hope of silencing the survivor. Co-accused Pramit Mukherjee and Zaib Ahmed recorded the assault. Apart from that, Monojit reportedly entrapped the victim by promising a union position, a hollow offer since no official student body existed for years.

Fallout and reckoning

In the aftermath, authorities have taken belated action:
•⁠ ⁠Mishra was fired, and payments made to him were ordered recovered. The Bar Council of West Bengal cancelled his membership.
•⁠ ⁠Co-accused students were expelled, and campus security was overhauled, including restricted hours and female guards.
•⁠ ⁠A 5-hour crime scene reconstruction with the accused aimed to solidify evidence.

Institutional soul-searching: Who enabled “Mango’s Bar”?

As investigations continue, critical questions remain unanswered. Why did college leadership ignore a 2022 anonymous letter warning of Monojit’s danger? How did police fail to act on seven FIRs? And why did teachers stay silent after being threatened with violence?

The union room’s transformation from campus space to criminal enclave symbolizes a profound governance failure. For students and faculty, justice requires not only punishing Mishra but also holding accountable those who allowed his “bar” to operate with impunity.

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