On 2nd June, 17-year-old TikTok influencer Sana Yousuf was shot dead at her home in Islamabad. It is yet another chilling reminder of how dangerous it is for women to be visible in Pakistan’s digital space. Police are investigating the case as a potential honour killing, as reportedly her cousin shot her dead.
Sana hailed from the Upper Chitral district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. She had amassed a massive following on TikTok and Instagram through her content. Her death triggered grief online, with users calling out the toxic patriarchy and extremist mindset that views outspoken women as threats to family “honour”.
Shot twice at point-blank range
According to media reports, the accused was a cousin who had come to visit Sana at her residence. After a brief conversation, he allegedly shot her twice in the chest at close range before fleeing the scene. Her body was taken to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences for autopsy. Some social media users suggested the police arrested a man named Umar alias Kaka in connection to her murder.
? Police have arrested Umar, also known as Kaka, in Faisalabad in connection with the brutal murder of Sana Yousaf. CCTV footage of the suspect has also surfaced. #SanaYousaf#Islamabadpic.twitter.com/WTdPrBdkRn
Speaking to the media, a police spokesperson said, “The assailant entered the residence, fired multiple shots, and fled immediately.” All angles are being explored, including the suspicion of honour killing.
Disturbing responses online
While large sections of Pakistani social media mourned Sana’s death and called it “a murder of dreams and courage”, many Islamists shockingly celebrated her killing. One user said, “Reward the killer”, glorifying violence under the guise of cultural norms.
History repeating itself
The brutal killing of Sana is being compared to the 2016 murder of Pakistan’s first social media celebrity, Qandeel Baloch. She was known for her bold posts and fearless commentary. Qandeel was strangled to death by her own brother Waseem in the name of honour. He later confessed to the crime, saying she had “brought shame” to the family.
Despite global outrage, Waseem was released in 2022 after Qandeel’s parents “forgave” him, exposing the deep flaws in how Pakistan handles cases of honour crimes.
Another teen shot for using TikTok
Earlier this year, 15-year-old Hira Anwar was shot dead in Quetta by her father and maternal uncle for posting TikTok videos. Her father had returned from the US and was reportedly enraged by her refusal to stop using the platform. Both accused confessed and are now in police custody.
A society at war with its women
Sana’s murder will become another statistic in Pakistan. It reflects a society where women’s visibility is seen as provocation and their digital presence as a threat to the honour of the family. As one social media user rightly said, “She deserved to live. To thrive. To speak.” But in Pakistan, even that has a price.
On Sunday (1st June), the Supreme Court of Bangladesh allowed the re-registration of the Islamic extremist outfit ‘Jamaat-e-Islami’ as a political party.
The decision immediately implied that the outfit can list itself with the Election Commission and participate in the general election scheduled to be held in June 2026.
The participation of Jamaat-e-Islami in Bangladesh’s electoral process was restricted by the country’s High Court in August 2013.
Bangladesh top court restores largest Islamist party
The court had found evidence that the extremist outfit violated the election rules and had a charter which refused to recognise Bangladesh as a sovereign and independent nation.
At the same time, Jamaat-e-Islami’s charter was against the ‘secular spirit’ of the Constitution of the country.
The new ruling of the Supreme Court restoring the registration of the Islamic extremists outfit as a ‘political party’ comes days after the same apex court acquitted a 1971 war criminal belonging to Jamaat-e-Islami named ATM Azharul Islam.
This has bolstered radical Islamists and extremist outfits in the country, who are now being revived from political irrelevance by the Muhammad Yunus-led regime.
Brief political history of Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh
Jamaat-e-Islami was founded in 1941 by an Islamic extremist named Abul Ala Moududi. It was banned twice in Pakistan in the years 1959 and 1964.
Soon after the establishment of Bangladesh, founding father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman banned the extremist outfit for siding with Pakistan and committing genocide against the Bengali population during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War.
The ban was lifted after the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
His daughter, Sheikh Hasina, who led the Awami League government, banned the Islamic extremist organisation and its student wing in August 2024 under the Anti-Terrorism Act.
However, Jamaat-e-Islami was unbanned within a month by ‘chief advisor’ Muhammad Yunus.
It must be mentioned that the extremist organisation has received the support of the Khaleda Zia-led Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) since the start.
It was under Ziaur Rahman’s administration in May 1979 that the Jamaat-e-Islami participated in politics for the first time. The Islamic extremist outfit returned the favour by helping the BNP come to power in 1991.
The BNP-Jamaat Alliance won in 2001 and remained in power till 2006. By 2008, Jamaat-e-Islami was down to 2 seats. Thereafter, it could not contest any election. The extremist outfit is now hoping to capitalise on growing Islamist ideology in the country and make inroads into Bangladesh politics.
Operation Searchlight, 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War and the role of Jamaat-e-Islami
In the General elections held in December 1970, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman of the Awami League secured a huge majority (167 seats) in the provincial legislature in East Pakistan.
With constant interference in the affairs of East Pakistan by its Islamic counterpart, Rahman had begun demanding for greater regional autonomy.
This was just within 13 years of the Partition of the Indian subcontinent, when Muslims sought for a separate country of their own.
Although united by the common Faith, the resentment between the West and East Pakistan towards each other continued to grow.
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), who won the most seats in West Pakistan in 1970 elections, was opposed to the demands of Rahman. He had threatened to boycott the Assembly and sought for the dissolution of the provincial legislature in East Pakistan, if PPP was not included in the government.
Miffed over the denial of power and autonomy to East Pakistan, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman called civil disobedience movement, on March 7, 1971. Bhutto feared civil war and President Yahya Khan, therefore, declared martial law and ordered the arrest of Rahman and other leaders.
In order to contain the civil and political unrest, the Pakistan army launched Operation Searchlight on March 26, 1971. Rahman, disillusioned by the high-handedness of West Pakistan, had already called for independence from West Pakistan.
The Pakistani soldiers launched their attack on the Bengali population in Rajararbagh and Peelkhana area. They put Mujibur Rahman behind bars and ambushed the Dhaka university, resulting in the death of 9 teachers and 200 students in Iqbal Hal.
Similarly, the Pakistan army continued with its barbaric attacks on civilians in Old Dhaka, Tejgaon, Indira Road, Mirpur, Kalabagan and other places.
On the same night, several people in Chittagong were shot dead by the army personnel. National newspapers, including, Daily Ittefaq, the Daily Sangbad were shut down and their offices were set ablaze, resulting in the death of several media personnel. Mass graves were dug out and hastily bulldozed.
An estimated 700 people were burnt to death in Dhaka. Similarly, they set fire to the houses of slum dwellers, fired bullets at those running away to save their lives, razed a Kali Mandir and also destroyed the Central Shaheed Minar.
It is believed that around 10,000-35,000 Bengalis were killed by the Pakistan army under the Operation Searchlight while the death toll to increased to over 3 lacs in the months to follow.
“Thanks to God that Pakistan could have been saved,” Bhutto had famously remarked.
The genocide against the Bengali population intensified. In the months to follow, around 4 lac Bengali women were raped by the Pakistan army while a majority of the victims being Hindus.
All these atrocities and crimes against humanity, committed by the Pakistani Army were made possible by members of Jamaat-e-Islami, which operated 3 armed outfits named ‘Al Badr’, ‘Al Shams’ and ‘Razakars’.
The situation worsened, forcing neighbouring India to step in to prevent the further continuation of genocide. In 14 days, Pakistani forces under AK Niazi signed the Instrument of surrender and thus a new nation of Bangladesh was born on 16th December 1971.
The International Crimes Tribunal (Bangladesh), established in 2010, found 10 extremists associated with Jamaat-e-Islami ‘complicit’ in the 1971 genocide.
These include
Abdul Kader Mullah (executed in December 2013)
Ghulam Azam
Muhammad Kamaruzzaman (executed in April 2015)
Delwar Hossain Sayeedi
Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid (executed in November 2015)
Abul Kalam Azad
Motiur Rahman Nizami (executed in May 2016)
Mir Quasem Ali (executed in September 2016)
Abul Kalam Muhammad Yusuf
Chowdhury Mueen-Uddin
Ghulam Azam and Abul Kalam Muhammad Yusuf died in 2014 while Delwar Hossain Sayeedi expired in 2023 of natural causes. Abul Kalam Azad remains absconding to date. Chowdhury Mueen-Uddin is now a British citizen and has not been arrested.
5 extremists associated with ‘Jamaat-e-Islami’ Bangladesh were hanged to death between December 2013 and September 2016.
Targeted violence against Hindus by Jamaat-e-Islami after 1971 genocide
On 6th December 1992, a strong mob of 5000 Muslim men, armed with bamboo sticks and roads, tried to storm a cricket match played between India and Bangladesh at the Dhaka National Stadium.
Screengrab of the 1992 news report by United Press International
Their attempts were foiled by the police, who fired tear gas and rubber bullets at the frenzied mob. As per a report by United Press International, a mob of 1000 Muslim men barged into the Hindu Shiva temple in Thatari Bazar district of Dhaka and razed it to the ground.
Islamists also attacked a Hindu temple in the Narinda district and gravely injured an 88-year-old Hin du priest in a bomb attack. Muslim mob also tried to break into the Dhakeswari Mandir in Dhaka.
They also looted shops belonging to the Hindus and smashed the cars of the minority community with sticks and iron bars.
According to the Human Rights Congress for Bangladesh Minorities (HRCBM), the pogrom was executed by the radical Islamist outfit Jamaat-e-Islami which was an alliance partner of the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).
The riots were not spontaneous but rather well-planned. An estimated 2400 Hindu women were gang raped, and 3500 temples and religious establishments were destroyed by frenzied Muslim mobs.
Over 28000 homes and 2500 commercial buildings belonging to the Hindu community were razed. An estimated 700 Hindus were killed in the carnage. The numbers were conservative as acknowledged by several prominent politicians at that time.
Screengrab of the BBC report
After Jamaat-e-Islami won the 2001 Bangladesh election alongside its ally BNP, unspeakable atrocities were committed on the Hindu community. Many Bangladeshi Hindus were forced to flee the country after the planned carnage.
“Hindu leaders said there were a series of attacks against them, including murder, looting and rape which began as the results were announced. They said Islamist parties and the BNP targeted them because they supported the rival Awami League political party in those elections,” a report by BBC stated.
Hindu temple vandalised in 2013 attack
In February 2013, Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing ‘Islami Chhatra Shibir’ attacked over 50 Hindu temples and targeted more than 1,500 houses and businesses of the persecuted minority community. They carried out arson in several districts of Bangladesh, such as Gaibandha, Chittagong, Rangpur, Sylhet, Bogra, etc.
A year later in February 2014, BNP members and Jamaat-e-Islami extremists launched 160 attacks on the Hindu community.
On 12th February this year, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) published a 104-page report [pdf] detailing atrocities committed against vulnerable Hindu minorities in Bangladesh.
The report is titled ‘Human Rights Violations and Abuses related to the Protests of July and August 2024 in Bangladesh.’
It found that a majority of attacks on the Hindu community took place during ‘victory processions’ of individuals, celebrating the ouster of former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
OHCHR noted that the attackers were local supporters of the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami. Page 62 of the report stated –
“Some local members and supporters of the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami opposition parties bear responsibility for human rights abuses committed during revenge attacks, including against members of the Hindu community.”
In September 2024, human rights activist and exiled Bangladeshi blogger Asad Noor revealed that Hindus were being forced to join the ‘Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh.’
Noor informed that members of the radical Islamist outfit visited Kalmati Ward No.2 in Khuniagach Union of Lalmonirhat Sadar Upazila. They preyed upon 27 poor, destitute Hindus and forced them to join ‘Jamaat-e-Islami.’
According to Asad Noor, the radicals threatened to kill the victims and remove them from the nation. Forced by circumstances, the impoverished Hindus had to comply with their diktat. The Jamaat-e-Islami members coerced them into signing some forms and gave them Islamic books to brainwash them into changing their Hindu Faith.
Hafiz Mohammed Shah Alam, the Assistant Secretary of the Jamaat-e-Islami (Lalmonirhat Branch), was present during the forced induction of Hindus into the radical outfit.
According to a classified Pakistani dossier, India’s airstrikes during “Operation Sindoor” targeted at least 8 more places deep within the country and were significantly more extensive than what was previously known, reported NDTV.
This revelation provides fresh insight into the extent of India’s retaliation in the wake of the horrific Pahalgam terror attack when Hindu tourists were massacred on 22nd April.
Pakistan’s “Operation Bunyan un Marsoos” dossier’s maps illustrated attacks on Peshawar, Jhang, Hyderabad, Sindh, Gujrat, Punjab, Gujranwala, Bhawalnagar, Attock and Chor. The Indian Air Force and the Director General of Military Operations did not reveal attacks on these sites in the press conferences after last month’s strikes. The recent disclosure helps one understand Islamabad’s plea for a ceasefire to New Delhi. Additionally, it contradicts Pakistan’s lofty claims of causing significant harm to the Indian side and not suffering damages in Indian strikes.
Map in Pakistan dossier (Source: NDTV)
The scope and breadth of Indian counterstrike has been thoroughly explained in in-depth briefings by the Indian military establishment. Given this situation, the exclusion of these targets seems to be a well-thought-out strategy designed to force Pakistan itself to unveil the total damage themselves.
Satellite imagery made available by Maxar Technologies had shown the destruction resulting from the precision strikes India launched against terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, targeting nine targets, including the Lashkar-e-Taiba training center in Muridke and the Jaish-e-Mohammed headquarters in Bahawalpur. Muzaffarabad, Kotli, Rawalakot, Chakswari, Bhimber, Neelum Valley, Jhelum, and Chakwal were among the other places that were struck during the operation.
Map in Pakistan dossier showing India attack on May 9/10 (Source: NDTV)
During Operation Sindoor, Pakistan fired a barrage of drones and missiles at residential areas and military installations throughout India’s western side, despite New Delhi’s clear statement that it had solely struck terror sites. India hit Pakistan’s military bases in respsonse. Nur Khan, Rafiqui, Murid, Sukkur, Sialkot, Pasrur, Chunian, Sargodha, Skaru, Bholari and Jacobabad were among the eleven air bases that were targeted. The three-day escalation came to an end when Pakistan was forced to request a ceasefire due to the severe damage suffered by the country.
India has emphasized that a clear red line has been established by Operation Sindoor. Any terrorist attack in India would now be viewed as a war crime, prompting severe punishment. During the most recent conflict, Indian capabilities were clearly demonstrated. Furthermore, as the Pakistan dossier suggests, India hit harder and farther than it admitted.
Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MMRCL) Managing Director Ashwini Bhide has strongly refuted a report by local news outlet Mid-day, which claimed that the city’s metro infrastructure was resorting to “cheap tarpaulin rain fixes” to protect its stations during the monsoon. Taking to social media platform X, Bhide clarified that the use of temporary rainproof covers is a standard practice at under-construction sites in Mumbai to facilitate uninterrupted and safe work during the monsoon season.
The controversy erupted after Mid-day published an article titled “Rs 37,000 crore Mumbai metro line 3 gets cheap tarpaulin rain fix,” pointing to the use of temporary waterproofing measures at a few Metro Line 3 stations, including Acharya Atre Chowk and BKC. The article implied that such measures were indicative of poor planning and a lack of preparedness for Mumbai’s notorious rains.
In a series of detailed posts on X, Bhide addressed the claims head-on.
“Some entry exits of @MumbaiMetro3 which are under construction are covered with rainproof material as part of the usual practice being followed by under construction sites during monsoon season of Mumbai so that the construction activity safely continues even during rains,” she posted.
Picture here is of BKC Stn Entry Exit connecting to upcoming Line 2B which is under construction. It is temporarily covered to avoid rain water ingress during this monsoon. The glass facade work is in progress inside the Entry Exit after that covering will be removed.
She further clarified that the specific image cited in the report was of the BKC station’s Entry/Exit point connecting to the upcoming Metro Line 2B, which is still under construction. “It is temporarily covered to avoid rain water ingress during this monsoon. The glass facade work is in progress inside the Entry Exit—after that, the covering will be removed,” she added.
Highlighting the strategic importance of the site, Bhide stated that this particular entry/exit will eventually provide “paid-to-paid connectivity” between Metro Lines 2 and 3. This connectivity will allow commuters from Dahisar and Andheri via Line 2 to seamlessly transfer to Line 3 and travel towards key city destinations such as Siddhivinayak, Mantralaya, and Cuffe Parade.
Bhide concluded her thread with a pointed remark on the complexity and scope of the metro infrastructure project. “Building a completely new mass transit system which can transform the way the city travels is a far more complex process than what one can imagine. However, be rest assured that it is being ensured with tireless efforts and meticulousness,” she wrote.
The Mid-day article had described the MMRCL’s temporary rainproofing steps—including the use of plastic sheets, tarpaulins, and bund walls—as “roadside repair-like” measures and questioned the project’s monsoon readiness, especially in light of the recent water ingress incident at the Acharya Atre Chowk station. However, Bhide’s clarification drew attention to the difference between operational stations and areas still under construction, urging the public to avoid alarmist interpretations.
Industry experts and infrastructure observers have echoed Bhide’s clarification, noting that the use of temporary waterproofing is a widely accepted measure in construction projects during the rainy season, especially in a city like Mumbai with heavy and unpredictable monsoon patterns.
As Metro Line 3 continues to inch toward full-scale operation, MMRCL faces not only engineering challenges but also growing scrutiny from both media and the public. However, Bhide’s prompt and detailed response demonstrates the agency’s commitment to transparency and project integrity.
On 29th May, a special SC/ST court in Barabanki sentenced Mohammad Salman to life imprisonment along with multiple jail terms for raping a Dalit girl, attempting forced religious conversion, and hurling casteist abuses. Notably, Salman got in touch with the Dalit girl posing as a Hindu man named “Sumit Kanojia”.
In the judgment, Justice Veena Narayan, who found Salman guilty under IPC Sections 376, 366, 406, 504, 506, Section 3(2)(v) of the SC/ST Act, and Section 3 and 5(1) of the UP Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act.
The case was registered on 15th December 2023 after the victim’s brother filed a complaint stating his 18-year-old sister had gone missing two days earlier. He had told police that she was in contact with a man over the phone and accused the person of luring her.
Victim lured under false identity, taken to multiple locations
OpIndia accessed the judgment in the matter. According to court records, the victim belonged to the Scheduled Caste community. She had been in touch with a man who introduced himself as “Sumit Kanojia”, and was in touch with her over the phone for nearly two years. She believed him to be from her own caste and community. Salman had promised marriage and pretended to be a Hindu throughout their interactions.
On the night of 13th December 2023, the victim’s mother and sister-in-law were at home and the men of the family had gone to attend a wedding. The victim left the home around 8 PM and carried jewellery and cash with her. She was last seen leaving the house with Salman, who picked her up on a bike. When her family members tried contacting her on the phone, it was switched off.
Initially, the family tried to find her on their own in which they failed. A police complaint was then filed by her brother. An FIR was registered on 15th December 2023. Police swung into action immediately and an investigation was launched.
According to the victim’s statement in court, Salman took her first to Vishnupuram Colony in Shahjahanpur. They stayed at a rented accommodation for around 20 days, where he kept her confined. The victim repeatedly requested him to get married, but he refused.
After staying in Shahjahanpur for 20 days, they shifted to Maigalganj where they lived for around six to seven months. There too, she remained confined, locked in a room. She cooked for herself while Salman would go out alone and return after several hours. The victim told the court that he had broken her mobile phone and severed all her communication with the outside world.
Initially, the victim had no knowledge of Salman’s true identity. When they started living together, she found out that his real name was Mohammad Salman. She also found out that he was already married and had children. But by then, she had already been physically assaulted, sexually exploited, and isolated for months. After she learnt about his identity, he reportedly told her that he would marry her only if she converted to Islam.
Salman posed as Hindu, later revealed to be married Muslim man
During trial, it was established beyond doubt that Mohammad Salman had deliberately assumed a fake identity as “Sumit Kanojia” to gain the victim’s trust. He claimed that he belonged to the same community as the victim. He carefully tailored his conversations to align with her beliefs and background. This deception extended over nearly two years of phone interactions. During that time, he assured the victim of marriage and posed as a suitable match from within her own community.
The victim’s brother deposed in court that the family had earlier caught her video calling a man. When they questioned the girl, she claimed that the man’s name was Sumit Kanojia and he was from another village but of the same caste. The family scolded her and warned not to contact the man. However, within two days, she resumed her contact with Salman.
Salman continued his act and even tried to convince the family that he was a Hindu and wanted to marry their daughter. He used to wear hindu sacred thread Kalawa and tilak to convice the victim and her family. The mother reportedly told him to wait until the girl’s father returned from work in Kerala.
Salman, on the other hand, had no intention to reveal his true identity. The girl got to know his real name only after they started living together. The disclosure shattered her trust. However, by then, he had already taken her to unfamiliar places, deprived her of communication, and sexually assaulted her repeatedly. The revelation of his identity became the basis of charges under the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, as he had pressured the victim to convert to Islam once his identity was exposed.
Victim’s ordeal – Rape, threats, and confinement
The victim narrated the ordeal of suffering for over seven months in the court. She explained how he lured her away from her home under the false identity of a Hindu man, raped her multiple times against her will, and kept her in isolation. She stated that he first established physical relations with her at Shahjahanpur and then continued to do so in Maigalganj.
Following the revelation of his true identity, despite her objections and insistence that they should get married first, Salman told her that marriage would only happen if she converted to Islam. When she refused, she said, he abused her using casteist slurs and threatened to kill her and dump her body where no one would find her.
The victim remained confined in Maigalganj for around six to seven months. She told the court that Salman used to go out frequently but never took her anywhere. She was not allowed to step outside even once. During this time, she also became pregnant, which was confirmed in her medical examination. However, according to the prosecution, Salman forcibly administered abortion pills, leading to miscarriage.
The victim faced trauma after learning about his real identity and marital status. The fact that he was already married with children was hidden from her throughout. The court found her testimony consistent, credible, and unwavering despite cross-examination, noting that the duration, circumstances, and repeated nature of the abuse made her account highly reliable.
The police were able to trace the victim on 25th July 2024, more than seven months after she had gone missing. The police acted on inputs from sources and traced her to a location near Mittai Canal Bridge in Barabanki. A team reached the spot where she was recovered. However, Salman managed to escape. The police then brought her to the station and recorded her statement. A supplementary medical examination was conducted.
The victim informed the court that she was in a relationship with Salman for over four years. On his instructions, she had taken her mother’s jewellery and Rs 40,000 in cash before leaving with him. Salman sold off her jewellery and used the cash she had brought from home.
Charges invoked under IPC, SC/ST Act, and anti-conversion law
Following the victim’s recovery and her detailed statements to the police and magistrate, the charges against Salman were expanded. While the initial FIR filed on 15th December 2023 included Section 366 of the IPC for kidnapping and Section 3(2)(v) of the SC/ST Act, the police later added more serious charges. These included rape, criminal breach of trust, caste-based abuse, criminal intimidation, and attempted forced religious conversion.
The SHO submitted a report to the CO on 25th July 2024, recommending the additional charges based on the girl’s account and medical evidence. Accordingly, Salman was charged under Section 376 of the IPC for raping the girl after luring her under a false promise of marriage, and under Section 406 for having misappropriated her jewellery and cash. Sections 504 and 506 were added for caste-based verbal abuse and threats to kill. The court also allowed the addition of Section 3(2)(v) of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act after it was found that Salman knowingly targeted the girl for being Scheduled Caste. Most significantly, the prosecution added Sections 3 and 5(1) of the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2021, based on the girl’s repeated assertions that Salman pressured her to convert to Islam as a precondition for marriage, a demand she refused.
The judge observed in the judgment that the deceitful identity, the abuse of trust, and the caste and communal angle of the crime elevated its seriousness and justified the inclusion of all the above provisions.
Medical examination and supporting witness statements
Following her recovery, the victim was sent for a medical examination. Dr Priya Singh, who conducted the examination, told the court that the girl had engaged in recent sexual activity. However, there were no signs of physical injury found due to the lapse of time. The court was informed that the hymen was torn, consistent with the victim’s account of repeated sexual intercourse over several months. The doctor further confirmed that the girl was not a minor, and her approximate age was found to be around 18 years.
The court relied on both medical evidence and the testimony of prosecution witnesses. The victim’s brother provided details of the sequence of events leading to the disappearance, the family’s initial attempts to locate her, and the shock they experienced upon discovering the accused’s real identity. He also stated that the victim had told the family over the phone, after her rescue, that she had been deceived and pressured to convert.
The investigating officers also corroborated the chain of events. IO Dr Veenu Singh and CO Jagat Ram Kanojia confirmed that after the victim’s recovery, statements were recorded, maps were drawn of the locations involved, and the new charges were added to the FIR.
During the course of the investigation, the police found out the real identity of Salman and traced his house location. However, it was found to be locked. The neighbours informed the police that Salman’s wife’s delivery was due and the family had left for the same.
Court’s findings based on testimonies
In her detailed judgment, Justice Narayan observed that the victim’s testimony remained unwavering, specific, and consistent at all stages. The judge remarked that although the case involved an adult woman, the issue of consent did not arise, as the accused had obtained her trust through fraudulent means, posed as a Hindu, and later used coercion, isolation, and threats to continue a sexual relationship under false pretences.
Rejecting the defence’s arguments that the victim had left home voluntarily and that no force was used, the court held that consent obtained through lies and manipulation is not valid in law, particularly when the victim is confined, cut off from her family, and forced to act under sustained psychological pressure.
Consequently, the court found Salman guilty under all relevant sections and sentenced him to life imprisonment for rape, with additional terms for the other charges. The sentences were ordered to run concurrently, and the convict was taken into custody immediately after pronouncement.
Detailed sentence awarded by the court
The court sentenced him to life under SC/ST Act. He was sentenced to five years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 25,000 under Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2021.
For kidnapping the victim, Salman was sentenced to ten years of rigorous imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 10,000. For criminal breach of trust, he was awarded three years of imprisonment and a fine of Rs 5,000. For intentional insult, the court awarded one year of simple imprisonment, and for criminal intimidation, he received two years of rigorous imprisonment. All sentences will run concurrently.
On 2nd June, security forces found 2.5 of the 4 tonnes explosive materials that Maoists had stolen in the Sundergarh district of Odisha. The special operations group (SOG), district volunteer force (DVF), India Reserve Battalion (IRB), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Jharkhand’s elite Jaguar Force participated in the coordinated action which was headed by the Odisha police.
A combing operation on the Gandhamardhan Hill range on the Balangir-Bargarh district boundary led to the discovery of the explosives, Maoist uniforms and other materials. Director General of Police (DGP) YB Khurania stated, “Odisha police have been working day and night on a sustained basis to ensure that the entire looted explosive consignment is recovered. All due care is being taken for safety of personnel searching for the explosive materials in the forest.”
According to Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG-western range) Brijesh Rai, the recovery operation employed deep search metal detectors (DSMD) to find explosives hidden among dry leaves and buried underground in a forest area along the Odisha-Chhattisgarh border.
“SOG (Special Operation Group) is leading the other forces in the search operation. We still have 1.5 tonnes of explosives left to recover. There are natural craters in the forest, which the Maoists have used to hide the explosives. So far, we know that the ultras have hidden the explosives within a four kilometre stretch of forest,” he explained.
An official informed, “While some of the explosives were buried under the earth, others could be located from underneath rocks.” The ongoing hunt started on 28th May, the day after the Maoists stole the explosives when they were being taken to a stone quarry to be used for blasting.
The officer stated that the site was in Jharkhand, some distance from the Odisha border and part of the Saranda forest, but did not provide the precise location of the explosive recovery. However, according to sources, the explosives were discovered near Saranda Forest at Tirilposh, which is on the Odisha-Jharkhand interstate border.
The security forces retrieved some of the explosives after a fierce gunfight with the Maoists on 30th May, finding about 30% of the stolen materials till then. Brijesh Rai also reported that some explosive gelatin sticks were uncovered in a Maoist hideaway in a forest near Koida in Sundargarh district on the Odisha-Jharkhand border, during a search operation.
A senior officer outlined, “To conceal explosives from aerial and ground surveillance, the Maoists buried the explosives underground. An intense search and intelligence inputs helped us to seize the explosives. Efforts are on to recover the remaining explosives.” According to sources, the seized materials will be examined by the police to ascertain their composition and the provenance of the consignment.
On 27th May, a truck brought 200 packets of explosives to the Banko Stone Quarry in Sundargarh district. Each box weighed roughly 20 to 25 kilograms and contained roughly nine gelatin sticks. While the explosives were being unloaded, a group of around 25-30 armed men reached there, threatened the driver and held him at gunpoint. They took the van into a nearby forest and escaped with all the explosives, which included mostly gelatine sticks and detonators.
According to an earlier investigation, the quarry owner did not transfer the explosives in line with the protocol because the vehicle’s route was remote. Maoists took down the CCTV camera that was placed in the quarry, leaving the police in the dark as well. The authorities mentioned that Shravan Agrawal, the proprietor of the quarry, has two explosive licenses: one in his wife’s name and one in his own.
Police are also looking into recent delivery and stock details. The area where the loot transpired was located beside the Saranda forest, recognized as a Maoist hideout in the West Singhbhum district of Jharkhand. Police declared, “Soon after the incident, a preliminary enquiry suggested the involvement of naxals active in the Saranda forest under West Singhbhum district of Jharkhand.”
An National Investigation Team (NIA) team began probing the incident a day after YB Khurania and other senior police personnel visited the scene. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has also been established by the Odisha Police for inquiry. NIA dispatched a team to the scene on 27th.
“An NIA team visited Rourkela to investigate the incident. Preliminary probe suggests left-wing extremists operating from Saranda forests in West Singhbhum district of Jharkhand were involved in the loot of the blasting explosives,” Brijesh Rai stated previosuly.
YB Khurania hurried to Sundargarh district to evaluate the situation as he was concerned that the stolen explosives would be utilized for subversive purposes. He spent two days camping in Rourkela and met with senior police officers several times to keep an eye on activities to recover the explosives. Additionally, the DGP had instructed police to increase protection in regions that were susceptible.
The loot has raised concerns because Maoists operating in Jharkhand’s Saranda forests use improvised explosive devices (IEDs) to carry out attacks as security forces in neighboring states have stepped up their anti-Naxal operations by identifying and neutralizing senior leadership of the banned group. This sparked a significant flush-out campaign along the bordering area by Odisha Police and its anti-Naxal organization Special Operation Group (SOG).
As per the latest details, the stone quarry owner, Shravan Agrawal, who also owns the explosive warehouses, has been arrested by the Special Investigation Team.
End of red terror by March 2026
The Modi administration is determined to eradicate naxalism by March 2026. The government has pursued an aggressive military strategy to confront Naxal terrorism, which is already in its final stages. In recent weeks, extensive operations like “Operation Kagar” in the Karegutta hills and Chhattisgarh Abujhmadh have wiped out dozens of Naxal leaders, who had bounty worth crores on them.
The government launched several operations in January 2024 with the goal of eliminating Naxalism in Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra (Gadchiroli), Odisha, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and Telangana. Additional camps were also set up as part of the action by security forces. Around one lakh paramilitary troops, including the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), its elite Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) units, District Reserve Guards (DRG), and state police, have been deployed in the areas affected by left-wing terrorism to eliminate naxal terrorism from its final bastions.
The government’s zero tolerance policy, along with an aggressive military approach, has bore significant results with the Maoist violence going down by 77% between 2010 to 2021. There has been considerable decrease in the incidents of violence from 2258 incidents in 2009 to 509 incidents in 2021. The number of naxal-affected districts has also reduced over the past 10 years from 106 districts in 2015 to 6 districts (Bijapur, Kanker, Narayanpur, and Sukma in Chhattisgarh, West Singhbhum in Jharkhand and Gadchiroli in Maharashtra). Additionally, the deaths resulting from Maoist terror have reduced by 90%.
The number of Naxalites killed in encounters has increased from 63 to 2089. In 2024, 928 Naxalites surrendered, and so far, 718 have surrendered in the first four months of 2025. From 2019 to 2025, the central forces, in collaboration with state police, have established a total of 320 camps in Naxal-affected states, including 68 night-landing helipads. The number of fortified police stations, which was 66 in 2014, has now increased to 555.
Speaking in the Pariliament in March, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that Parliament that Naxalism will be eradicated from the country by 31st March 2026. He stated that between 2004 and 2014, 16,463 violent incidents were registered , but in the last ten years, this number has gone down by 53 per cent. The deaths of security personnel have also reduced by 73% in the past 10 years.
With the Naxal leadership being wiped out steadily by the security forces, the Naxal movement is now staring at its inevitable end. The recent killing of Maoist leader Nambala Keshav Rao alias Basavaraju, who used to walk around with a multi-layer security cover of about 60-70 armed naxals, demonstrates the enhanced accuracy of the security forces in carrying out recent anti-Naxal operations.
In addition to the removal of prominent Naxal leaders, numerous dreaded Maoists have also surrendered due to the progress made in remote regions as a result of government policies. Since the inception of the operation, the security forces have eliminated over 400 naxal terrorists so far while more than 800 Maoists have given up arms and the numbers are only increasing with every anti-Maoist action.
On the third consecutive day of Operation JALRAHAT-II, troops of the Indian Army and Assam Rifles continued their flood rescue and humanitarian relief efforts across Imphal Valley, rescuing 944 civilians from waterlogged and inaccessible regions. The operation included the distribution of 1,500 food packets and 4,000 bottles of clean drinking Water.
The troops from the Indian Army and Assam Rifles also organised a dedicated Medical Camp at the Wangkhei Angom Leikai Rehabilitation Camp on 02 June 2025 and provided medical aid to over 250 displaced civilians. The medical team provided emergency treatment for injuries, infections, dehydration and other ailments. Special attention was given to children, the elderly and patients with chronic conditions.
Additionally, the camp focused on awareness around hygiene, sanitation, and disease prevention to reduce the risk of secondary health crises (Assam Rifles).
In the Wangkhei Ningthem area, in Manipur, troops of the Indian Army and Assam Rifles responded to an SOS call from the family of a man who had sustained a deep cut on his right ankle and was stranded without access to medical care. Braving submerged lanes, a medical team reached the location and carried out on-site suturing, stabilising the injury and preventing further complications.
In a timely and courageous response to a distress call, the troops launched a rescue operation in the early hours of 02 June 2025 to save civilians stranded in the flood-affected General Area Heingang of Imphal East District, Manipur. Braving adverse conditions, the troops acted swiftly and efficiently, executing the rescue between midnight and 2:15 AM with utmost professionalism.
During the operation, Assam Rifles successfully rescued four civilians trapped by rising floodwaters. Among them were Mr. P. Koba, aged 40, and his 17-year-old son, P. Alex, who were stranded inside a double-storey building. In a simultaneous effort, troops also evacuated 60-year-old Ahongshabam Ibecha and her 25-year-old grandson, A. Suresh, who were trapped in a residence. All individuals were safely relocated to secure locations away from the affected zone.
The rapid deployment, effective coordination, and commitment of the personnel not only averted a potential tragedy but also brought timely relief to families in distress.
Despite continued rainfall, difficult terrain, and logistical constraints, the Indian Army and Assam Rifles remain on the ground undeterred, providing critical assistance, medical care, and reassurance to thousands impacted by the disaster.
Earlier on June 2, Manipur Fire Service, Assam Rifles, SDRF, NDRF, and Indian Army conducted joint evacuation operations to rescue stranded medical students and staff from the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS) in Imphal, following severe waterlogging triggered by heavy rainfall.
Earlier on May 31, Imphal witnessed a flood-like situation in several areas after relentless rainfall, leading to waterlogging.
Roads were submerged, disrupting daily life and causing distress to residents trying to navigate the inundated paths.
Low-lying areas in and around the city were the worst affected, as stormwater drainage systems failed to cope with the volume of rainwater. In many places, homes and shops experienced water seepage, forcing residents to use makeshift measures to protect their belongings.
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
The success of India’s Operation Sindoor in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack had rattled Pakistani political and military establishment to the core. After the ‘Tum hamara paani rokoge, hum tumhara saans rok denge’ [you will stop our water, we will stop your breath] hollow threats, Pakistan has come up with a new manufactured threat regarding Brahmaputra River as India has put the Indus Water Treaty into abeyance. Addressing this new manufactured threat: “What if China stops the Brahmaputra’s water to India?”, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sharma gave a rude reality check to Pakistan.
In an X post on 2nd June 2025, CM Sarma responded to Pakistan’s scare narrative invoking its ally China, and said that the Brahmaputra river does not shrink but ‘grows’ in India. He added that China only contributes around 30 to 35% of the river’s total flow.
“What If China Stops Brahmaputra Water to India? A Response to Pakistan’s New Scare Narrative After India decisively moved away from the outdated Indus Waters Treaty, Pakistan is now spinning another manufactured threat: “What if China stops the Brahmaputra’s water to India?” Let’s dismantle this myth — not with fear, but with facts and national clarity: Brahmaputra: A River That Grows in India — Not Shrinks. China contributes only ~30–35% of the Brahmaputra’s total flow — mostly through glacial melt and limited Tibetan rainfall,” the Assam Chief Minister said.
CM Himanta Biswa Sarma further explained that the remaining 65 to 70% of Brahmaputra’s flow is generated within India through torrential rainfall in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Nagaland, and Meghalaya. Besides, tributaries like Subansiri, Lohit, Kameng, Manas, Dhansiri, Jia-Bharali, Kopili and inflows from the Khasi, Garo, and Jaintia Hills via rivers such as Krishnai, Digaru, and Kulsi contribute to the Brahmaputra within Indian territory.
What If China Stops Brahmaputra Water to India? A Response to Pakistan’s New Scare Narrative
After India decisively moved away from the outdated Indus Waters Treaty, Pakistan is now spinning another manufactured threat: “What if China stops the Brahmaputra’s water to India?”…
— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) June 2, 2025
“The remaining 65–70% is generated within India, thanks to:Torrential monsoon rainfall in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Nagaland, and Meghalaya. Major tributaries like Subansiri, Lohit, Kameng, Manas, Dhansiri, Jia-Bharali, Kopili. Additional inflows from the Khasi, Garo, and Jaintia Hills via rivers such as Krishnai, Digaru, and Kulsi,” CM Sarma added.
Explaining how the flow of Brahmaputra river increases dramatically in India while it is way lesser at the Indo-China border, the Assam Chief Minister said, “At the Indo-China border (Tuting): Flow is ~2,000–3,000 m³/s. In Assam plains (e.g., Guwahati): Flow swells to 15,000–20,000 m³/s during monsoon.”
Reiterating that India does not depend on China for Brahmaputra river’s uninterrupted flow and that Brahmaputra grows in India, CM Sarma said: “Brahmaputra is not a river India depends on upstream — it is a rain-fed Indian river system, strengthened after entering Indian territory.”
However, addressing the hypothetical situation of China reducing the flow of Brahmaputra river at the behest of Pakistan to pressure India into reconsidering its stance on Indus Water Treaty, CM Sarma said that even that would be beneficial for India in mitigating annual floods in Assam.
Brahmaputra river in India, image via Business Today
“Even if China were to reduce water flow (unlikely as China has never threatened or indicated in any official forum), it may actually help India mitigate the annual floods in Assam, which displace lakhs and destroy livelihoods every year,” the Chief Minister of Assam said.
He further stated that while Pakistan exploited 74 years of preferential water access under the Indus Waters Treaty, the hostile neighbour is now in panic mode as India rightfully reclaimed its sovereign rights.
Issuing a stern reminder to Pakistan, Himanta Biswa Sarma said: “Brahmaputra is not controlled by a single source — it is powered by our geography, our monsoon, and our civilisational resilience.”
Pakistan’s dams run dry weeks after it spilled blood of innocent Indians in Pahalgam
Pakistan’s desperate ‘act of war’ and China threats come as the hostile neighbour faces a dismal kharif (summer crop) sowing season due to a significant decline in live storage at its two main dams, Tarbela on the Indus and Mangla on the Jhelum. Moreover, India’s decision to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) in the wake of the recent Pahalgam terror attack by Pakistan-baced Islamic terror outfit The Resistance Front (offshoot of Pakistani terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba) and regulate the flow of the Chenab River have only exacerbated the issue.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed alarm during an international conference on glacier preservation last week in Dushanbe in Tajikistan that the impending shortfall would get more dire in the coming weeks, especially during the early part of the kharif sowing season. Prime Minister Sharif also ranted about India suspended the water treaty.
The recent estimates from Pakistan’s Indus River System Authority (IRSA) outlined that the nation is already experiencing a 21% overall water flow shortage and roughly 50% live storage shortage in the two major dams that are essential for producing hydropower and supplying water for irrigation in the provinces of Punjab and Sindh.
Significance of the Brahmaputra River for India and China
Since the Brahmaputra river crosses over the Sino-Indian border, it is crucial for both of the world’s most densely populated countries, India and China. The importance of Brahmaputra for India can be understood from the fact that it provides 30% freshwater supply and 40% of India’s total hydroelectric power. Even though the Brahmaputra River has a very meagre impact on China’s total freshwater supply, it is also significant to Tibet’s agricultural and energy sector. With increasing population and demand and limited water resources, both India and China would want to harness the power of the Brahmaputra River.
For this, China reportedly approved what would be the world’s largest hydroelectric project on Tibet’s longest river Yarlung Tsangpo (which flows downstream as the Brahmaputra in India) last year. The world’s largest hydropower dam with an estimated cost of 1 trillion yuan (US$137 billion) would be built in the lower reaches of the Yarlung Tsangpo River, which becomes Siang in India’s Arunachal Pradesh. The river becomes the Brahmaputra River after it merges with two other rivers in Assam.
Meanwhile, the Indian government has fast-tracked the development of an 11,000 MW hydropower project in the Upper Subansiri region, which would assist in improving water management and electricity production. It is also a response to China’s upstream activities, thereby letting India gain better control of its water resources while alleviating the adverse impacts that may result from China’s dam.
Notably, China only accounts for 22-30% of the overall basin discharge, despite covering more than 50% of the basin’s geographical area, due to Tibet’s cold desert climate and scant annual rainfall.
A few days back, Victor Zhikai Gao, vice president of the Beijing-based Center for China and Globalization, issued veiled threats that India “may face difficulties” hinting that China might weaponize the Brahmaputra’s waters in support of its “all-weather friend” Pakistan. However, CM Sarma’s explanation indicates that even if China decides to enter the water war from Pakistan’s side, it will not have any detrimental impact on India, although such a misadventure would not go without consequences for China and Pakistan.
Rituals of ‘Pran Pratishtha’ of Ram Darbar on the first floor of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple, Ayodhya, began today.
The visuals show devotees queued up to offer prayers at the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple. Mahamandaleshwar Vishnu Das said that lakhs of devotees are visiting the temple.
Speaking to ANI, Mahamandaleshwar Vishnu Das said, “The rituals of Ram Mandir ‘Pran Pratishtha’ are starting from today. Lakhs of devotees are visiting the temple (Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple) after taking a dip in the Sarayu River…”
“On January 22, ‘Pran Pratishtha’ was done for the ‘baal roop’ (child form) of Lord Rama, now it is Raja Ram (King Ram),” he added.
The Shri Ram Janmbhoomi temple in Ayodhya was illuminated with vibrant and decorative lights ahead of the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony of the Ram Darbar.
The sacred ceremony began at 6:30 AM today and will continue until June 5.
Ahead of the ceremony, the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra shared an X post showing the visuals of the Kalash Yatra organised at the banks of the Saryu River.
The X post said, “Ahead of the Pran Pratishtha karyakram at the eight devalay inside Shri Ram Janmabhoomi complex, a sacred Kalash Yatra was organised today from the holy banks of the Sarayu river, in the esteemed presence of revered saints, acharyas, trustees of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra, distinguished citizens, and a large gathering of devotees.”
Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is set to attend the Saryu Jayanti Janmotsav celebrations in Ayodhya on June 5, according to Mahant Rajkumar Das Maharaj, head of Shriramvallabhkunj.
The event will be organised by the Anjaneya Sewa Trust. The event will be held from June 5 to 11, and the week-long celebration will feature devotional events, rituals, and spiritual discourses.
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
Former union minister and seasoned Congress member Salman Khurshid stated on 2nd June that it was “distressing that people at home were calculating political allegiances.” He is a member of one of the all-party delegations delivering the government’s anti-terrorism message and exposing Pakistan before the global community in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor. “Is it so difficult to be patriotic,” he further asked.
When on mission against terrorism, to carry India’s message to the world, it’s distressing that people at home are calculating political allegiances. Is it so difficult to be patriotic?
Notably, his comments transpired days after Congresman Udit Raj attacked another senior party leader Shashi Tharoor. He referred to the Lok Sabha MP as “super spokesperson of the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party).” The remarks were also endorsed by close aide of Rahul Gandhi, Jairam Ramesh.
Khurshid’s unwavering pro-national stance
Speaking in Jakarta, Indonesia, as part of one of seven all-party delegations traveling to different nations to convey India’s position on terrorism, the former external affairs minister vehemently denied claims that New Delhi initiated the truce. He called such statements “complete hogwash.”
“Why would we call them first? Who was at the receiving end by the time the calls were made? It is more than clear to everybody that the call came from the DGMO of Pakistan to the DGMO of India. And we stopped when they said ‘Let’s stop’ and we then didn’t send any further attacks on them. But the shelling across the border and the LoC continued for at least three or four hours. There were violations of the ceasefire once again, making it very clear that in Pakistan, nobody seems to be in control. The civilian government doesn’t seem to be in control. There are factions within the army, each vying with each other to become powerful. Nevertheless, we showed restraint and patience,” he asserted.
Khurshid further mentioned, “India is waiting to be great. Nobody will distract us or interfere with that passage of ours. That is why it is important for us to show our strength.” He added, “If there is any sense in Pakistan, they will understand our only demand: give up terrorism. Some of my colleagues are not from the ruling party. The ruling party could have come alone to bring this message, but they came with us to give India’s message.”
Khurshid slams opposition, lauds revocation of Article 370
The Congress stalwart also criticized opposition’s petty politics that undermine national interests. “However, sadly, this is not what we hear from India. Somebody is saying that he is supporting the BJP or the Congress, but I am proud that we are here together because we are not supporting each other’s parties, we are supporting one simple idea called India.”
He emphasized how the repeal of Article 370 had brought prosperity and normalcy back to Jammu and Kashmir. “Kashmir had a major problem for a long time. Much of that was reflected in the thinking of the government in an article called 370 of the Constitution, which somehow gave an impression that it was separate from the rest of the country. But Article 370 was abrogated and it was finally put to an end. Subsequently, there was an election with 65% participation. There’s an elected government in Kashmir today and therefore for people to want to undo everything that has happened, the prosperity that has come to Kashmir.”
Country over politics
According to the member of the Congress Working Committee (CWC), “our instincts told us to stand by the government and support the need to bring the offenders to justice.” He outlined, “But this debate should not spill over into the national endeavour to persuade the world about the core issue of terrorist attacks on India. Our parties sent us to secure explicit support from the countries we are visiting, not to highlight domestic party-political differences. In conclusion, we hope to be back home soon with some gain for the country. Ma thuje salaam,” taking a nuanced stance. He even shared a Rudyard Kipling poem “for people who cannot understand the call of duty for the nation,” in a further dig at the opposition.
“With one voice India is saying, ‘Terrorism no more.’ We hope to create a collective rise against terrorism to make the globe peaceful and prosperous. We can confidently say, ‘Hum honge kaamyaab’ (we will succeed),” Khurshid stressed during his address in Indonesia. “The message we come with. It is a message of unity. We are from several parties. We are from several regions of India. We are from several religions of India. But if you want to see how when it comes to the nation and your motherland how you come together and how you combine how you speak in a single voice is what we are here to show and which is which is something that we by commitment and deep in our hearts we feel very strongly, which is why we are here together to present this picture to you,” he highlighted.
Moreover he conveyed, “People, when they go to war to protect the country, to protect the borders of our country. They go there as essentially as Indians. They have their faiths. They have their languages, they have their cultures, they have their subcultures, but when they are at the border, they have only one sentiment, and that is the sentiment to protect Mother India.”
Khurshid is part of the all-party parliamentary delegation led by JD(U) MP Sanjay Kumar Jha, which is currently visiting partner countries to reinforce India’s firm resolve against cross-border terrorism and its zero-tolerance policy.The delegation has so far visited Indonesia, South Korea, Japan, and Singapore. It includes BJP MPs Brij Lal, Pradan Baruah, Hemang Joshi, and Aparajita Sarangi; Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee; CPI-M’s John Brittas; Congress leader and former Union minister Salman Khurshid; and Mohan Kumar.
