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Arunachal Pradesh: Locals drag Riazul Karim out of police station, kill him for molesting 5-year-old kids, school shut down temporarily

OpIndia Staff
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Arunachal Pradesh: Locals drag Riazul Karim out of police station, kill him for molesting 5-year-old kids, school shut down temporarily

On Friday (11th July), angry parents and locals in Roing of Arunachal Pradesh stormed the local police station and lynched a 20-year-old construction worker named Riazul Karim.

A resident of Assam’s Bongaigaon district, Karim had molested at least seven girls, aged 5 to 7, staying at the hostel of the Mount Carmel School.

The child molester was detained by police on Thursday (10th July), but tensions erupted over the next day.

Parents and locals dragged him out of the station and beat him severely. Even after police took him to a hospital, the angry locals thrashed him again, leading to his death.

“The body was handed over to the contractor today after post-mortem and other necessary formalities. It was later sent to Assam with a police escort,” the SP said.

A case has been filed at Roing Police Station under Section 329(4)/75(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita(BNS) and Sections 10 and 12 of the POCSO Act, and the investigation is ongoing.

School shut down temporarily

Mount Carmel School in Roing of Arunachal Pradesh has been shut down temporarily by the Lower Dibang Valley district administration after serious allegations of sexual assault involving several young girls at the school’s hostel. 

The decision comes as a response to growing concerns about the safety of students, and parents have been asked to take their wards out of the school and enrol them in nearby government or recognised private schools.

Authorities are taking this seriously. Superintendent of Police Ringu Ngupok said they’re planning tough action against the school’s management. For now, the school will shut down as investigations continue.

Curfew remains in force in Roing, though no further untoward incidents have been reported, the SP added.

To maintain law and order, the administration has deployed four additional companies of security forces, including the IRBn, ITBP, and CRPF. Inspector General of Police P.N. Khirmey is currently stationed in Roing to monitor the situation.

Babydoll Archi: Assam Police arrest Archita Phukan’s ex-boyfriend for creating fake social media profile and posting her morphed, AI-generated images claiming she is joining US porn industry

OpIndia Staff
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Babydoll Archi: Assam Police arrest Archita Phukan’s ex-boyfriend for creating fake social media profile and posting her morphed, AI-generated images claiming she is joining US porn industry

Assam police arrested a man in Dibrugarh, Assam, on Saturday (12th July) for creating a fake social media profile and obscene AI-generated images of a woman named Archita Phukan. The incident has highlighted the dangers of misuse of Artificial Intelligence, as major media houses had believed the fake profile to be real, and had exrensively reported on her Babydoll Archi social media profile, which also turned out to be fake.

Recently, Archita Phukan’s morphed images with American adult star Kendra Lust went viral on social media. It was then claimed that Phukan is joining the porn industry in the USA. The development was reported by several mainstream media houses. However, now it has emerged that everything was fake, based of morphed images created one Pratim Bora.

A complaint was filed by Phukan’s brother in connection with the fake profile and images, demanding action against the culprit. Surprisingly, the person responsible for creating the fake profile and images has turned out to be a disgruntled former boyfriend of Phukan, Pratim Bora.

Police arrested Bora from his home town in Tinsukia. He has been hiding from the authorities, but was located after his IP address was tracked. “We tracked the accused using IP address data and technical evidence. He was arrested from a rented apartment in Tinsukia. His phone and laptop have been seized and sent for forensic examination,” a cybercrime officer said.

Bora made a fake social media profile and posted Phukan’s morphed images

Bora was operating the fake profile of Archita Phukan for weeks and has been posting adult content using Phukan’s morphed photos and videos generated with the help of Artificial Intelligence. He admitted to having obtained Phukan’s images from her old social media account and morphed them.

Bora told the police that he uploaded the AI-generated photos and videos to defame and harass Phukan. “During interrogation, the accused said he created the fake account out of anger and emotional frustration following the end of his relationship with the woman,” the officer said. An FIR has been registered against Bora for committing cyber fraud, defamation, identity manipulation, obscenity and invasion of privacy under relevant sections of the BNS and the IT Act.

Phukan’s photos with Lust appeared on the internet in April this year. The photos were posted by a fake social media profile named Babydoll Archi. The profile has been regularly posting Phukan’s morphed images and videos and had gathered a considerable following of over 750 thousand. The fake profile gained attention after a reel showing Phukan with Lust went viral, leaving its followers surprised. The reel garnered millions of views.

A story about Babydoll Archi’s troubled past involving prostitution were also posted from the fake profile. The story mentioned how she “earned” her freedom from prostitution by paying ₹25 lakh.

Soon Phukan’s name appeared in top searches on search engines, and on Monday (7th July), ‘Archita Pukhan video viral Original’ became an active trend on Google Trends. She came to know about the fake profile and pictures through her friends, who came across the morphed videos and images. Subsequently, the authorities were alerted by her brother leading to the nabbing of the culprit.

Indian Railways to install CCTV cameras in all passenger coaches and locomotives after successful trials, Minister Vaishnaw emphasises on deploying the best-in-class equipment

OpIndia Staff
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Indian Railways to install CCTV cameras in all passenger coaches and locomotives after successful trials, Minister Vaishnaw emphasises on deploying the best-in-class equipment

Based on the positive outcome of experimental installation of CCTV cameras in passenger coaches, Indian Railways has decided to install CCTV cameras in all coaches. This move will significantly improve passenger safety, as miscreants and organised gangs take advantage of gullible passengers.

With cameras, such incidents will significantly reduce, said Ministry of Railways in a statement. To preserve privacy of passengers, CCTV cameras will be installed in the common movement areas near the doors.

In a meeting held on Saturday 12th July, 2025, Union Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw and Union Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Singh Bittu reviewed the progress of CCTV Cameras’ installation in locomotives and coaches. The meeting was attended by the senior officials of the Railway Board.

360-degree comprehensive coverage

The railway officials informed that successful trials have been done in the loco engines and coaches of the Northern Railway. The Union Minister for Railways gave the go ahead to install CCTV cameras in all 74,000 coaches and 15,000 locos.

Each railway coach will be covered with 4 dome type CCTV cameras – 2 in each entrance way, and each locomotive will have 6 CCTV cameras. This will include 1 camera each at the front, rear and on both sides of the locomotive. Each cab at front and rear of a loco will be fitted with 1 dome CCTV camera and 2 desk mounted microphones.

Modern surveillance for modern problems

The officials added that the CCTV cameras will have the latest specifications and will be STQC certified. The Union Minister for Railways emphasised on deploying the best-in-class equipment. He urged the railway officials to ensure that high quality footage should be available even for trains running at 100 kmph plus speeds and also under low lighting conditions. The Minister encouraged the officials to explore the use of AI on the data captured by CCTV cameras, in collaboration with the IndiaAI mission.

The purpose of fitting cameras in the common movement areas of coaches is to improve safety and security of passengers. While preserving privacy, these cameras will help in identifying miscreants. The modernization efforts of Indian Railways are a reflection of its commitment towards a safe, secure, and passenger-friendly travel experience.

UP: Dalit man brutally beaten by Muslim mob for playing Shiv Bhajan during Sawan in Moradabad, case registered

OpIndia Staff
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UP: Dalit man brutally beaten by Muslim mob for playing Shiv Bhajan during Sawan in Moradabad, case registered

In Bilari police station area, Moradabad, Utter Pradesh, a Dalit Hindu e-rickshaw driver Ankit was brutally beaten by a Muslim mob for playing bhajan during Sawan. CCTV footage of the incident has also surfaced, in which the attackers can be seen dragging the victim.

According to the reports, at around 7 PM on Thursday (10 July 2025), Anikit aka Chotu was going to put his e-rickshaw on charging under the Mohalla Imali. When he reached Sabir Chowk, some Muslims stopped him and told him not to play bhajan there. According to the victim, he said that what is the problem with playing bhajan? After saying that he departed ahead.

After this, Bhura, Sameer, Usman, Azim, and Nurrahman, along with his 15 to 20 Muslim friends, surrounded Ankit. They brutally beat him and tried to kill him by strangling him. The accused also used caste-based slurs. Then threatened and fled. When the matter reached the Hindu organizations, an FIR was registered with the police on Friday (11 July 2025).

The police registered a case against 5 nominated and 15 to 20 unidentified accused in other serious sections including assault, murderous attack, and SC-ST Act. Taking action, 3 accused have been arrested and sent to jail.

BJP leader Surendra Kewat shot dead in Bihar, 2nd case of killing of prominent BJP politician ahead of elections

OpIndia Staff
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BJP leader Surendra Kewat shot dead in Bihar, 2nd case of killing of prominent BJP politician ahead of elections

On Saturday (12th July) night, BJP leader Surendra Kewat was shot dead in Sheikhpura town of Bihar. The deceased was the former president of the Punpun BJP Kisan Morcha. 

It’s the second case of the killing of a prominent BJP leader in the last 15 days. Earlier BJP leader Gopal Khemka, was killed outside his Patna residence on 4th July. His murder was caught on CCTV at his residence.

According to police officer Kanhaiya Singh, Kewat was shot by two men on a motorcycle in the Pipra police station area of Punpun block. They fled from the incident spot immediately.

“Surendra was working in the fields when unidentified men shot him dead. He was rushed to AIIMS, but he succumbed to his injuries during treatment,” Singh told reporters.  

As the incident came to light, Phulwarisharif MLA, Gopal Ravidas, and former minister Shyam Rajak reached the hospital, where they met the grieving family and expressed condolences.

This murder has triggered a fresh political showdown in Bihar as the Leader of Opposition, Tejashwi Yadav, slammed the state government over the recent killings of officials in the state. 

He shared a post on his X account targeting the state administration, saying, “And now, a BJP leader shot dead in Patna! What to say, and to whom? Is there anyone in the NDA government willing to listen to the truth or admit their mistakes?”

“Everyone knows about the CM’s health, but what are the two useless BJP deputy chief ministers doing?” he asked.

In response, Union Minister and former Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi has accused the RJD of backing criminals to malign the state government.

“Criminals are no longer entertained in the Bihar Chief Minister’s residence. They are gunned down. Those raising questions on law and order should understand this,” he said.

‘Expert’ claiming that pilots ‘deliberately’ crashed Air India 171 flight had earlier rejected this theory, goes back on his own beliefs

OpIndia Staff
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‘Expert’ claiming that pilots ‘deliberately’ crashed Air India 171 flight had earlier rejected this theory, goes back on his own beliefs

On 12th July, aviation safety consultant and former Boeing aircraft trainer Captain Mohan Ranganathan made a sudden shift in stance over the Air India Flight 171 crash that occurred on 12th June this year. While he now claims the incident was the result of “deliberate human intervention”, citing the preliminary report on the crash, he had earlier warned against prematurely blaming pilots and urged focus on systemic safety issues.

According to the preliminary report issued by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), in a cockpit exchange, one pilot asked the other why the fuel supply was cut off. The latter denied having done so. Ranganathan concluded this could not have happened by accident and stressed that “the fuel switch does not change automatically” and “must be moved physically”.

However, in an earlier interview with The News Minute, he had presented a more cautious approach. He had criticised the tendency to pin such crashes on pilots or aircraft systems. He had warned, “I can bet the investigators would… definitely blame the pilots.” At that time, he also spoke against revealing crew identities prematurely, noting the trauma such disclosures cause.

Despite the investigation still being underway, his current claim of a “deliberate action” is in contrast with the previously expressed concern. The investigation has not offered any definitive conclusions so far.

Notably, veteran pilot and president of the Federation of Indian Pilots Association, Captain C S Randhawa, has rejected the assertion against the pilots outright. He said, “The report is inconclusive. The fuel switch follows a challenge-response system. It cannot be done in isolation or by accident.”

He added that the report lacks clarity on several key points, including whether the engine was running or control was handed over mid-take-off. Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu urged restraint, stating, “This is a preliminary report… We hope the final report brings clarity.” He reiterated his confidence in India’s pilots and crew.

ULFA-I says funeral of its top commander killed in earlier drone strike in Myanmar hit by Indian missile, two leaders killed and many injured, vows revenge on “colonial state”

OpIndia Staff
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ULFA-I says funeral of its top commander killed in earlier drone strike in Myanmar hit by Indian missile, two leaders killed and many injured, vows revenge on “colonial state”

After saying that its camps in Myanmar were attacked by Indian forces earlier today, ULFA-I (United Liberation Front of Asom- Independent) later said that the funeral of its commander killed in the attack was also hit by missiles shot by Indian planes. In a statement issued to media, the group said that two senior leaders were killed in the missile strike.

ULFA-I also said that airstrikes on its camps in the area are still going on. It vowed revenge on Indian forces for the attack.

The statement said, “The occupying forces crossed all limits of humanity by launching a missile this time on funeral of Hon’ble President of the Lower Council of the United Liberation Forces of Assam [Independet], Lt. Gen. Nayan Asom, killed in the drone strike by the colonial forces. Brigadier Ganesh Asom and Colonel Pradeep Asom were killed and several other officers/members and civilians were injured in this brutal and inhuman attack by the mercenary forces. The occupying forces continue to carry out air strikes in certain areas. We would like to inform the indigenous people of Assam that; we are determined to take revenge on this barbaric attack by the colonial state.”

The statement has been sent to Ishan Asom, Associate Editor of the Communication Department of the banned outfit.

Notably, Indian Army launched a major surgical strike on militant camps in Myanmar on the early hours of Sunday. Over a hundred UAVs were reportedly used in the operation, which targeted camps of ULFA-I and other separatist groups of northeastern India. Four camps of ULFA-I, including the Eastern Command Headquarters (ECHQ) at Hoyat Basti and the 779 Camp located at Waktham Basti were reportedly targeted. Apart from killing Nayan Asom, the drone strike had injured several members of the outfit.

The strikes targeted camps in the Naga Self-Administered Zone near the India-Myanmar border. The operation was reportedly carried out in close coordination with the Myanmar military.

However, Indian defence forces have not confirmed any such operation till now. Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma said that state police have not carried out any such operation, adding that no such confirmation has been issued by the Indian Army also. He said that the matter should be clear by the evening.

Who is Ujjwal Nikam, the new Rajya Sabha MP who secured conviction of 26/11 terrorist Ajmal Kasab as special public prosecutor

OpIndia Staff
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Who is Ujjwal Nikam, the new Rajya Sabha MP who secured conviction of 26/11 terrorist Ajmal Kasab as special public prosecutor

On Saturday (12th July), President Droupadi Murmu nominated Ujjwal Nikam, the renowned special public prosecutor in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks case, to the Rajya Sabha.

Nikam joins the Upper House alongside stalwarts such as the former Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla, historian Dr. Meenakshi Jain, and Kerala social worker C. Sadanandan Master.

A legal luminary’s journey

Coming from a humble background, Nikam was born in Jalgaon, Maharashtra, on 30th March 1953. His father was a judge. He did his graduation from K.C.E Society’s Maniyar Law College with a Bachelor of Science, laying the foundation for a formidable legal career.

He began his career as a district prosecutor in Jalgaon. After decades of experience and handling India’s most high-profile and complex cases, he built his reputation as one of the best. Nikam has a 30-year-long career during which he secured 628 life imprisonment and 37 death penalties.

Landmark cases that defined a career

Nikam’s name became synonymous with prosecuting terrorism and high-stakes criminal cases. Nikam secured the conviction and death sentence for Ajmal Kasab, a surviving terrorist of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, as a Special Public Prosecutor. His strategic arguments ensured Kasab’s conviction in just two years.

He also spent over 14 years prosecuting suspects in the 1993 Bombay terror attack, resulting in numerous convictions, which cemented his public image.

He successfully prosecuted some high-profile murder trials such as prosecuting the killers of BJP leader Pramod Mahajan (securing life imprisonment for the brother) and music mogul Gulshan Kumar, along with handling the Khairlanji Dalit massacre, Shakti Mills gang rape (securing death sentences), and Kopardi rape case.

In 2010, Nikam represented India at a UN counter-terrorism convention, highlighting his international recognition in this field.

Political foray and nomination

In 2024, Nikam stepped into active politics. He replaced Poonam Mahajan and contested the Lok Sabha election from Mumbai North Central as the BJP candidate. His campaign was based on the themes of rule of law and national security but he lost to Congress’s Varsha Gaikwad by a very narrow margin of 16,514 votes.

Despite the electoral setback, his decades of service were recognized with a Rajya Sabha nomination under Article 80(1)(a) of the Constitution, reserved for individuals excelling in art, literature, science, or social service. His term began on 13th July 2025 and runs until 12th July 2031. While nominated members are technically non-partisan, Nikam is formally listed with BJP affiliation in official records.

Recognition and controversy

In 2016, Nikam was awarded India’s fourth-highest civilian honour Padma Shri. Nikam faced criticism for a remark he made about Kasab demanding mutton biryani in jail during the trial. He later stated that he did it to break the emotional “sympathy wave” for the terrorist.

Vision for parliament

Nikam emphasized his commitment to strengthening the rule of law. By aligning with his focus on legal reform. He stated “Ram Rajya cannot be attained until there is the rule of law amongst the people.”

He has expressed interest in amending extradition laws to bring more criminals to justice. Earlier this year, Nikam made a remark that because of the positive image of India created by PM Modi.

No one can call us ‘Banana‘ country today. His remarks highlighted his ideological alignment with the current government’s narrative on legal matters and national strength

Conclusion

Ujjwal Nikam stepping into the Rajya Sabha is a big deal. He brings decades of real-world experience, the kind he get from taking on terrorists and major criminals in court.

India’s wrestling with some seriously tough legal and security headaches. Having Nikam’s voice in the mix is likely going to really shape how the country talks about and makes laws on justice and keeping people safe.

Just look at his path: one minute he’s prosecuting India’s most infamous bad guys, the next he’s helping write the laws as an MP. It’s a pretty major new step in his work for the public on’s legislative discussions regarding justice and security.

Raipur: Mob of over 80 Muslims led by history sheeter Yasin Sheikh attack a Hindu family over a minor dispute with neighbour

OpIndia Staff
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Raipur: Mob of over 80 Muslims led by history sheeter Yasin Sheikh attack a Hindu family over a minor dispute with neighbour

A small dispute between neighbours in the Bhavna Nagar area of Raipur in Chhattisgarh turned into a serious communal incident on the night of 7th July. The whole issue started over a minor argument between Sanjay Chaudhary, a Hindu resident, and his neighbour Rajesh Tiwari. Sanjay’s family used to throw leftover food for stray animals outside their house. Rajesh Tiwari objected to this, and an argument broke out.

Things took an ugly turn when Yasin Sheikh alias Sonu, a known history-sheeter in the area and Sanjay’s neighbour, got involved. He, along with his Muslim friends, attacked Rajesh Tiwari’s house and door with an axe multiple times. Eyewitnesses say that around 70-80 muslim men, armed with sticks, rods, and knives, stormed into Tiwari’s home and started beating him and his son’s friend brutally. The victims suffered serious injuries to their faces, legs, backs, and stomachs.

The attack didn’t stop at the hospital

Even after the police reached the spot and took the injured Tiwari family to the hospital, the attackers didn’t back off. They followed them to the hospital and beat them up again, this time right in front of the police.

FIR registered, some arrested

Rajesh Tiwari filed a police complaint after the attack. Based on CCTV footage and statements, the police arrested the main accused, Sanjay Chaudhary, Yasin Sheikh, and others, including Irfan Siddiqui, Anas Atif, and Rayaz Aggarwal. Attempted murder and rioting charges were filed. However, around a dozen more attackers are still absconding.

Communal tensions rise, Bajrang Dal protests

What started as a small fight soon turned into communal violence where the muslim mob attacked a Hindu family. After videos of the attack went viral, Bajrang Dal workers protested in front of the police station and Yasin’s house, demanding strict action. The area remains tense, with Yasin’s family reportedly admitting the mistake. However, they denied trying to give the matter a communal colour.

The organisation challenged the administration, saying the attack was communal and the delay in arresting others would not be tolerated. Police have increased security in the area, but locals say the fear still lingers.

Meet Harsh Vardhan Shringla: Career diplomat and former Foreign Secretary of India, who has been nominated to the Rajya Sabha

OpIndia Staff
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Meet Harsh Vardhan Shringla: Career diplomat and former Foreign Secretary of India, who has been nominated to the Rajya Sabha

On Saturday (12th July), President Droupadi Murmu nominated Harsh Vardhan Shringla, India’s most experienced diplomat. He is a retired Foreign Service officer of the Indian Foreign Service of the 1984 batch. He was the Foreign Secretary of India from January 2020 to April 2022.

During his tenure, he handled big-ticket issues, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, and thereafter served as Chief Coordinator for India’s G20 Presidency in 2023.

Over his long career, Shringla has served in significant positions. He has been India’s Ambassador to the US, Bangladesh, and Thailand.

During his time in Washington, he was instrumental in forging greater India-US ties and actively interacted with US lawmakers during delicate negotiations pertaining to Article 370 and the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

He is known for his calm nature and deep knowledge of global affairs. Many say he was one of the few Indian diplomats who could handle tough international situations with clarity and balance. During the pandemic, he helped lead the Ministry of External Affairs’ response and managed the massive Vande Bharat Mission that brought back lakhs of Indians from abroad.

Shringla was born in Mumbai and graduated from St. Stephen’s College, Delhi. He has, over time, earned a reputation for having a clear grasp of India’s foreign policy and for his diplomatic prowess.

His nomination to the Rajya Sabha is viewed as an appreciation of his decades of service to the nation and for his capability to make contributions to public policy and foreign relations even past retirement.

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