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.
Adani Enterprises Limited on Sunday issued a strong rebuttal to a report published by The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), which alleged that entities within the Adani Group were involved in the trade of Iranian-origin liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) in violation of U.S. sanctions. The conglomerate dismissed the report as “baseless and mischievous,” asserting that the company maintains strict compliance with international regulations.
The WSJ article, authored by Ben Foldy and Dave Michaels, reportedly claimed that certain shipments handled by Adani-linked entities involved LPG sourced from Iran, potentially violating U.S. sanctions.
Adani, however, categorically denied any such involvement and stated that it was not aware of any investigation by U.S. authorities.
“The Adani Group strongly denies these baseless allegations and confirms that it does not handle cargo from Iran at any of its ports,” the company said in its statement filed with the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE). “This includes no shipments from Iran, no Iranian-flagged vessels, and no Iranian-owned vessels.”
LPG trade and revenue impact
Adani Enterprises emphasized that its exposure to the LPG business is minimal. The segment accounted for only USD 171.2 million in revenue in FY2024–25, representing a mere 1.46% of the group’s consolidated revenue of USD 11.7 billion. Despite its limited financial contribution, the company stated that all LPG operations are fully compliant with domestic and international law, including U.S. sanctions regulations.
Compliance protocols
The conglomerate outlined its comprehensive compliance framework, which includes:
Sourcing LPG only from globally reputed suppliers through lawful contracts.
Ensuring all counterparties are cleared against the U.S. Treasury’s OFAC sanctions list.
Engaging third-party shipping providers that adhere to global compliance standards.
Vetting vessel movement history and sanctions compliance using S&P Global’s Market Intelligence Network (MINT) system.
Response to Specific Shipment Cited by WSJ
Addressing the shipment in question, Adani said the cargo originated from Sohar, Oman, and was executed through standard commercial channels involving third-party logistics. The company asserted that it has no ownership, control, or connection with the vessel operators allegedly named in the WSJ article, including “SMS Bros” and “Neel.”
“Any attempt to link us with such entities is misleading and legally untenable,” the statement read. “We reserve our rights to take appropriate action to protect our reputation.”
Business conglomerate stands firm
The Adani Group concluded its statement by reaffirming its commitment to high standards of corporate governance and compliance. It called the WSJ’s allegations “slanderous” and asserted its right to pursue legal remedies if necessary.
The clarification was made publicly available through a regulatory filing with the BSE and is accessible on the company’s official website.
The Trinamool Congress (TMC) party is leaving no stone unturned to turn the life of a 22-year-old college student, Sharmishta Panoli, into a ‘living hell’ to appease its Muslim vote bank, which has taken serious offence to her Instagram video targeting Pakistan.
The Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government, in an act of clear overreach, sent its police force 1500 km away to Gurgaon to arrest the young Hindu girl and bring her to Kolkata. A local court rejected her bail petition and sent her to judicial custody for 2 long weeks.
According to the victim’s lawyer, she is not doing well physically amid unhygienic conditions at the Alipore women correctional home.
She apologized
She deleted the video
Then came the r@pe threats, mu*der threats and morphed photos.
She was the victim. But who did @KolkataPolice arrest..?
— Akshay Akki ಅಕ್ಷಯ್?? (@FollowAkshay1) May 30, 2025
In the meantime, the police force and the TMC-run administration turned a blind eye to the rape, death and ‘Sar Tan se Juda’ threats unleashed against Sharmishta Panoli online by Muslim social media users.
The Kolkata police, which works under the directives of the Mamata regime, also justified the arrest of the 22-year-old college student.
When it came to light that Wazahat Khan, the man who filed the police complaint against Sharmishta Panoli, also posted derogatory remarks against Hindu deities, the complaints fell on the deaf ears of Kolkata police. This is despite the fact that Khan does not live 1500 km away but right in the heart of Kolkata.
Just spoke to KolkataPolice — they confirmed that no FIR has been registered yet against Wazahat Khan for his vulgar, hateful, and communally provocative posts targeting the Hindu community.
— Adv.Vineet Jindal (@vineetJindal19) June 2, 2025
Through its strategic inaction against a radical Muslim man who tried to stir communal tension through his posts, the ruling TMC government ensured that it did not alienate its Muslim supporters (who endorse the selective application of rule of law).
The high-handedness of the Mamata-run administration did not stop at merely rationalising the arrest of the 22-year-old college girl or ignoring the objectionable posts made by Wazahat Khan.
The TMC ecosystem went ahead and painted a target on the head of Sharmihsta Panoli, who was already being hounded by online Muslim lynch mob.
If she had been my daughter, I would have performed her last rites by now and would have disowned her….!!
She’s NOT a child, She’s a 22yr old Law Student…Whatever she said and did was done purposefully to gain RW attention & social media clout…
“If she had been my daughter, I would have performed her last rites by now and would have disowned her…” he brazened out.
“She’s NOT a child. She’s a 22yr old Law Student…Whatever she said and did was done purposefully to gain RW attention & social media clout…” Riju Dutta laid the foundation for further targeting and harassment by Muslim lynch mob online.
Prominent TMC leader Kunal Ghosh claimed that his party does not ‘support’ any posts or activities that create division in society. “If legal action is required in such a case, then, it would be taken,” he justified the ordeal suffered by Sharmishta Panoli.
Coincidentally, the same party fielded Saayoni Ghosh during 2021 Vidhan Sabha election and 2024 Lok Sabha election as its candidate.
On 18th February 2015, the now TMC MP tweeted a picture wherein a female character was seen putting a condom over the sacred Hindu symbol of a Shivling. She wrote, “Gods couldn’t have been more useful.” Her tweet maligning Hindu culture was posted on the auspicious occasion of Maha Shivratri, which was observed on 17th February that year.
Screengrab of the Hinduphobic tweet
BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari had explained the strategy behind the high-handedness of Kolkata police and the preferential treatment meted out to TMC leaders and their vote bank, despite continuous anti-Hindu rhetoric.
While speaking about the arrest of Sharmishta, Adhikari stated, “The action is only taken against Sanatanis. Everyone here has a licence to abuse Sanatan Dharma…This is appeasement politics.”
“FIR was filed against Mahua Moitra also. She made derogatory comments about Goddess Kali. Was any action taken? What did their (TMC) MP, Saayoni Ghosh, post regarding Mahadev? Was any action taken? There have been so many FIRs against Firhad Hakim, but there has been no action,” Suvendu Adhikari highlighted.
#WATCH | Kolkata | On Instagram Influencer Sharmishta Panoli's arrest, West Bengal assembly LoP and BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari says, "FIR was filed against Mahua Moitra also. She made derogatory comments about Goddess Kali. Was any action taken? What did their (TMC) MP, Saayoni… pic.twitter.com/Pc5xDeQU2p
The saga of ‘Muslim appeasement’ of TMC can be traced back to the time it came to power for the first time in West Bengal in 2011. The party began fraudulently adding ‘Muslims’ to the OBC category, a decision which was described by the Calcutta High Court as ‘constitutional fraud.’
The West Bengal government made Urdu the second language in areas of the State of where Urdu speakers were equal to or more than 10% of the population. This was done with the flawed view that Urdu is the de-facto language of the Muslim community.
The TMC administration also introduced ‘imam bhata’ (monthly allowance for Imams and Muezzins) to further strengthen its hold on the Muslim vote bank. But the definitive moment came in 2019 when TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee acknowledged the strategy in public.
During her press conf,Mamata Banerjee today said she will attend an iftar party next week. While saying it she also added, "Since I appease Muslims, I shall attend it 100 times. If a cow yields milk, one must be prepared to face its kick!" Open declaration of her Muslim votebank? pic.twitter.com/ks5h6EnFm3
— Indrajit Kundu | ইন্দ্রজিৎ (@iindrojit) May 25, 2019
Referring to Muslims as ‘milk-yielding cows’, Mamata Banerjee had declared that she is ready to receive ‘kick’ (withstand backlash) from them. Since then, it has been a free run for TMC leaders to do anything and everything to appease the Muslim community.
Be it endorsement of ‘Jihad’ or inaction in the face of violence against Hindu community, TMC has made it clear that its priorities lie in whitewashing the crimes of one community (the latest instance happens to be the Wazahat Khan case).
Armed with its dangerous rhetoric against Sharmishta Panoli, the West Bengal government is endangering the life of the 22-year-old college student. This comes at a time when online Muslim lynch mobs are baying for her blood.
Errol Musk, father of Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, is making headlines during his visit to India—not just for promoting green energy, but for his candid praise of India’s leadership, economic rise, spiritual depth, and global potential.
In an exclusive interaction with IANS, the 79-year-old South African engineer called Prime Minister Narendra Modi a “fantastic leader” and hailed India’s emergence as a global power.
“He is one of the best leaders in the world right now. It’s always a pleasure to see him on television,” Musk said, adding that Modi is steering India toward becoming a Vishwaguru—a teacher to the world.
Musk, who is in India as Global Advisor to Servotech Power Systems, also voiced support for India’s bold new electric vehicle (EV) import policy, which allows global manufacturers to bring in up to 8,000 electric four-wheelers annually at a reduced 15% duty—down from the current 70–100%—in exchange for a minimum investment of ₹4,150 crore in local manufacturing.
“It’s a very good idea. That’s the way to go—make things easier for people in the EV space to further improve the world,” he said, praising India’s efforts to become a global green-tech hub.
On geopolitics, Musk didn’t hold back, especially on the issue of terrorism in Kashmir.
“You cannot let people live like this. You’ve got to make a plan and put an end to it,” he said, expressing sympathy for civilians caught in conflict.
“If it’s Pakistan causing the trouble, something needs to be done about it,” he added bluntly.
His remarks come as India ramps up its global campaign against cross-border terrorism following Operation Sindoor, with diplomatic initiatives like a parliamentary delegation’s recent meeting with Spain’s Association of Victims of Terrorism.
Reflecting on India’s economic trajectory, Errol Musk said the nation has already earned its place on the world stage:
“India is a world power. When you have the fourth-largest GDP in the world, you’re a world power—whether you like it or not.”
What impresses him most, however, is India’s humility:
“India has a very humble approach to its success—nicer than other places that push themselves. India has a great deal to contribute to the world.”
Musk also expressed deep admiration for India’s ancient spiritual traditions, especially Hinduism and the figure of Lord Shiva.
“I think if the whole world followed Shiva, it would be all right,” he said. “It’s so old—the religion is so ancient that it boggles my mind. It just shows how little we actually know.”
From economic policy to spiritual philosophy, Errol Musk’s visit has revealed more than just business interest—it’s highlighted a rare and personal appreciation for India’s complex identity as a modern power rooted in ancient wisdom.
In Bihar’s Bettiah, pieces of the skeleton of an 18-year-old boy named Amit Kumar were recovered months after he went missing. Amit Kumar Mahato was allegedly kidnapped by the accused Raju Mian and his father Mohammad Phool Mian from Sansariya village in March this year. The motive of the brutal murder is reported to be pertaining to a love affair.
The deceased victim’s skeleton was only recovered on 31st May from the banks of Chandravat River, Bairia police station area, while he was missing since 27th March 2025. The victim’s family identified the mortal remains from the belt around his waist, and the clothes. The deceased victim worked at a hotel in Muzaffarpur and came to his native village seven days before his kidnapping.
The matter pertains to the Mufassil Police Station precinct. After the recovery of the skeleton, the deceased victim’s family made several serious allegations against the Mufassil police station in-charge Abhiram Singh and the investigating officer of the case Satish Kumar, including negligence. In this case, the SP has taken action against both the police officers.
Sadar SDPO Vivek Deep said that the inspector has been suspended, while the station in-charge has been called back to the police line. The entire saga starts on March 27, when Amit Kumar (18), son of Lalan Mahato, resident of Sansaraiya Ward 41 of Mufassil police station area, went missing.
On March 30, 2025, Amit Kumar’s family had lodged a missing person complaint at Mufassil Police Station. While investigation was launched in this case, however, the police failed to trace the victim and his abductors.
Meanwhile, the police have arrested Raju Mian, resident of Sun Saraiya and Raju’s father Phool Mohammad Mian. The police have sent the remains of the deceased victim for DNA testing.
The deceased victim’s mother Ramavati Devi and sister Anisha Devi have alleged that on the evening of 27th March, Raju Mian had called Amit from home. After that, the victim did not return. After the victim’s family raised suspicion that Amit might have been murdered, the police arrested both the suspects. Reports say that Raju Mian and Amit Kumar were friends. Amit’s mobile phone was switched off from the evening of that day.
The incident sparked outrage in Sansariya village, who staged a blockade at the Bettiah-Gopalganj road. The protest ended only after the SDPO Vivek Deep gave assurance. In addition to arresting Raju Mian and Mohammad Phool, the poice has taken two others in custody.
In the movie Top Gun: Maverick, Ed Harris’s gravel-toned character tells Tom Cruise, “These planes you have been testing, Captain, one day, sooner or later, they won’t need pilots at all, pilots that need to sleep, eat, take a p*ss, pilots who disobey orders. All you did was buy some time for those men out there.” It was not just a clever line written by Jim Cash and Jack Epps Jr. It was a prophecy.
In the movie Border, Wing Commander Andy Bajwa, played by Jackie Shroff, tells Major Kuldip Singh Chandpuri, played by Sunny Deol, that it is the Air Force that hits the enemy in its territory. There was a time when this was a reality. In the Kargil War, the Air Force played a vital role in demolishing the Pakistani posts and bunkers.
While war stories and movie screenplays draw from real-life experiences, things are changing fast, especially since affordable drones have become highly efficient weapons on the battlefield.
Today, the world’s battlefields are being rewritten, not in cockpit dogfights, but in silent strikes launched from container trucks, caves, and bunkers. Drones, loitering munitions, FPVs, machines that do not sleep, do not eat, do not question, and just obey, are now writing the war stories.
The swagger of the pilot flying a modern fighter jet may still echo in military hangars and even on the frontlines for the next few years. However, it is the cheap plastic propellers that are taking over the limelight, one drone at a time. The age of drone warfare has arrived. And the big question is: are fighter jets now on the path to becoming just museum pieces with afterburners?
Ukraine-Russia war – Where drones turned the tide
Forget the high-tech Rafales or F-35s, or the thunder of MiG engines or the Sukhois. The Russia-Ukraine war became history’s first large-scale conflict where drones, loitering munitions, and cheap FPV quadcopters did not just support operations, they defined them.
From the early days of the war, Turkish Bayraktar TB2s helped Ukraine decimate Russian armoured columns. Iranian Shahed-136 drones, packed with explosives, swarmed Ukrainian cities in retaliation. Then came the evolution: commercial racing drones retrofitted with grenades. Loitering munitions that hovered silently above soldiers, tracked movement, and exploded only when a confirmed kill was guaranteed. Hundreds of videos were shared by both sides since the war began to demonstrate how cheap drones successfully took out the enemy.
Above all, the recent Operation Spiderweb showed how far drone warfare has evolved right before our eyes. Around 1.5 years ago, Ukraine reportedly started preparing to hit airbases located deep inside Russia. Slowly, it smuggled the drones in wooden boxes and used local truckers to drive them to the locations. The trucks were parked near the airbases by unsuspecting drivers.
This will be in textbooks. Ukraine secretly delivered FPV drones and wooden mobile cabins into Russia. The drones were hidden under the roofs of the cabins, which were later mounted on trucks.
At the signal, the roofs opened remotely. Dozens of drones launched directly from the… pic.twitter.com/sJyG3WyYYI
When triggered remotely, these drones flew under radar detection, destroyed billion-dollar aircraft, and exposed the limits of Russia’s air defences. No jet needed to cross the border. Just planning, patience, and a laptop. This is not science fiction. It is the new normal of drone warfare.
Recently, India launched Operation Sindoor against Pakistan in retaliation to the Pahalgam terrorist attack that claimed the lives of 26 innocent Hindus. India struck terror camps inside Pakistan and in Pakistan occupied Jammu and Kashmir. In retaliation, Pakistan used swarm drones it received from its ally countries like Turkey to attack Indian civilian and military locations. The Indian air defence system neutralised the attack.
Then came the time for India to retaliate. The Indian armed forces relied heavily on Indian made FPV drones, Heron UAVs and tactical loitering munitions. India-built loitering munition JM-1 also proved its potential in the operation. Targets were mapped using high resolution drone surveillance, cross verified with intelligence inputs, and then marked for precision attacks. While Indian missiles devastated Pakistani air bases, Indian decoy drones also played a vital role, especially in creating heat signatures that matched Indian fighter jets, confusing the Pakistani air defence system. Use of drones by both sides wrote a new chapter in warfare.
A 100% Indian-designed suicide drone called the JM-1 made its combat debut in Operation Sindoor becoming the first ‘Atmanirbhar’ loitering munition to strike Pakistani targets. The Indian drone warfare story is probably this conflict’s biggest takeaway: pic.twitter.com/u6SUDjHqOD
The Azerbaijan Armenia war – Bayraktar’s coming out party
Before Ukraine turned drones into front page headlines, it was the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war that first announced the arrival of the unmanned predator. Azerbaijan, armed with Turkish Bayraktar TB2 drones, subdued the Armenian forces. Azerbaijan reportedly used bait drones to get information of the air defence system and then used modern drones to destroy them.
In just 44 days, Armenia lost hundreds of tanks, artillery pieces, and mobile air defence units, several of them destroyed in full HD footage recorded by drones and released online as psychological warfare. The problem with these drones is that the air defence systems cannot react in time. This is what benefitted Azerbaijan. Troops were slaughtered in convoys before they even knew what hit them.
Azerbaijan’s use of Turkish drones gave it a decisive edge and victory over Armenia in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in 2020.
Here’s a look at why the world is now taking notice of Turkish drone and defence technology pic.twitter.com/7P5EXhVoDm
Suddenly, countries across the globe began shopping for drones that could do what fighter jets and expensive missiles struggled with, cheap, accurate, risk-free elimination.
It is not that drones have never been part of warfare. The United States and other Western countries have been using them to strike locations in the Middle East including Syria. However, the drones they use are expensive and difficult to acquire. Most countries cannot even think of raising a squadron of such drones. The drones that are now being used are dirt cheap compared to fighter jets.
In the post Armenia world, drones were no longer support weapons. They were war winners.
Loitering munitions – The kamikaze bots with patience
Cruise missiles follow coordinates. Drones like the MQ 9 Reaper return home after striking the target. However, loitering munitions, or LMs, are built to wait. Think of them as flying snipers with the patience of a monk and the temperament of a suicide bomber. Once launched, they hover, sometimes for hours, circling above a battlefield, scanning for movement. The moment they lock on to a human heat signature, a tank, or a radar signal, they descend with clinical precision. There is no warning. There is no escape.
Russia turned Oekainian armoured vehicles into scrap metal. The footage shows several armoured vehicles destroyed by Russian UAVs and Lancet loitering munitions of the Sever Group of Forces in the border area of Kursk region. pic.twitter.com/u1Mob5T3zG
India’s Nagastra-1 costs only 5,500 dollars or approximately 4.69 lakh rupees. Compared to a Rafale, which costs around 242 million dollars per unit, India could add 44,000 Nagastra-1 drones to its armoury for the same amount.
In the Russia Ukraine war, videos surfaced from time to time showing loitering munitions tailing soldiers like persistent wasps. Some even paused mid-air, as if contemplating the target, before plunging straight into it. These drones are basically algorithms with a kill switch.
DPR quadcopter drone grenade strikes against Ukrainian soldiers near Pervomaisk pic.twitter.com/pWhXsxiFfQ
Countries like Israel pioneered the technology with systems like the Harop, but now even Iran’s Shahed 131 and 136 are giving competition. With loitering munitions, wars are no longer fought with fighter jets engaging in aerial combat. They are being fought, and will continue to be fought, with drones that watch from above and kill their targets with a single dive.
Who rules the sky now? A look at the top war drones
The new air force in the future may not require billions of dollars worth of jets, vast airstrips and pilots that take years to train in combat. It fits into shipping containers and launches on demand. Here is a look at the current kings of the unmanned skies:
Bayraktar TB2 is a Turkey-made drone that is cheap, camera ready, and deadly. It has been used in Syria, Libya, Ukraine, and Azerbaijan.
Bayraktar TB2. Source: Wiki
Shahed 136 and 131 are Iran-made kamikaze drones sold to proxies from Yemen to Russia. They are unreliable but dangerous when used in swarms.
Shahed 136. Source: Wiki
MQ 9 Reaper is a United States-made, long endurance, satellite linked hunter killer drone. These are expensive but unmatched in range and precision.
MQ 9 Reaper. Source: GAAS
Wing Loong II and the CH series are China-made drones, seen as Beijing’s answer to the Reapers. These have been sold widely across Africa and the Middle East.
Wing Loong II. Source: Wiki
Israel-made IAI Harop and Heron drones are battle tested and versatile, with top class loitering capabilities.
IAI Harop. Source: Wiki
India is also developing world class drones including Ghatak and CATS Warrior. Furthermore, India’s Nagastra-1 has already been battle tested during the recent India Pakistan war.
Ghatak drone. Source: Wiki
The best part is that most of these drones are cost effective. Some of them even cost less than a missile. The battlefield no longer belongs to the biggest, but to the smartest, and often the cheapest.
Are fighter jets finished? Not so fast
It is tempting to declare that the time of the fighter jet is over. After all, if a drone worth a few thousand dollars can destroy an aircraft worth hundreds of millions from a hidden truck, why bother building airstrips? However, it is not yet time to write the obituary. The reality is not that binary.
Fighter aircraft still dominate when it comes to deep penetration strikes, air superiority, and electronic warfare. They break the morale of the enemy, conduct high speed evasive missions, and carry payloads that drones still cannot manage. The Sukhoi 30, Rafale, or even India’s upcoming AMCA are not going extinct. They are evolving.
What is changing is the role. Fighter jets are no longer the lone wolves of air combat. They are becoming commanders in the sky, directing swarms of unmanned companions. Think of it as the Loyal Wingman concept, where drones fly ahead, scout targets, absorb enemy fire, and even conduct suicide attacks. Meanwhile, the pilot sits far behind in a safe control zone.
The future is not about replacing the fighter jet. It is about unburdening it.
Strategic implications – Drone doctrine or dinosaur doctrine
The real question for militaries around the world is not whether drones work. It is whether they have adjusted fast enough to lead with them. For countries including India, the shift from muscle to microchip requires a complete rethinking at the doctrinal level.
Now the question arises whether India should invest one and a half lakh crore rupees into more Rafales or spend half that amount building indigenous drone swarms and artificial intelligence-based warfare systems. Is India training enough drone operators, coders, and electronic warfare tacticians, or just more fighter pilots? In the twentieth century, whoever controlled the skies controlled the war. In the twenty first century, that equation has gained a new variable, data.
Cybersecurity, electronic warfare countermeasures, drone defence grids, and autonomous kill authorisations are now military necessities, not luxuries. Drone warfare is not just about hardware. It is about signal, software, and silence.
Conclusion – The sky no longer roars, it hums
There was a time when victory in war echoed through the sky in the form of sonic booms and roaring jet engines. They instilled fear in the hearts of the enemy. However, it is the whispers that now stop the heartbeat. The battlefield no longer roars. It hums. The mosquito like buzz of propellers, when heard by soldiers on the battlefield, makes them sit down and wait for their fate. It is exactly what has been witnessed in the Russia Ukraine war.
Fighter jets are not gone, and they are here to stay for a long time. However, their supremacy has been challenged in style. They now share the air with machines that do not breathe, do not blink, and do not hesitate. Drones do not break the sound barrier. They break the rules of traditional warfare.
The age of drone warfare is here. Countries that adapt will lead. Those that do not will be watching replays of their destruction in full high definition, filmed by the very drone that killed their comrades on the battlefield.
On the 1st of June 2025, Ukraine executed a massive attack on several airbases of Russia destroying around 40 fighter jets. This attack using FPV drones not only destroyed Russian military assets but also inflicted a deep wound on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s pride. While a strong response from Russia to the Ukrainian offensive is almost certain, what is even more certain is the end of hopes of any ceasefire between Russian and a NATO-backed Ukraine in the near future.
Ukraine’s Operation Spiderweb and how it will keep Russia-Ukraine entangled in a prolonged war
Under the operation code-named Pavutyna or Spiderweb, Ukraine used First-person view (FPV) drones, where an operator can view what’s in front of the drone using its cameras. When aircraft were spotted, they were targeted from weapons carried on the drones, ensuring very close-range precise strikes. The drones were smuggled into Russia much earlier, and were hidden inside mobile wooden cabins loaded onto trucks. The drones were hidden on the roof of the cabins, with a lid on the roof that could be opened remotely. When all the trucks were placed at the desired locations near the airbases in Belaya, Diaghilevo, Olenya and Ivanovo, the operation began.
The Ukrainian officials said that they have been planning this operation for 1.5 years. Reports say that around 40 to 41 Russian aircrafts, including nuclear capable TU-95 and Tu-22 strategic bombers were damaged in the attack. Ukraine also attacked a military unit in the village of Sridni, the first such attack in Siberia.
In a video message, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy lauded Operation Spiderweb and sheer brilliance with which it was executed, stunning Russia. Zelenskyy said that around 117 drones were used and about 34 per cent of Russia’s strategic cruise missile carriers stationed at targeted airbases were hit.
“Today, a brilliant operation was carried out. The preparation took over a year and a half. What’s most interesting, is that the “office” of our operation on Russian territory was located directly next to FSB headquarters in one of their regions. In total, 117 drones were used in the operation with a corresponding number of drone operators involved. 34% of the strategic cruise missile carriers stationed at air bases were hit. We will continue this work,” the Ukrainian President said.
Today, a brilliant operation was carried out. The preparation took over a year and a half. What’s most interesting, is that the “office” of our operation on Russian territory was located directly next to FSB headquarters in one of their regions.
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) June 1, 2025
In a subsequent thread posted on X, President Zelenskyy claimed that Russia has been intensifying its drone and missile attacks against Ukraine. He further asserted that Ukraine never wanted this war and even offered a ceasefire, however, it was “the Russians who chose to continue the war – even under conditions where the entire world is calling for an end to the killing.”
Not for a single second did we want this war. We offered the Russians a ceasefire. Since March 11, the U.S. proposal for a full and unconditional ceasefire has been on the table. It was the Russians who chose to continue the war – even under conditions where the entire world is…
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) June 1, 2025
Described as the biggest drone strike attack on Russia since the war erupted, Ukraine’s offensive comes across as a bold but reckless move. While executing such an attack deep inside Russia shows Ukraine’s military capabilities and willingness to take risks, however, the timing of the attack raises concerns. The timing of the Ukrainian drone attacks right ahead of the scheduled peace talks in Istanbul raises questions if it was Ukraine’s deliberate attempt to sabotage negotiations or a profound strategic error. This question becomes even more significant when the Ukrainian President says “we will continue to do so”.
While the first round of peace talks between Moscow and Kiev may have not been successful in securing a ceasefire commitment, the talks concluded with both agreeing to exchange around a thousand prisoners of war. Last month, both the warring nations implemented this agreement and PoWs were exchanged, hinting that, although gradually, things may take positive turn in this prolonged war. However, Russia’s missile and drone strikes and now Ukraine’s Operation Spiderweb has essentially crushed the hopes for even a short term ceasefire, let alone lasting peace.
Even as the Russian aircrafts destroyed by Ukrainian drones burn and Russian leadership fumes, the leaders of Russia and Ukraine will meet each other in Istanbul on 2nd June, for peace talks, ironically.
While the planned peace talks are not expected to yield any significantly positive outcomes, Russia would not sit silent after the Ukrainian attack or continue with the usual tactics, rather, sone fear that Russian forces might even start considering the Nuclear option against Ukraine.
For President Putin, the Ukrainian attack is both, a setback and an opportunity. The Ukrainian drone strikes deep inside Russia have not only inflicted damages to fighter jets, but Putin’s image of an untouchable strongman. Russian nationalists, who form Putin’s large support base, expect a robust response. Agreeing to ceasefire immediately after such an attack, would come across as a sign of weakness and Ukraine and its European allies would project this as Russia’s defeat. Besides, President Putin’s reputation as a defender of Russian sovereignty would also be undermined.
Putin has continuously said that Russia’s war against Ukraine is its defence against what Moscow calls Western encroachment and a fight against the root causes of the conflict. These include Ukraine’s desire to join NATO which would translate into bringing NATO forces to the doorstep of Russia, Kiev’s refusal to cede territories occupied by Russia, alongside Western sanctions. Since the Ukrainian attack came just ahead of peace talks, Kiev has essentially handed an opportunity to Moscow to go berserk in response to Ukraine’s “act of terror”.
So far, Ukraine’s Western backers have been accusing Russia of deliberately prolonging the conflict. Hoever, after Operation Spiderweb, Moscow will allege that it is Ukraine and its Western allies who are escalating the war, making it untenable for Putin to accept ceasefire without desired concessions.
Notably, Ukraine has submitted its draft memorandum outlining a peaceful resolution and President Putin’s advisor Vladimir Medinsky, who would lead the Russian delegation at peace talks has confirmed receiving the document. Russia, however, has not submitted its memorandum to Ukraine, Turkey or the US, so far. Moscow is anticipated to reveal its stance during the meeting in Istanbul.
It is, however, expected that Russia would demand Ukraine to recognise Russian control over annexed Ukrainian territories, relinquish NATO dream, and demilitarise. The Ukrainian attack has allowed Moscow to stiffen its demands, and the Russian delegation might argue that Ukraine’s attack proved the need for stricter conditions to ensure Russia’s security and integrity.
Speculations are rife that Putin might opt for immediate escalation by using advanced weaponry including Orshenik missiles, Kalibr, and other warheads. However, Moscow might also pick a gradual, more methodical approach and continue to grind Ukraine’s defences while avoiding the adverse economic impacts a dramatic escalation would trigger including fresh wave of sanctions.
Reports say that the Russian forces are advancing in eastern Ukraine, with intent of creating buffer zones along the border, and have almost expelled Ukrainian forces from Russia’s Kursk region. These developments suggest that although time taking, Putin’s strategy of outlasting Ukraine and its Western allies has worked arguably well. Prolonging the conflict would help Russia erode Ukraine’s manpower and EU’s resolve.
In either case, the war will persist and yield devastating consequences for both the warring nations. The continued attacks and counterattacks by Russia and a NATO-backed Ukraine ensures the creation of a cycle of destruction and devastation where peace is the ultimate casualty.
Donald Trump’s dream of playing ‘peacemaker’ now lies in tatters
Ukraine and Russia have been accusing each other of delaying negotiations and having no intentions to end the war. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump, who promised to bring an end to this war, is left clueless and frustrated as things fall apart despite his tall promises of peace.
The 1st June attack has shattered Donald Trump’s ambitions of being hailed as a messiah by brokering peace between Russia and Ukraine. During his election campaign last year, Donald Trump had famously claimed that if voted to power, he would end the Russia-Ukraine conflict within 24 hours, however, it’s been nearly five months already and Trump’s efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war embarrassingly faltered.
Earlier, Trump’s decision not to impose fresh sanctions against Moscow had rattled Kiev as he was seen inching closer to Putin. However, Trump’s more recent remarks directly accusing President Putin of taking measures counterproductive to peace efforts as well as calling Putin “absolutely crazy” indicate that evolving situation has left Trump clueless.
Last month, Ukraine and the United States signed the minerals deal under which the US will gain access to the war-torn nation’s rare earth deposits, including oil and gas. It must be noted that Trump has significantly reduced aid to Ukraine, thus compelling the war-torn country to ink a deal to secure long-term US investment. Trump has also been willing to make Ukraine give up its NATO aspirations, held telephonic conversations with Putin, however, none of his efforts have yielded results that could make Kiev and Moscow to agree to a ceasefire, forget lasting peace.
President Trump has tried all this conventional US tactics of talks, trade and threats, however, neither Russia nor Ukraine have stopped fighting. Neither President Putin will easily commit to a ceasefire, especially after the June 1 attack, nor President Zelenskyy would relent on his NATO dream, particularly without ironclad security guarantees, which the US is not in a position anymore to ensure. With both the warring nations prioritising military posturing over diplomacy and mediation efforts going futile, neither a ceasefire nor lasting peace are on the horizon. For Trump, after India’s outright denial of Trump’s trade-backed mediation stopping India-Pakistan clashes, the escalation of Russia-Ukraine war suggests that Trump’s peacemaker dream was just a naïve dream never meant to translate into reality.
