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Kolkata rape case: Victim called TMC leader ‘Dada’ and even touched his feet to spare her but accused demanded her ‘loyalty’ towards him and TMC’s student wing

OpIndia Staff
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Kolkata rape case: Victim called TMC leader ‘Dada’ and even touched his feet to spare her but accused demanded her ‘loyalty’ towards him and TMC’s student wing

Two days after a student of the South Kolkata Law College was raped by a Trinamool Congress leader named Monojit Mishra, disturbing details of the heinous crime have now surfaced through the police complaint filed by the victim.

The victim, in her complaint, informed that she was asked to prove her ‘loyalty’ towards the prime accused, Monojit Mishra and TMCP (the student wing of the TMC).

“I promised him to provide my loyalty towards him and the team as I was appointed as the girls’ secretary. So I gave him the faith of my support towards the unit,” she said. Although the victim took him as her ‘Dada (brother)’, the TMC leader proposed marriage to her.

Mishra claimed to be in love with the victim, besides his girlfriend. The victim turned down his sexual advances by reiterating that she has a boyfriend.

Screengrab of the police complaint

“He called me outside and told me that from the very first day, he likes me and after his girlfriend, he is in love with someone, and that is me and gave a proposal for marriage. I denied saying I have a boyfriend and I really love him. I cannot leave him,” the girl said in her police complaint.

She narrated how the door of the union room was first locked from inside by the accomplices of the TMC leader, who have now been identified as Zaib Ahmed and Pramit Mukhopadhyay, at his behest. Monojit Mishra took the victim near the washroom and tried forcing her to have sex.

“I denied and fought back by not letting him do anything and pushing him back. I continuously cried and asked him to let me go, I can’t do this, I have a boyfriend, and I love him. But he did not agree. He went on forcing me. And after that, for all these, I had a panic attack and had shortness of breath,” she narrated her ordeal.

The victim was taken against her will to the guard’s room. She even touched the feet of Monojit Mishra, hoping that he would spare her but it was in vain. She wrote in her police complaint that the video of the rape was shot and used to blackmail her.

Screengrab of the police complaint filed by the victim

“He undressed me and started forcefully rape me. When I fought back, he blackmailed me, and threatened me which he was doing from before. He threatens me that he will arrest my parents. I still fought back and he shown two videos of mine being naked when he raped me. He threatened me to show everyone these videos if I do not co-operate and if I don’t come whenever he calls me. When raping me” M’ and ‘P’ stood and seen everything. I was continuously fighting for life. But he went on raping me forcefully,” the victim continued.

Despite her being injured, Monojit Mishra went on to rape her. “At a time, I stopped fighting back to get out room as possible. I was fighting for life. He also tried to hit me with a hockey stick. I just let myself like a dead body. He finished his penetration, forced intercourse and left me,” the victim continued.

It was only at 10:50 pm that she could leave the guard room of the college, where the heinous crime was committed by the TMC leader. Monojit Mishra threatened to kill the victim’s boyfriend and get her parents arrested using his political influence in the ruling party.

She later called her father and asked him to pick her up from the college. The victim confided in him about what transpired at the college and a day later on Thursday (26th June), she filed the complaint with the police.

“I want justice. Being a law student, I am the victim now,” the victim said, adding that she is hoping for immediate legal action against the accused.

Who is Monojit Mishra

He is a former student of the South Kolkata Law College and has been the ex-President of the Trinamool Congress Chhatra Parishad (TMCP) at the institute. (as per his Facebook profile).

Monojit Mishra currently serves as the General Secretary of TMCP in the South Kolkata district. He is about 30 years old and has 6.2K followers. Monojit Mishra identifies himself as a ‘criminal lawyer’ who practices at the Alipore court.

As per the Facebook profile of the rape accused, he is about 30 years old and has 6.2K followers. Monojit Mishra identifies himself as a ‘criminal lawyer’ who practices at the Alipore court.

Screengrab of the Facebook Profile of Monojit Mishra

OpIndia has published a detailed report, highlighting his connections and meetings with influential TMC politicians like Abhishek Banerjee, Mamata Banerjee’s sister-in-law, Firhad Hakim and others.

Malaysia: 36 Bangladeshis arrested for promoting Islamic State terror group’s ideology in the country, had set up recruitment cell, raised funding for terrorist activities

OpIndia Staff
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Malaysia: 36 Bangladeshis arrested for promoting Islamic State terror group’s ideology in the country, had set up recruitment cell, raised funding for terrorist activities

On Friday, June 27, The Royal Malaysian Police announced the arrest of 36 Bangladeshi nationals for their involvement in a radical movement and bringing extremist beliefs based on the Islamic State (IS) ideology into the country.

Malaysia’s Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, making the announcement of the arrest of the Bangladeshis, stated that the police’s operation started on April 24 with three phases of arrests in Selangor and Johor.

The group of Bangladeshis had established recruitment cells within Malaysia as well to recruit more people to their ’cause’. They were particularly focusing on their own community for this purpose.

Out of the 36 arrested, five have been identified as being involved with the Penal Code’s Chapter VIA (which covers offences relating to terrorism), 15 have been issued orders for deportation, while 16 others are still under investigation over their role in promoting Islamic state ideology.

The Home Ministry statement read, “As a result of intelligence and coordinated action by the Special Branch Team, PDRM found that this group was bringing extremist beliefs based on the Islamic State (IS) ideology into the country They even established recruitment cells within their communities for the purpose of indoctrinating radical beliefs, collecting funds for terrorist activities, and toppling the legitimate government in their home country.”

Home Minister Saifuddin warned that any attempts to make Malaysia a base for militant operations or transit centre for extremism movements will be tackled with firm, quick and effective action.

India proposes four-pronged plan to reduce border tensions with China: Will China accept it?

Shraddha Pandey
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India proposes four-pronged plan to reduce border tensions with China: Will China accept it?

India and China share a bitter-sweet relationship. The two powerful Asian nations have complicated ties marked with trade, talks and tensions. From backing Pakistan despite its cross-border terrorism against India, using veto power in the UNSC to block India’s resolutions pertaining to Pakistani terrorists, border disputes with India, China has long been annoying India. Despite the differences, India and China are moving towards resolving disputes, especially border tensions. Now India has proposed a four-pronged plan to reduce border tensions with China.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in China: India raises Indo-China border issues and calls for a permanent solution to the border demarcation

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held a meeting with his Chinese counterpart, Admiral Dong Jun, on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Defence Ministers Meeting on Thursday and stressed on border management and having a permanent solution to border demarcation by rejuvenating the established mechanism on the issue.

During the meeting, the two leaders held “in-depth discussions” on the need to maintain peace and tranquillity along the Indo-China border. Rajnath Singh acknowledged the work being undertaken by the two nations to bring back a semblance of normalcy in the bilateral relations, according to the Ministry of Defence press release

Rajnath Singh highlighted the necessity of solving complex issues through a structured roadmap of permanent engagement and de-escalation. He emphasised the need to create good neighbourly conditions to achieve the best mutual benefits and to cooperate for stability in Asia and the world. He called for bridging the trust deficit created after the 2020 Border standoff by taking action on the ground.

India’s four-pronged plan to resolve India-China border disputes

Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh has proposed a four-pronged plan to ease Indo-China border tensions and improve diplomatic ties during the bilateral meeting with his Chinese counterpart, Admiral Dong Jun, at the SCO in Qingdao. This four-pronged plan comprises of commitment to adherence to the 2024 disengagement plan, sustained efforts to de-escalate, expedite measures to achieve fair demarcation and delimitation at the Indo-China borders, and the usage of the existing special representative level mechanism to prepare new processes to handle disputes and improve relations.

In a press release, the Ministry of Defence stated, “The two Ministers agreed to continue consultations at various levels to achieve progress on issues related to disengagement, de-escalation, border management and eventual delimitation through existing mechanisms.” India and China had reached an agreement in October on patrolling arrangements in the

Depsang Plains and Demchok, two friction points along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). The understanding was reached after earlier disengagement in other friction points in eastern Ladakh following meetings at diplomatic and military levels.

During the meeting with his Chinese counterpart, Rajnath Singh appreciated the resumption of the Kailash Manasarovar yatra after a gap of five years. He highlighted the important milestone of reaching 75 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries.

India’s proposal offers a structured and fair roadmap for permanent engagement, de-escalation, effective border management, and a lasting solution for border demarcation. This proposal is a positive step towards fostering good neighbourly relations and bridging the trust deficit. India’s approach aims to stabilise the Line of Actual Control (LAC) to avert a repeat of the 2020 Galwan Valley standoff and the 2017 Doklam standoff, which resulted in a serious deterioration of the Indo-China bilateral ties.

It must be recalled that on June 15, 2020, the Chinese troops had attacked the Indian troops along the LAC near the Ladakh border. The clashes had resulted in India losing 20 of its soldiers. China initially denied facing any casualties in the attack. However, after months of denial, China later acknowledged the loss of at least 5 of its soldiers, although independent reports suggested Beijing lost around 35-40 soldiers in the clashes. OpIndia reported earlier how China traversed great lengths to cover up the casualties of its soldiers in the clashes.

Another big flare-up of this nature since Galwan (in Ladakh) Valley, occurred on December 9 in 2022, in the Yangtze area of Arunachal Pradesh’s Tawang sector.

In 2017, Indian troops halted Chinese attempts to expand their motorable route towards the Jampheri Ridge, which overlooks the strategically sensitive Siliguri Corridor, resulting in a 73-day standoff on the Bhutanese territory of Doklam. The PLA (People’s Liberation Army) built extensive military facilities and permanently stationed troops in north Doklam following the disengagement.

Besides border disputes, China’s backing of Pakistan, which sponsors cross-border terrorism against India, has also added to the surging hostilities between India and China in recent years. Even during Operation Sindoor, conducted by the Indian armed forces against Pakistani terror and military establishments, China had provided defence and tech support to Pakistan. Although Indian defence weaponry and defence systems proved Chinese defence systems ineffective.

However, in the context of the Indo-China border tensions, China has recent times, indicated openness to incremental measures towards de-escalation, as evident from the October 2024 patrolling agreement. Even the resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra after a five-year gap hints at China’s willingness to mend its ways and proceed with a more positive approach towards India.

Will China accept India’s proposal?

While China is indeed showing some positive signs, it can never be trusted blindly, especially given its expansionist ambitions and mindless attempts at laying claims over Indian territories in the northeast. India’s four-pronged plan is well-timed and much needed in these volatile times. Persistent tensions between two nuclear-armed neighbours pose a significant threat to regional stability. In the Galwan clashes, China shattered the decades of relative peace and undermined the trust of India. Chinese illegal attempts at incursions and infrastructure buildup have forced India to counter-deployments, thus tensions have prevailed, though not with the same intensity seen during 2020. India’s four-pronged proposal essentially addresses these issues by institutionalising de-escalation, clarifying the LAC as well and rebuilding trust.

However, the question remains: will China accept India’s proposal? Given the complexity of Indo-China relations, the answer to this question is uncertain. As much as India and China are posited as rivals, the two powerful nations need each other, not only for mutual benefits but also to ensure a power balance in Asia. China may want to accept India’s proposal, as, even though geopolitical experts opine that keeping entangled in conflict serves China, the country would not want to have prolonged direct conflict with India.

Much like the United States, being a ‘friend’ of China also comes at a dear cost. In the case of both the US and China, a country is their ally only till it aligns with their interests. However, India’s strict exercise of strategic autonomy in many issues has irked the US and would have a similar response from China as well. Since China likes to dominate its ‘allies’ and India does not back off from its strategic autonomy and makes no compromise on its territorial integrity, China might reject India’s proposal.

Besides, China may also reject the four-pronged plan since Beijing wants to maintain pressure on India to limit its regional influence; you see, the ‘rivalry’ comes into play. This becomes even more obvious since India, although a BRICS member, is also a member of the QUAD and has good ties with the US, even though Donald Trump’s antics in recent times have displeased India.

Also, a clarified LAC would mean that China would have to relinquish its unjustified claims over Indian territories, be it Arunachal Pradesh or parts of Ladakh. China’s reluctance to discontinue infrastructure construction on Indian territories it occupies, despite India’s strong objections, suggests that China will not agree to any proposal that might require it to concede ground or accept a proposal where it does not arbitrarily decide the terms. Not to forget, China does not recognise the McMahon Line, although India does. Thus, China accepting India’s proposal is less likely.

Even if China agrees to India’s four-pronged plan, it would not be a surprise that at some point in time, it betrays India for its own strategic interests.

If China accepts India’s proposal and makes genuine efforts to ensure resolution of the border disputes in accordance with the plan, India, as it has been in the past disengagements, will also prioritise implementing the patrolling agreement and establishing no-patrol zones, while pivoting towards diplomatic dialogue to clarify the LAC. India would also strengthen its border infrastructure and maintain a robust presence. However, if China rejects the proposal outrightly or partially or comes up with its own set of terms, which are disagreeable to India, New Delhi would want to maintain the military buildup, increase troops deployment, enhance infrastructure and be fully prepared for any Chinese misadventure at the LAC. India is already bolstering partnerships with QUAD nations to counterbalance China, while also continuing with economic steps, including Chinese app bans and investment scrutiny.

While India’s proposal offers a pragmatic framework to rebuild mutual trust between New Delhi and Beijing, it remains to be seen if China prefers a practical resolution of disputes or decides to perpetuate hostilities to prevent India’s rise, since Beijing sees the border dispute with India as a strategic leverage. If the plan is accepted by China, India will advance military and diplomatic cooperation; if rejected, India will bolster deterrence and forge global partnerships to secure its borders and ensure its regional influence.

Border disputes with China and caused by China and its ally-cum-vassal, Pakistan’s cross-border Islamic terrorism against India have been New Delhi’s major concerns. While India did offer a four-pronged plan to China to resolve border disputes, it also remained firm on its stance against Pakistan-sponsored terrorism as seen at the SCO summit wherein Indian defence minister refused to sign the joint statement since it made no mention of terrorism even as its been hardly two months since Pakistan-backed terrorists carried out jihadist attack in Pahalgam killing innocent civilians. At this point, India’s balanced approach of taking proactive measures to resolve disputes but not compromising on principles and national interests hints at its cautious optimism.

Grandfather of new MI6 chief was a Nazi spy chief known as ‘the buther’, had boasted of killing Jews and Ukrainian resistance fighters, reveals report

OpIndia Staff
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Grandfather of new MI6 chief was a Nazi spy chief known as ‘the buther’, had boasted of killing Jews and Ukrainian resistance fighters, reveals report

Earlier this month, the United Kingdom government announced that the new head of MI6 will be Blaise Metreweli, the first woman to head the British External Intelligence agency. Metreweli joined the Secret Intelligence Service in 1999, and will become its head in September this year, when the incumbent chief Sir Richard Moore retires. However, before she takes charge, a disturbing fact has been reported, that her grandfather was a Nazi spy chief.

Citing German archives, The Daily Mail reported that Blaise Metreweli is the granddaughter of Constantine Dobrowolski, a notorious Nazi collaborator who spied and killed for Adolf Hitler’s Germany.

As per the report, the new MI6 chief’s paternal grandfather Dobrowolski was a Ukrainian national who had defected from the Red Army and had become the chief informant in the region of Chernihiv in Ukraine. He was known as ‘The Butcher’, the report stated.

He remained in Nazi-occupied Ukraine while the rest of his family fled after the Soviet army liberated the region from the Germans.

As per a family tree posed by Daily Mail, Blaise Metreweli is the daughter of Constantine Dobrowolski Jr. alias Constantine Metreweli, son of Constantine Dobrowolski and Varvara (Barbara) Andreevna.

As per the archives accessed by the media house, Dobrowolski was known as ‘Agent No 30’ by Wehrmacht commanders, and he had vowed revenge against the Russians after “they slaughtered his noble land-owning family, plundered their estate and seized Ukraine after the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution.”

The archives show that Soviet Union had put a bounty on Dobrowolski of 50,000 roubles – worth about £200,000 now – and called him “the worst enemy of the Ukrainian people”. The report states that he signed off a letter with ‘Heil Hitler’.

It further mentions that he boasted to German commanders of ‘personally’ taking part ‘in the extermination of the Jews’ and killing hundreds of Ukrainian resistance fighters. There are even accounts of him looting the bodies of Holocaust victims and laughing at the sexual assault of female prisoners, the report says.

Notably, Blaise Metreweli never met her grandfather, as the family fled Ukraine but he remained there after the Red Army’s liberation of the region in 1943. Moreover, she can’t be judged for the acts of her grandfather. But this fact again shows how Ukrainians collaborated with Nazis.

India thrashes supplemental award by ‘illegal arbitration court’ under Indus Water Treaty on 2 hydroelectric projects in Kashmir, calls it a charade at Pakistan’s behest

OpIndia Staff
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India thrashes supplemental award by ‘illegal arbitration court’ under Indus Water Treaty on 2 hydroelectric projects in Kashmir, calls it a charade at Pakistan’s behest

Government of India on Friday dismissed a Court of Arbitration under the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty as illegal, and rejected its recent rulings over Kishenganga and Ratle hydroelectric projects in Jammu and Kashmir. A statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs said that the court was formed in brazen violation of the treaty. MEA called it a charade at Pakistan’s behest, saying it is another attempt by Pakistan to escape accountability for its role as the global epicenter of terrorism.

The statement said, “today, the illegal Court of Arbitration, purportedly constituted under the Indus Waters Treaty 1960, albeit in brazen violation of it, has issued what it characterizes as a “supplemental award” on its competence concerning the Kishenganga and Ratle hydroelectric projects in the Indian Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.”

Supplemental award issued by the Court of Arbitration refers to a follow-up decision specifically on whether the tribunal has the legal authority to hear the case about India’s Kishenganga and Ratle projects. The award was not on the projects themselves, but on the court’s jurisdiction over them.

MEA added that “India has never recognised the existence in law of this so-called Court of Arbitration, and India’s position has all along been that the constitution of this so-called arbitral body is in itself a serious breach of the Indus Waters Treaty and consequently any proceedings before this forum and any award or decision taken by it are also for that reason illegal and per se void.”

Reiterating India’s right to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty, the statement said, “Following the Pahalgam terrorist attack, India has in exercise of its rights as a sovereign nation under international law, placed the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance, until Pakistan credibly and irrevocably abjures its support for cross-border terrorism. Until such time that the Treaty is in abeyance, India is no longer bound to perform any of its obligations under the Treaty. No Court of Arbitration, much less this illegally constituted arbitral body which has no existence in the eye of law, has the jurisdiction to examine the legality of India’s actions in exercise of its rights as a sovereign.”

India, therefore, categorically rejects this so-called supplemental award as it has rejected all prior pronouncements of this body, MEA added in the statement.

Calling it a charade at Pakistan’s behest, the ministry said, “This latest charade at Pakistan’s behest is yet another desperate attempt by it to escape accountability for its role as the global epicenter of terrorism. Pakistan’s resort to this fabricated arbitration mechanism is consistent with its decades-long pattern of deception and manipulation of international forums.”

Notably, earlier in January this year, before the treaty was suspended by India, a World Bank-appointed neutral expert declared that it has the authority to resolve the disputes between India and Pakistan regarding two hydropower projects in Jammu and Kashmir under the terms of the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960. It was also the stand of India.

The Permanent Court of Arbitration situated in The Hague, Netherlands also endorsed the Indian government’s stand and ruled that the World Bank-appointed neutral expert ‘is competent’ to decide on the design and water usage by the Kishenganga and Ratle hydroelectric projects in India. The court had issued the order responding to a petition by Pakistan against the projects.

According to the Indus Waters Treaty’s Annexure F, paragraph 7, a neutral expert will decide a matter if the Permanent Indus Commission is unable to reach a consensus.

India’s current account records a surplus of $13.5 billion in January-March quarter of 2024-25, deficit for the financial year comes down to $23.3 billion

ANI
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India’s current account records a surplus of $13.5 billion in January-March quarter of 2024-25, deficit for the financial year comes down to $23.3 billion

India’s current account recorded a surplus of USD 13.5 billion (or 1.3 per cent of GDP) in the January-March quarter of 2024-25 as compared with USD 4.6 billion (or 0.5 per cent of GDP) in the same quarter of 2023-24, RBI data showed Friday.

Reportedly, the country’s current account posted a surplus for the first time in four quarters.

In the October-December quarter of 2024-25, the current account was in a deficit of USD 11.3 billion (1.1 per cent of GDP).

Merchandise trade deficit, at USD 59.5 billion in Q4 2024-25, was higher than USD 52.0 billion in Q4 2023-24. However, it moderated from USD 79.3 billion in Q3 2024-25.

Net services receipts increased to USD 53.3 billion in Q4 2024-25 from USD 42.7 billion a year ago. Services exports have risen on a year-on-year basis in major categories such as business services and computer services.

Net outgo on the primary income account, primarily reflecting payments of investment income, moderated to USD 11.9 billion in Q4 2024-25 from USD 14.8 billion in Q4 2023-24.

Personal transfer receipts, mainly representing remittances by Indians employed overseas, rose to USD 33.9 billion in Q4 2024-25 from USD 31.3 billion in Q4 2023-24.

In the financial account, foreign direct investment (FDI) recorded a net inflow of USD 0.4 billion in Q4 2024-25 as compared to an inflow of USD 2.3 billion in the corresponding period of 2023-24.

Foreign portfolio investment (FPI) recorded a net outflow of USD 5.9 billion in Q4 2024-25 as against a net inflow of USD 11.4 billion in Q4 2023-24.

In the entire year 2024-25, India’s current account deficit, at USD 23.3 billion (0.6 per cent of GDP) was lower than USD 26.0 billion (0.7 per cent of GDP) during 2023- 24, primarily due to “higher net invisibles receipts.”

Net invisibles receipts were higher during 2024-25 than a year ago on account of services and personal transfers, RBI said today.

Aditi Nayar, Chief Economist and Head – Research and Outreach, ICRA Limited, said, “While the current account balance expectedly reported a seasonal surplus in Q4 FY2025, the size of the same overshot our expectations, amid a surprise dip in primary income outflows in the quarter. This led to the unexpected narrowing in the CAD to 0.6 per cent of GDP in FY2025 from 0.7 per cent in FY2024.”

“Amid expectations of a widening in the merchandise trade deficit as well as a moderation in the services trade surplus in Q1 FY2026 vis-a-vis Q4 FY2025, we expect the current account to revert to a deficit in the ongoing quarter, printing at 1.3 per cent of GDP. We foresee India’s current account deficit to average 1 per cent of GDP in FY2026, assuming an average crude oil price of USD 70/barrel for the fiscal, which is eminently manageable in spite of the prevailing global uncertainties,” added Nayar.

In another news, the Reserve Bank of India, in consultation with the State Governments/Union Territories (UTs), announced today that the quantum of total market borrowings by the State Governments/UTs for the quarter July – September 2025, is pegged to be Rs 2.86 lakh crore.

(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)

Temple demolition whitewashed: How Muhammad Yunus-led govt in Bangladesh brazenly defended demolition of Hindu temple in Dhaka

Jinit Jain
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Temple demolition whitewashed: How Muhammad Yunus-led govt in Bangladesh brazenly defended demolition of Hindu temple in Dhaka

Amid tensions over brazen attacks against minorities, the Muhammad Yunus-led government of Bangladesh has shamelessly attempted to justify the demolition of a Hindu temple in Dhaka under the flimsy pretext of “removing unauthorised structures.”

A press release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on June 27 reads less like an explanation and more like a propaganda sheet designed to gaslight both domestic minorities and the international community.

Bangaldesh Hindu temple
Yunus govt released a statement defending the demolition of Hindu Temple in Dhaka

The statement comes hot on the heels of the recent destruction of a Durga temple in the Khilket area of Dhaka that has sparked concerns of security of the religious minorities in Bangladesh, a nation that has spiraled into an abyss of volatility and unrest following the undemocratic ouster of PM Sheikh Hasina last year.

The Yunus government has defended the demolition, arguing that the temple was initially a makeshift Puja Mandap established during Durga Puja 2024. However, the temple was razed down despite repeated pleas from the local Hindu community for its preservation.

Citing bureaucratic technicalities, which has often been employed to defend the untenable, the government claims the temple stood on “undisputed Railway land” and was only permitted temporarily. But the same press release conveniently admits that hundreds of illegal shops, political party offices, and other encroachments have long existed on the same stretch of Railway land.

Yet, it was the religious symbol of the harrassed minorities—Hindus—a community that has long been at the receiving end of fanatics sheltered and encouraged by the Yunus regime. The temple in demolition in Dhaka was satisfy the bloodlust among the Islamists who want to purge the country of its Hindu and Christian minorities, evident from the spate of attacks faced by the minorities under the Yunus administration.

Even more shocking is the government’s proud declaration that the Kali idol from the demolished temple was “immersed in the Balu River with participation of the Hindu community.” In reality, this so-called “participation” was under the shadow of state machinery dismantling their place of worship, which could hardly be branded as a voluntary or respectful act.

However, this pattern of betraying Hindus and attacking their faith is nothing new. Under Yunus’s leadership, attacks on temples, desecrations of idols, and land grabs from Hindus have escalated unabated, all while the government hides behind the veneer of “lawful administrative activities.” The claim that Bangladesh “remains firmly committed to safeguarding the rights of all communities” is nothing but a diplomatic smokescreen, easily contradicted by the growing insecurity faced by Hindus in the country.

The demolition at Khilkhet follows a worrying trend where temples and minority religious structures are targeted under the pretext of clearing encroachment or land regularisation. However, structures affiliated with politically connected groups or the majority community somehow escape this legal scrutiny, exposing the jarring hypocrisy of the system.

Perhaps, the most insulting is the press release’s arrogant call for the public to “refrain from reacting on any matter disregarding facts.” But the facts are already clear: a Hindu temple was demolished, idols desecrated, and the government’s response reeks of apathy, justification, and victim-blaming.

As the Yunus regime parades its so-called commitment to religious harmony before the world, the reality for Bangladesh’s Hindus is one of fear, erasure, and institutional betrayal.

British Navy finally agrees to move stranded F-35B jet to Maintenance facility of Thiruvananthapuram airport for repairs, 2 weeks after it made emergency landing

ANI
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British Navy finally agrees to move stranded F-35B jet to Maintenance facility of Thiruvananthapuram airport for repairs, 2 weeks after it made emergency landing

A UK F-35B aircraft is currently awaiting repairs at the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport after experiencing an engineering issue, a British High Commission spokesperson confirmed.

“A UK F-35B aircraft is awaiting repairs at the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport after developing an engineering issue. The UK has accepted an offer to move the aircraft to the Maintenance Repair and Overhaul facility at the airport. The aircraft will be moved to the hangar once UK engineering teams arrive with specialist equipment, thereby ensuring there is minimal disruption to scheduled maintenance of other aircraft,” the spokesperson said.

The aircraft is expected to return to active service after the necessary repairs and safety checks are completed. In a statement, the British High Commission added, “Ground teams continue to work closely with Indian authorities to ensure safety and security precautions are observed. We thank the Indian authorities and Thiruvananthapuram International Airport for their continued support.”

British authorities on Thursday expressed gratitude to India following the emergency landing of the British F-35B fighter jet at Thiruvananthapuram airport nearly a fortnight ago. “We are working to repair the UK F-35B at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport as quickly as possible. We thank the Indian Authorities for their continued support,” the spokesperson said.

The UK aircraft was unable to return to UK Aircraft Carrier HMS Prince of Wales due to adverse weather conditions. Prioritising safety, the aircraft diverted to Thiruvananthapuram International Airport in India, where it landed safely.

While on the ground, the aircraft developed an engineering issue that precluded its return to the Carrier. Engineers from HMS Prince of Wales assessed the situation and determined that assistance from a UK-based engineering team was required.

According to the UK High Commission, the aircraft will be relocated to a space in the maintenance repair and overhaul facility hangar once the necessary equipment and personnel arrive.

Throughout this diversion incident, the UK has worked in close coordination with Indian authorities. “Throughout this diversion incident, we have worked closely with all Indian authorities, including the Indian Air Force, Indian Navy and Thiruvananthapuram International Airport and are extremely grateful for their support,” the High Commission said.

The statement further highlighted the continued security and organisational support provided by India, underlining the growing cooperation and strong relationship between the armed forces of both nations.

Earlier, the Indian Air Force (IAF) confirmed that a British Royal Navy F-35B fighter jet made an emergency landing at Thiruvananthapuram airport on the night of June 14.

In a post on X, the IAF stated, “A Royal Navy F-35B fighter recovered off an emergency landing at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport on the night of 14 June 25. Operating from UK Aircraft Carrier, HMS Prince of Wales, it was undertaking routine flying outside Indian ADIZ with Thiruvananthapuram earmarked as the emergency recovery airfield.”

“On having declared a diversion off an emergency, the F-35B was detected and identified by the IAF’s IACCS network and cleared for the recovery. IAF is providing all necessary support for the rectification and subsequent return of the aircraft,” the IAF added.

(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)

OpIndia Ground Report: Taufiq murdered “rakhi sister” Neha for rejecting his wedding proposal, threw her off the 5th floor of the building to her death

अनुराग
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OpIndia Ground Report: Taufiq murdered “rakhi sister” Neha for rejecting his wedding proposal, threw her off the 5th floor of the building to her death

“She had big dreams. She just wanted to get a good job and support her family”, Neha’s elder sister, was drowning in tears, as she remembered her younger sister. 19-year-old Neha was murdered at 7:30 am on Monday (June 23, 2025) in Ashok Nagar, North-East Delhi after she was thrown off the 5th floor of her building. Taufiq, a daily wage labourer living near their house, killed her.

OpIndia’s team reached Neha’s house and talked to the family members about this murder. The family members gave detailed information about Taufiq and his intentions.

Neha tied a rakhi to Taufiq, yet he killed her

Taufiq, after making an emotional case that he doesn’t have any sister, apparently treated Neha as his sister. The elder sister of Neha said that she used to tie Rakhi to him on Rakshabandhan. However, after three years, Taufiq proposed marriage to his ‘Rakhi sister’.

After this, Neha’s mother refused to let Taufiq come to the house. According to Neha’s mother, Taufiq was very angry after this. On June 23, at 7:30 in the morning, he came to Neha’s building and sneaked into the building wearing a burqa.

Taufiq knew that Neha would be washing clothes on the terrace at that time so he went straight to the fifth floor terrace. Meanwhile, Neha’s father also came to the terrace. Following an altercation, Taufiq threw Neha from the terrace into an empty plot and ran away.

Taufiq used to come to Delhi from Moradabad for work

People living nearby told OpIndia that Taufiq came to this area of ​​Delhi from Moradabad three-four years ago. About fifteen Muslim boys from Moradabad used to work with him in the nearby wholesale market. A labourer’s daily income in the market was about one thousand rupees. Shopkeepers said that they used to provide food and accommodation to the labourers.

Neha’s neighbours, while talking to OpIndia, said that Taufiq came to this locality for the first time about three years ago, and used to live alone.

Some people in the neighbourhood fed Taufiq in the beginning. However, since it did not seem right to feed a stranger every day, they stopped.

After that, Taufiq eyed a five-storey house built at the intersection of the neighbourhood. On the first floor of this house, he saw the family of Rakesh (name changed). The family had three daughters and two sons.

The family saw Taufiq as just a hapless labourer living away from home. Initially, he would come sometimes to eat food. Then he started coming regularly during the day to ask for water and other things.

Gradually, Taufiq established himself in their house, and during Rakshabandhan, one of the daughters, Neha, tied a Rakhi to Taufiq. This relationship continued for the next three years. However, during that time period Taufiq’s views changed, he now wanted to make Neha his wife.

Taufiq killed Neha because he wanted to make his ‘rakhi sister’ his wife

Neha always treated Taufiq as her brother. However, a few months before the murder, Taufiq proposed marriage to Neha. This proposal was shocking for both, Neha and her family. But Taufiq had made up his mind that he wants to marry his sister.

Neha’s mother had even banned Taufiq from coming to the house, but he kept meeting Neha secretly. Neha did not expect that this game of hide and seek would result in her death.

Neha was the second girl among the siblings. Taufiq knew that she goes to the roof of the house to dry clothes every morning. She went to wash clothes on the fateful morning as well where she met her demise.

Taufiq confessed to the crime and said, “That day I was already present on the roof. I was waiting for Neha to come. Neha comes to the roof at seven thirty.”

Neha was thrown from the fifth floor of the building in front of her father

Neha’s father said, “They were shouting at each other. Hearing the noise, I went to the terrace, and to my shock, Taufiq was strangling Neha with her dupatta. I rushed to save my daughter but Taufiq pushed me as well. By the time I could get up, he had thrown Neha down from the terrace. Before I could understand anything, he started running down the stairs. Neha had fallen on a pile of bricks. She was screaming, I also shouted for help.”

People from the neighbourhood put her in an auto and took her to a hospital. However, Neha died after about five hours of treatment.

Neha lost her life because her family offered water to a thirsty man

When OpIndia team reached Neha’s house, there was a crowd of policemen outside. On the ground floor, the elder sister was sitting inconsolable. Some relatives and media people had surrounded her. Neha’s father was present on the first floor., lying on the bed.

There were pictures of many Hindu gods and goddesses including Ram and Ganesh on the door. Neha’s younger brother was watching the news of his sister’s murder on TV.

Crying, the little boy said that he did not know that Taufiq would turn out to be such a butcher.

We could see the regret in the tears coming out of his eyes. Regret about why he could not recognize Taufiq in time? History tells us that never feed milk to snakes, but now giving water to a thirsty man can also result in such a tragedy.

Washington Post downplays anti-Hindu propaganda of NYC mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani as ‘harsh criticism’ of PM Modi

OpIndia Staff
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Washington Post downplays anti-Hindu propaganda of NYC mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani as ‘harsh criticism’ of PM Modi

On Thursday (26th April), The Washington Post made a glaring case of narrative distortion in a propaganda piece downplaying anti-Hindu rhetoric of Zohran Mamdani as ‘harsh criticism’ of PM Modi.

Mamdani is a New York State Assembly member of Indian-Ugandan origin, has now become a so-called voice in progressive and anti-establishment political circles. His recent mayoral primary win in NYC has been celebrated by many media outlets, but his remarks on the Indian Prime Minister have drawn widespread attention in India.

Zohran used the terms ‘war criminal’ and “mass slaughter of Muslims” for Prime Minister Modi, but his vision suggests something else. The Amercian daily ‘The Washington Post has tried to frame this solely as ‘criticism of Modi,’ but it is more the intent which is politically bent and reflects a deeper anti-Hindu propaganda.

At a candidature forum last month, Mamdani referred to Modi as a “war criminal,” in the same manner as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. This statement underlined his criticism of the war in Gaza. Interconnecting it, he dated back to history, recalling the Gujarat riots and blamed Modi for the deaths of Muslims during the violence while he was serving as Chief Minister of the state. Zohran’s personal hatred toward Hindus was seen as politically oriented, rooted in his long-standing animosity toward the Hindu religion.

At one such protest outside the Indian Consulate, Mamdani accused the Ram mandir temple inauguration of being a “celebration of the destruction of a mosque” and a “tool of oppression.” Such language deliberately erases the decades-long legal and democratic process that led to the Ram Mandir verdict by India’s Supreme Court. It also insults millions of Hindus worldwide who see the temple not as a political symbol, but as the restoration of sacred heritage.

However, his stance on Indian politics extends far beyond democratic dissent. In January 2024, Mamdani co-organized and endorsed protests in New York City that condemned the consecration of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, branding the event as “Hindutva extremism.” The temple—revered by Hindus as the birthplace of Lord Ram—was not just criticized as a political symbol but denounced as a project of “fascism,” equating Hindu religious aspirations with violent majoritarianism.

A video, shot in August 2022, surfaced on social media, showing Mamdani leading a hate mob against the Hindu community at Times Square. Citing “Who are the Hindus? Harami (Bastards),” the mob was heard yelling. Mamdani remained unflinching despite the dehumanization of the Hindu community by his supporters. He instead began spewing vitriol against the Ram Mandir.

The Washington Post’s unsupported claim, in a recent tweet referencing Abhishek Manu Singhvi, that described “the decades-long enmity between Hindu-majority India and Muslim-majority Pakistan,” is a completely flawed and vulnerable act—directly harming and assassinating the internal harmony of Indian communities. This highlights this is not just anti-Modi rhetoric; this is anti-Hindu propaganda masquerading as secular concern.

A person responded to this on X by writing: “As an Indian, this should’ve been a moment of pride—the mayoral primary victory of Zohran—but I can’t support Mamdani for spreading lies [about] India to gain sympathy, such as ‘there are no Gujarati Muslims left.’”

“Mamdani is a terror sympathizer. A Hindu-hating bigot,” Sreemoy Talukdar, an editor at Firstpost, an Indian media outlet with ties to the Hindu right, wrote on Wednesday on X.

Zohran Mamdani and The Washington Post downplay the anti-Hindu propaganda of NYC’s Zohran Mamdani as ‘criticism of Modi’. A bomb blast in Malegaon, a town in Maharashtra, in September 2008, killed six people and injured dozens. What made this case stand out was that, unlike most terror attacks in India until then—which were often attributed to Islamist terror groups—this attack led to the arrest of individuals linked to right-wing Hindu organizations. The Washington Post report published on November 24, 2008, titled “In India, controversy over Hindus’ arrests,” used the phrase “Hindu terrorism,” connecting it with how members of India’s Hindu majority were implicated.

In addition, Mamdani’s alignment with radical groups such as the Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC), which has been accused of spreading anti-Hindu disinformation in the U.S IAMC has previously amplified claims that Hindu groups in America are exporting “Hindutva terror,” often without substantial evidence, fostering a climate of fear and mistrust against Indian-American Hindus.

It is this selective framing by media outlets like The Washington Post that contributes to a broader problem: delegitimizing Hindu concerns while sanitizing hate under the convenient banner of political dissent. The paper’s failure to distinguish between reasonable critique and bigoted activism reflects a worrying trend in Western media—where the complexities of India’s socio-religious landscape are flattened to fit their ideological preferences.

By branding anti-Hindu actions as mere anti-Modi expressions, publications not only ignore the lived experiences of Hindus but also embolden voices that conflate Hindu identity with extremism. True dissent in a democracy must allow space for critique without indulging in cultural erasure. The burden lies with responsible journalism to make that distinction clear.

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