A woman has levelled serious allegations of rape, sexual abuse, torture, mental and physical harassment and extreme violence against TheWire journalist Omar Rashid. In a viral Instagram post, the woman has narrated her prolonged torture at the hands of the so-called ‘progressive and liberal’ journalist associated with TheWire.
?SHOCKING – Kashmiri Muslim journo Omar Rashid @omar7rashid who works for @thewire_in trapped a Hindu girl
In the viral Instagram post, the unnamed woman has narrated that she was trapped by a much older Omar through his connections in Delhi’s ‘Liberal’ media circles and influence as an experienced journalist. She mentioned that Omar had ‘charmed’ her through days of chatting abour progressive politics, followed by suggestions of ‘walks’ in the Lodhi garden. She wrote that Omar has tried the same tricks with multiple women where he uses his false image of a charming Muslim man who is a pet lover, foodie, progressive Liberal and a guy who has lost his mother.
Calling Omar Rashid a serial abuser and rapist, the woman has stated that she was brutally beaten, slapped, kicked and violently raped by Omar multiple times. Throughout the span of the ‘relationship’, the woman stated, she has been subjected to extreme sexual humilation, abuse, beatings and violent rape that left her bleeding and bruised.
Omar reportedly never used any protective method while subjecting the woman to forceful and violent sexual intercourse, and the victim had to visit the gynaecologist multiple times to get abortions, or get treated for sexually transmitted infections because Omar was in a sexual relationship with multiple, unknown persons throughout.
The woman has stated that Omar smashed all her belongings, some family heirlooms, knowing that she is struggling financially and she cannot afford losing those items. He reportedly used her to extreme humiliation, making her beg at his feet while he described imaginary sexual abuse of her mother before her, and physically assaulting her.
The woman narrated that despite her begging and saying ‘no’ to unprotected, violent sex, even while she was unwell, Omar raped her multiple times, even to the point where she had to hide inside washroom to save herself. The woman has added that Omar Rashid had forced her to eat beef multiple times, asserting his Kashmiri Muslim identity and highlighting her ‘non-Muslim’ status, despite she hating the beef and puking it out every time he force-fed her.
The woman has also mentioned that she does not want her ordeal to be given a ‘communal angle’, but it should be seen as another one of the countless stories where women suffer abuse and exploitation by older, more powerful men they come in contact with at workplaces.
Omar Rashid’s X handle
TheWire acknowledges the allegations against their journalist
Leftist propaganda website TheWire has acknowledged the serious allegations against their journalist, adding that they are conducting an inquiry into the matter. “The Wire has taken serious note of the grave allegations against Mr Omar Rashid, who has been contributing to The Wire as an independent journalist for the past couple of years. We will be conducting an enquiry as per relevant laws and procedures applicable in the matter and decide on how best to move forward to address the allegations raised on the post”, the note shared by The Wire read.
The Wire's statement on the grave allegations against one of our contributors, Mr. Omar Rashid: pic.twitter.com/eeZZWkntp8
It is notable here that for years, The Wire and other similar leftist propaganda outlets have been outright denying the phenomenon of Love Jihad, where Muslim men systematically target Hindu or Christian women under a false persona, and subsequently subject them to torture, humiliation, rape and violence, both physical and mental. The phenomenon finds its roots in the Islamic ideas supremacy of the Islamic persons and the belief that ‘Kafir’ or non-Muslim woman are fit to become sex slaves, even the belief that it is the duty of a male follower of Islam to humiliate and enslave ‘Kafir’ women, make them renounce their faith and make them produce Muslim children.
Thousands of women in India and worldwide continue to become victims of this phenomenon. From the rape gangs of the UK, the sex slavery of Yazidi women, the rape and blackmail gangs of Ajmer, to the conversion and jihadi recruitment cartel in Kerala, this ideology of enslaving the ‘kafir’ women and using them to further the cause of Islam has been alive and ongoing in today’s so-called modern world, often helped and furthered by Leftist organisations like The Wire itself.
The central government on Wednesday told the Supreme Court that Waqf is an Islamic concept, it is not an essential part of Islam and Waqf boards discharge secular functions.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre, told a bench of Chief Justice of India BR Gavai and Justice Augustine George Masih Waqf Board does not touch upon any religious functions.
“Waqf is an Islamic concept. But it is not an essential part of Islam. Waqf is nothing but just charity in Islam,” said Mehta, adding that charity is recognised in every religion, and it cannot be regarded as an essential tenet of any religion.
Defending the Inclusion of non-Muslims in the Waqf board, he said that it was for diversity and to take care of the secular aspects of the Board.
“Waqf Board discharges only secular function. Managing properties, register maintenance, and auditing accounts. Purely secular. There is a power to regulate secular practices in a religion. Administration of property has to be in accordance with law,” said Solicitor General, adding that having two non-Muslims on the Board will not affect any religious practice.
He said the amendments in Waqf Act were brought in after taking into confidence all stakeholders and were solely aimed at curbing mismanagement and misuse of Waqf.
Solicitor General said that the Amendment Act was passed after detailed deliberations by the Joint Parliamentary Committee, which took the views of various stakeholders across the country.
He further submitted that there was a lot of “mischief” going on in the name of Waqf-by-user, as there are cases across the country of government properties being claimed.
Abolition of Waqf-by-user is prospective, and the existing Waqfs won’t be affected if they are registered, he added. Also, Waqf-by-user is not a fundamental right, said the Solicitor General.
“Now a false narrative is being made that Waqf is being snatched. This is nothing but the country being misled. Waqf-by-user is not allowed prospectively with some exceptions. One, it should be registered,” he argued.
He also submitted that once a property comes into dispute only the Waqf character is taken away and not the possession or other rights with respect to the property.
Mehta also said that the 2025 Act included provisions regarding Waqf-Alal-Aulad, specifically concerning the protection of female inheritance rights in family endowments, ensuring that women heirs receive their rightful share before property is dedicated to Waqf.
The apex court has been hearing arguments on interim stay of the Act. The arguments will continue tomorrow as well.
A batch of petitions challenging the Act was filed before the apex court, contending that it was discriminatory towards the Muslim community and violates their fundamental rights.
Six Bhartiya Janta Party-ruled states had also moved the apex court in the matter, in support of the amendment.
President Droupadi Murmu on April 5 gave her assent to the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which was earlier passed by Parliament after heated debates in both Houses.
Central government had filed its preliminary affidavit in the Supreme Court while seeking dismissal of petitions challenging constitutional validity of Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025 as it said law was not violative of the fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution.
The Centre in its affidavit had said the amendments are only for the regulation of the secular aspect regarding the management of the properties and hence, there was no violation of the religious freedoms guaranteed under Articles 25 and 26 of the Constitution.
The Central government had urged the court not to stay any provisions of the Act, saying that it is a settled position in law that constitutional courts would not stay a statutory provision, either directly or indirectly, and will decide the matter finally.
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
In a major breakthrough in the war against left-wing extremism or Naxalism, the security forces have eliminated top Maoist terrorist Nambala Keshav Rao also known as Basavaraju. The Maoist leader was killed in an encounter in the Abujhmadh (also spelt Abujmarh) forests of Chhattisgarh’s Narayanpur district.
Basavaraju was among the 26 Naxal terrorists killed by the security forces on the 21st of May 2025. Basavaraju, the general secretary of the banned outfit Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-M). The 70-year-old Maoist leader was among India’s most wanted Maoist leaders and had a bounty of Rs 1.5 crore on his head. He was behind the 2010 Chintalnar massacre of 76 CRPF jawans and the 2013 attack in Jhiram Ghati wherein several Congress leaders were killed.
Earlier, security forces conducted ‘Operation Black Forest’ to break the backbone of Naxals near Karreguttalu Hill (KGH) at the Chhattisgarh-Telangana border. The 21-day-long operation carried out by the joint forces of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and state police between April 21 and May 11 neutralised 31 Naxals carrying a bounty of Rs 1.72 crore. A total of 214 Naxal hideouts and bunkers have been destroyed in the operation and a total of 450 IEDs, 818 BGL shells, 899 bundles of Codex, detonators and a huge amount of explosive material have been recovered during the searches. In addition, nearly 12,000 kilograms of food supplies have also been recovered.
Taking to X, Union Home Minister Amit Shah lauded the security forces for the “landmark achievement” in eliminating Naxalism and killing Basavaraju.
“A landmark achievement in the battle to eliminate Naxalism. Today, in an operation in Narayanpur, Chhattisgarh, our security forces have neutralized 27 dreaded Maoists, including Nambala Keshav Rao, alias Basavaraju, the general secretary of CPI-Maoist, topmost leader, and the backbone of the Naxal movement. This is the first time in three decades of Bharat’s battle against Naxalism that a general secretary-ranked leader has been neutralized by our forces. I applaud our brave security forces and agencies for this major breakthrough,” the Home Minister said.
Minister Shah also expressed joy over completion of Operation Black Forest and reiterated the Modi government’s commitment to annihilating Naxalism before 31st March 2026.
“Also glad to share that after completion of Operation Black Forest, 54 Naxalites have been arrested and 84 Naxalites have surrendered in Chhattisgarh, Telangana, and Maharashtra. The Modi government is resolved to eliminate Naxalism before the 31st of March 2026,” Shah said.
A landmark achievement in the battle to eliminate Naxalism. Today, in an operation in Narayanpur, Chhattisgarh, our security forces have neutralized 27 dreaded Maoists, including Nambala Keshav Rao, alias Basavaraju, the general secretary of CPI-Maoist, topmost leader, and the…
Quoting Amit Shah’s post, Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded the security forces for eliminating Maoist leader Basavaraju in Abujhmadh and said that his government is committed to eliminating the naxal menace.
“Proud of our forces for this remarkable success. Our Government is committed to eliminating the menace of Maoism and ensuring a life of peace and progress for our people,” PM Modi said.
Proud of our forces for this remarkable success. Our Government is committed to eliminating the menace of Maoism and ensuring a life of peace and progress for our people. https://t.co/XlPku5dtnZ
As the “red citadel” of Naxalism, Abujhmarh has fallen, it is pertinent to know the bloodied history of this region infested by Maoist terror for decades.
Abujhmadh: The last naxal fortressand its ultimate fall after 40 years
Abujh means what cannot be understood, while Madh means hill. Abujhmadh has been the only piece of land in India which has had no revenue map; villagers have no title deeds (patta) to the land they live in or cultivate, even though the area (4000 km) is bigger than the state of Goa.
Due to naxalism, this area had little to no civil administration. With population of around 40 to 45 thousand, mostly Abhujhmadhia tribe people, Abujhmadh included the Orcha block and some regions of the Narayanpur district. Abujhmadhia are among the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) of Chhattisgarh and are entitled to special benefits and rights from the government meant for endangered groups like them.
The area also includes the parts of Dantewada and Bijapur in Chhattisgarh, and Gadhchiroli in Maharashtra.
There has been no roads, hospitals and other basic facilities in Abujhmadh since Naxalites would not allow any development work or any step towards mainstreaming of this region and its people take place. As per locals, Naxalites used to set buses ablaze if they entered villages in Abujhmadh. Maoists made sure that no land deeds were earmarked in Abujhmadh, no motorable roads are constructed and no development ever reaches the villages on this hill. To ensure this, the Maoist terrorsts would either resort to violence or propaganda, mostly both.
After independence in 1947, the Orcha and Narayanpur areas underwent development, with motorable roads constructed by 1980s, however, Abujhmadh Hill remain untouched since it was deliberately left out of reach to ensure that the culture and traditions of local tribals are diluted.
The situation however, began turning hostile as Maoists eyed the so far tribal-inhabited unknown hill in the 1990s. By 2000s, the Maoists transformed Abujhmadh into their stronghold. They destroyed roads, burnt over 50 schools and cut off the region from whatever connect it had with the mainstream. The Maoists began operating “Jantana Sarkar” in Abujhmadh. They ran their own schools in Murumwada and Botor, where even till the recent years, Maoists taught their own syllabus.
Abujhmadh is covered by the single Assembly constituency of Narayanpur. Around 90 per cent of its area remains unsurveyed. Back in April 2017, a revenue survey was conducted in Akabeda and other villages with the assistance of IIT-Roorkee, however, the survey could not make much progress due to security concerns and lack of infrastructure.
Abujhmadh got its first operation theatre and two new mobile towers in 2023, however, over most of the area has been without a mobile network.
The Election Commission has been making efforts to bring the people of Abujhmadh into the electoral mainstream and since 2018, more than 300 names have been added to the electoral roll in this erstwhile Maoist fortress. These low numbers make it clear that the people of Abujhmadh have historically been non-participant of electoral process.
In December 2024, a District Reserve Guard (DRG) head constable was killed by Maoists in Abujhmadh’s Kohkameta during an encounter. Maoists have also been killing former Sarpanch (village leaders) in areas controlled by them. Last year, two ex-sarpanches including a BJP functionary were killed by Maoists in Bijapur district under south Bastar. In 2023, an ex-Sarpanch named Ramji Dodi from the Zara village in Abujhmadh was abducted by Maoists along with his two nephews and taken to a jungle area where he was strangled to death. The sarpanch was brutally murdered by Maoists for being a ‘Mukhbir’ or police informer.
Despite the challenges, the security forces and the government relentlessly continued their efforts to end the Naxal menace in not only Abujhmadh but the entire Dandakaranya region.
In February 2025, a former Maoist, Giridhar, told TOI that Abujhmadh, the red citadel of Maoists, has “fallen”. The former commander of PLGA, who surrendered and quit Naxalism in 2024, said, “Abujmarh is no longer an impregnable Red citadel. The liberated zones have been smashed, commandos are conquering every inch of Dandakaranya jungles. Maoist cadre base has been practically wiped out.”
Highlighting the change in mindset of the youth in Naxal-infested areas and the administration’s friendly approach towards them, Giridhar who masterminded the 2009 ambush that killed Rajanandgaon SP Vinod Chaubey said, “Our cadre base was fast depleting. Police seemed friendlier, with their civic actions, freebies, jobs, and promise of a better life. With education and the lure of urban dazzle, nobody wanted to join us. The youth did not want to die with a police bullet in their head.”
Fight against Naxalism: Centre and security forces continue non-stop action to make India naxal-free
Earlier this month, the security forces have killed 31 Naxalites in the biggest-ever operation against Naxalism, on the Karregutta Hill (KGH) at the Chhattisgarh-Telangana border.
So far, a total of 214 Naxal hideouts and bunkers have been destroyed in this operation and a total of 450 IEDs, 818 BGL shells, 899 bundles of Codex, detonators and a huge amount of explosive material have been recovered during the search. In addition, nearly 12,000 kilograms of food supplies have also been recovered.
A large number of forces, equipment, and other logistics were mobilized in a professional manner for the implementation of the action plan of this historic operation. In the joint briefing, the forces were primarily warned about the tough and challenging terrain of KGH, hundreds of caves for hiding, ambush points, and the dangers of IEDs. Detailed information about their area of operation was provided to the security forces to ensure there was no confusion.
As part of the anti-naxal operation, the security forces also destroyed four Naxal technical units that were being used for the production of BGL shells, homemade weapons, IEDs, and other deadly weapons. During the operation, a large quantity of ration supplies, medicines, and daily-use items were also recovered from various Naxal hideouts and bunkers.
It is noteworthy that building on the success of the anti-Naxal operations in 2024, the security forces have neutralsed 197 hardcore Naxalites in the last 4 months as part of the ongoing anti-Naxal operations in 2025. In 2014, 35 districts were most affected by Naxalism, and by 2025, this number hasd reduced to only 6. Similarly, the number of Naxal-affected districts has decreased from 126 to just 18. In 2014, 1080 Naxal incidents were recorded in 330 police stations across 76 districts, whereas in 2024, only 374 incidents were recorded in 151 police stations across 42 districts. In 2014, 88 security personnel were martyred in Naxal violence, which decreased to 19 in 2024. 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.
The long-term results of this extensive operation against the Naxalites are being observed, such as the division of large and armed Naxal units into several smaller units. The security forces’ hold on these areas has strengthened, and they are continuously advancing in the National Park area under the Bijapur district and the Maad region under the Narayanpur district.
Under the Operation Kagar, around 1 lakh para-military troops, including the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), its elite CoBRA units, District Reserve Guards DRG), and state police were deployed in the left-wing terrorism affected areas. These security personnel have been equipped with modern technology like drones for information gathering, AI for intelligence gathering, and satellite imagery, among others.
With the fall of Abujhmadh after Karreguetta, India is striding towards eradicating the menace of left-wing extremism/Maoism/Naxalism and bringing areas infested with this ideology and violence into the mainstream of peace, prosperity, education and development.
OpIndia earlier reported how the leftists in an open letter blatantly sided with the Maoist terrorists and emphasised that the government should discontinue its anti-Naxal crackdown. However, despite all the challenges and hurdles brought up by Maoists and their cheerleaders in politics and ‘civil society’, the Modi government and the security forces have continued their crackdown on the Naxalites unabated.
Bangladesh Army chief General Waker-uz-Zaman has reiterated his opposition to the proposed ‘humanitarian corridor’ to Myanmar, saying there will be “no bloody corridor business”. He also made it clear that the unelected interim govt led by Muhammad Yunus can’t take major decisions like the corridor or handing over a port to a foreign country.
Notably, the United Nations has requested the Bangladesh for a corridor through the country to Myanmar’s Rakhine state to deliver aid material. The region is facing shortages of foods and other essential items after rebel Arakan Army took control of the region. The Arakan Army, which serves as the military wing of the United League of Arakan (ULA), gained full control over the Bangladesh-Myanmar border in December 2024. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, during his recent visit to Bangladesh, called for establishing the corridor through the country to deliver aid to Rakhine State.
The interim govt of Bangladesh had agreed in principle to the UN proposal for the corridor. Last month, Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain said that the govt has agreed in principle to the proposal, subject to certain conditions. However, several political parties opposed the move, saying any such decision must be taken only after discussion with all political parties. Bangladesh Nationalist Party strongly opposed the proposal, saying they don’t want to become another Gaza.
Addressing officers at the Army Head Quarters (AHQ) in Dhaka in Wednesday, General Waker-Uz-Zaman stated that there will be no Humanitarian Corridor, nor any port allotted to any foreigners till an elected government comes to power in the country. He added that Bangladesh Army will not allow anything that will affect the sovereignty and geographical stability of the country, attracting huge applause from the officers.
The army chief expressed concerns that the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government was taking decisions while keeping the country’s Armed Forces in the dark. Using very strong language while talking about the proposal of the corridor, General Waker-uz-Zaman said that there will be “no bloody corridor business”.
He also said that the elections in the country must be held by December this year, and the interim govt can’t determine the country’s course, only an elected government can do so. He said that an elected government should be in power by January 1, 2026 after concluding “free and fair” polls, following which the army will return to the barracks.
The general said that there are some “foreigners” in the interim government who are acting irresponsibly and will go back to their country when things go wrong. He was evidently talking about Khalilur Rahman, the first NSA of Bangladesh and a resident of USA, who has been at loggerhead with the army chief since his appointment to the position last year. Notably, Khalilur Rahman has been pushing for the Myanmar corridor. However, recently Rahman has clarified that the govt has not taken any decision on the corridor.
Amid the calls for massive amendments to the constitution, he said that any large-scale changes are not desirable.
Zaman further added that decisions like allotting a port to foreigners must be taken by an elected govt, nut the interim govt. His comments seem to be over the Interim govt’s proposal to hand over the operations of a terminal of the Chittagong port to foreign entities.
Notably, the Yunus govt has decided to hand over the operations of a New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) at Chittagong Port to a foreign operator. The move was initially introduced under the previous Awami League government, and the current administration is actively considering it. Shipping Adviser Brig Gen (Retd) M Sakhawat Hussain said that the administration is in favour of bringing in a foreign operator to manage the terminal.
The move is being strongly objected by several parties, including BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami. Earlier this month, the 12-party alliance said that under no circumstances should the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) be handed over, nor should the Chattogram Port be leased to foreign entities.
The political parties argue that bringing a foreign operator to run an already built port is not necessary, saying foreign investment is welcome only for greenfield projects. They also assert that the interim government has no authority to make such a major decision related to national interest unilaterally.
The 950-metre-long NCT of the port has five jetties — four for ocean-going vessels and one for smaller ships on inland routes. At present, local firm Saif Powertec Ltd has been running four jetties.
In another important comment, General Waker-Uz-Zaman that the “Army will no longer tolerate mob violence or lawlessness”, pointing out to prevailing lawlessness and protest going violent in the country.
Amarjit Singh Dulat, former chief of the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) was recently featured on a podcast by Bharat Raftaar TV journalist Jitesh Jethanandani. During the interaction, he was asked about his visit to Pakistan which made him lose his temper.
He had a physical outburst and used abusive language on camera. The journalist asked him questions regarding Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) and other issues. However, he appeared hesitant to respond and then became enraged when his visit to Pakistan came under the spotlight.
“Take him out, remove this ba***rd. Who was that sisterf**ker? Who was that dog? Who was he? Do you know who I am? Who was saying all this? Motherf**ker, what do you think of yourself? Bloody Sindhi, do you think I am crazy? I will f**k up your mother,” he lashed out.
Jethanandani asked, “You were seen in Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra. How did you become a part of that journey and what were the reasons,” to which Dulat responded, “I received a call from him and I joined the yatra. Yes, my views align with the Congress. I served during the party’s regime. We have always been with the Congress.”
He tried to downplay the Kashmiri Hindu genocide and claimed, “It was those same people who were angry with Delhi and they didn’t kill only the Pandits. More Muslims were killed back then,” when he was asked how the minority community was butchered in the 1990s in the valley.
When questioned about PoK (Pakistan-occupied Kashmir), Dulat alleged, “There’s no issue, what issue is there,” and added, “If there’s any solution, it’s this: make a settlement on the Line of Control. What you have is yours and what we have is ours.”
“Yes, tourism has increased. I had said that the voices of local Kashmiri leaders should have been heard,” when Jethanandani pointed out that tourism has increased in Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370. Notably, local Kashmiri leaders have been opposing the decision. Dulat supported them and accused that the spike in tourism is a problem, not a benefit.
The host also inquired about “Operation Sindoor” and stated, “There was tension between India and Pakistan 10–15 days ago.” However, he was soon interrupted by Dulat who mocked, “I say we should have taken Lahore. I like Lahore.”
When asked Dulat acknowledged that he has contacts in Pakistan. However, he lost his temper and became aggressive when his recent trip to Pakistan was brought up. The question was related to his recent book “The Spy Chronicles: RAW, ISI and the Illusion of Peace” which he co-authored with former Pakistani intelligence officer Asad Durrani.
Dulat has often been in the news for controversial reasons. He has frequently supported anti-BJP and pro-Pakistan narratives. He was also photographed walking hand in hand with Rahul Gandhi during the Congress-led Bharat Jodo Yatra in 2023.
When the 2019 film “The Kashmir Files” was released which depicted the atrocities faced by Kashmiri Pandits, Dulat dismissed it as propaganda. He downplayed the massacre and exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from the valley, claiming that the popular perception surrounding the shocking event differs from reality.
Dulat also raised doubts on the Pulwama terror attack. In the lead-up to the 2019 general elections, he infamously labeled the deadly terror strike as a “gift” for the Bharatiya Janata Party after which he received massive backlash.
The tragic suicide attack on a school bus in Khuzdar, Balochistan, reported on May 21, which killed six people—including four children, a bus driver, and a security guard—has rightly drawn international condemnation.
But amid the grief and anger, the Pakistani establishment was quick to level the usual, yet unsubstantiated, allegation: that India was behind the attack. Such hasty scapegoating raises critical questions—not just about Pakistan’s credibility and its intent to get to the bottom of the tragedy, but also about the possibility that this entire episode might have been a false-flag operation orchestrated by the Pakistani military-intelligence nexus. The timing, location, victims, and even photographic evidence from the scene do not just provoke doubt; they demand scrutiny.
An inexplicable target and a dubious timeline
The most glaring red flag in this entire saga is the Balochistan Education Department’s own directive, which ordered the closure of all schools and educational institutions in the province from May 17 to July 31. Why, then, were children traveling in a school bus on May 21—a full four days after the mandated closure? This simple yet damning inconsistency erodes the narrative of a genuine civilian-targeted attack.
Balochistan Education Department directive
And if this incident took place before May 17, why did it take four days for Pakistani media to report it?
If the institutions were closed officially, either the children were not supposed to be in school or the bus was being used for a different, undisclosed purpose. This opens up the disturbing possibility that the victims were either deliberately placed in harm’s way or the attack scene was manipulated after the fact to fit a particular narrative.
Suspicious evidence and unscathed school bags
Visual evidence released from the site further undermines Pakistan’s claim. The explosion reportedly resulted in fatalities and several injuries, yet pictures from the scene show children’s school bags intact and undamaged, a highly unlikely outcome in a genuine suicide bombing. In real-world high-intensity blast scenarios, particularly those targeting confined vehicles, even personal belongings of the victims rarely survive the force unscathed.
School bags of children ‘injured’ in the attack were recovered almost unscathed
These inconsistencies cast serious doubt not just on the mechanics of the attack, but on the intentions behind it. Was this tragedy staged or manipulated to create international outrage, with children tragically sacrificed or falsely used as pawns in Pakistan’s political theatre?
A pattern of concocted victimhood
The Pakistani establishment has, time and again, resorted to false flag operations and blame games to either justify military escalation or gain diplomatic leverage. This latest incident suspiciously coincides with India’s successful ongoing military action under ‘Operation Sindoor’ and subsequent diplomatic outreach, an initiative aimed at exposing Pakistan’s state-sponsored terrorism and tightening the noose around its sympathizers on global forums.
Just days prior to the Khuzdar attack, Indian fighter jets decimated nine terror camps across Pakistan and PoK in response to the heinous Pahalgam terror attack, which killed dozens of Indian pilgrims and civilians after they were identified as Hindus. Pictures released subsequently revealed the funeral attendance of Pakistani army officers and police personnel alongside UN-designated terrorists, strengthening India’s case that the terror infrastructure in Pakistan is not just thriving—but institutionalized.
Faced with global scrutiny and diplomatic isolation, Pakistan needed a narrative shift. What better way to do that than by portraying itself as a victim of ‘Indian terrorism’? The Khuzdar attack, therefore, appears less like a genuine act of terror and more like a desperate attempt to recalibrate international optics.
The Baloch context: A history of repression
To understand why Balochistan, specifically, becomes the theatre for such false flag operations, one must grasp the region’s status. Balochistan is not merely a province; it is a land under military occupation, whose people have for decades resisted the forced integration into the Pakistani state.
The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) and other resistance groups frequently target Pakistani military installations and personnel. In fact, a chilling video released by the BLA recently showed BLA operatives neutralizing several Pakistani soldiers in a high-profile ambush. Given this context, the Pakistani military’s need to retaliate—not against combatants, but symbolically—cannot be overlooked.
Rather than confronting the BLA militarily, which carries the risk of further humiliation, loss and push the country on the brink of balkanisation, the Pakistani establishment may have chosen a crueler path: a false flag attack on soft targets such as children designed to execute the operation effectively while evoking maximum emotional impact to effect a change in global narrative.
A familiar propaganda machine
Almost on cue, Pakistan’s foreign office accused India of orchestrating the attack, without offering a shred of credible evidence. This isn’t new. It’s practically doctrine.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs, through spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, issued a categorical rejection:
“India rejects the baseless allegations made by Pakistan regarding Indian involvement with the incident in Khuzdar earlier today… it has become second nature for Pakistan to blame India for all its internal issues.”
This “second nature” is not just rhetorical—it’s strategic. From the Pulwama incident to Operation Sindoor, Pakistan has time and again weaponized disinformation to muddy waters and create false equivalence between its terror-exporting policies and India’s counter-terrorism efforts. In a country perennially struggling with English, it even allowed one of its Air Force officers to become a butt of all jokes as he senselessly trotted out ‘Centre of Gravity’ phrase to sound intelligent and profound for a population raised on madrassa education.
The larger picture: Discrediting Operation Sindoor
Operation Sindoor is not just India’s diplomatic outreach—it’s a counteroffensive to decades of Pakistani terror support. With momentum building and nations recognizing India’s credible evidence against Pakistan-based terror groups, Islamabad finds itself cornered.
The Khuzdar incident, whether staged or opportunistically manipulated, is Pakistan’s clumsy attempt to paint India as an aggressor and reset the narrative. But the inconsistencies, especially the school closure order and suspicious post-blast evidence, expose the fragility of this fabrication.
If anything, this tragic event reaffirms the moral bankruptcy of the Pakistani military establishment, which seems willing to exploit even its own children to maintain its control over a crumbling ideological edifice. The real victims here are not just the dead and wounded, but the truth itself.
What the world must do
The international community must demand an independent investigation into the Khuzdar bombing—preferably led by the United Nations or neutral third-party observers. If Pakistan resists such oversight, it only strengthens the suspicion of foul play.
More importantly, global powers must recognize the systemic manipulation of terror narratives by Pakistan’s military to achieve geopolitical aims. False flag operations, staged tragedies, and unsubstantiated blame-games are not just diplomatic tactics—they are crimes against the very principles of international law and human rights.
As India continues to present verifiable evidence of terror camps, cross-border support for insurgency, and state complicity, the burden of proof now lies on Pakistan—not India.
Let this be a moment of reckoning—not just for Balochistan, but for the world’s willingness to call out propaganda masquerading as victimhood.
During an interview with Senior Advocate and veteran Congressman Kapil Sibal, former union minister Yashwant Sinha accused the Modi government of orchestrating India’s military response to Pakistan in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack as an election gimmick ahead of upcoming Bihar Assembly elections. Absolving Pakistan, Sinha, an Ex-Foreign Minister and former BJP leader, linked the timing of Pakistan-sponsored terrorists attacks in the country with elections.
He said that the Pulwama terrorist attack was followed by 2019 general elections and now after the Pahalgam terror attack, the Bihar assembly elections are approaching.
TMC’s Yashwant Sinha has given a clean chit to Pakistan for the Pahalgam attack, says it was staged for the Bihar elections.
Sinha, a former bureaucrat who joined TMC after leaving BJP in 2018, accused the Modi government of using national security issues for electoral gains, and said that PM Modi sought votes in the name of the Pulwama and Uri terrorist attacks. He said that the government lacks accountability as it did not answer any questions relating to the Pulwama and Uri terrorist attacks. “No details regarding the Pulwama terrorist attack were disclosed and, similarly, the details of Pahalgam terror attack will not be disclosed,” Sinha claimed. Attacking PM Modi, Sinha said that PM Modi cannot handle a press conference. He said that PM Modi never addresses a press conference because he cannot speak without the help of a teleprompter.
People do not understand the meaning of ‘trillion’: Sinha
Sinha lashed out at the Modi government ridiculing its vision of making India a $5 trillion economy by saying that people in his old constituency do not even understand the meaning of the word ‘trillion’. Nodding in agreement with Sinha, Sibal also rejected the idea of a $5 trillion economy saying it made no sense without an increase in per capita income of the country which the government has failed to achieve. “They (Modi government) are experts at showing people false dreams,” said Sinha.
TMC's Yashwant Sinha what's meaning of 5 Trillion Dollar Economy? What we have to with Dollar when we deal in Rupee ?♂️
Says nobody in my constituency understands Trillion.
Current Foreign Minister is “a glorified foreign secretary”: Sinha
Sinha, an Ex-Foreign Minister, launched a scathing attack on Modi govenment regarding India’s foreign policy. Alleging that PM Modi has personalised the foreign policy,Sinha termed Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr S Jaishankar, “a glorified foreign secretary”. “Modiji has taken the control of foreign policy entirely in his hands,” Sinha alleged.
Taking a dig at PM Modi’s foreign trips, Sinha termed them futile. Don’t know how many countires he (PM Modi) has been to. I think except Timbaktoo, he has travelled to every country in the world. This has cost so much money and yielded no results,” said, Sinha pointing out that no country joined India in abstaining from voting on Pakistan loan request at the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Notably, member countries at the IMF do not have one vote each, and the voting powers reflect the economic size of each member. Thus, countries like the US, which has historically leaned towards Pakistan, enjoy a disproportionately high voting share. Further mocking India’s foreign policy, both Sinha and Sibal laughingly said that only Tiwan,Taliban and Israel have supported India.
Sibal credited Sinha for taking forward US-India strategic partnership during his tenure as the Foreign Minister and said that this ultimately resulted in the removal of the US sanctions on India’s nuclear program. Sinha, who left the BJP in 2018, also drew a comparison between the old and the new BJP saying that the old BJP was not communal while the new BJP divides and rules.
Statehood of Kashmir should be restored: Sinha
Speaking on the issue of Kashmir, Sinha held the Modi government responsible for alienating the people of Kashmir and said that the statehood of Kashmir should be restored by reintroducing Article 370. It is the to be noted that the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution was uphled by a Consitution bench of the Supreme Court of India.
On 21st May, in a landmark event at Karwar’s INS Kadamba naval base, the Indian Navy formally inducted the traditional sailing vessel INSV Kaundinya into its fleet. The vessel symbolises India’s ancient maritime legacy and is a tribute to the country’s seafaring traditions and cultural exchange with Southeast Asia.
Union Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat signalled the green flag for Kaundinya’s induction. Vice Admiral Rajaram Swaminathan and Rear Admiral K.M. Ramakrishnan, Flag Officer Commanding Karnataka Naval Area, were present at the event.
In a post on X, Shekhawat wrote, “A historic moment for Bharat and our civilisational pride. Presided over the induction ceremony of the Ancient Stitched Ship INSV Kaundinya at Karwar Naval Base today—an extraordinary recreation of a 5th-century vessel, inspired by Ajanta murals and handcrafted by Kerala’s traditional artisans using age-old techniques. This is not just the launch of a vessel—it is the launch of heritage. A symbolic act that echoes across centuries, marking the resurgence of India’s maritime legacy and reaffirming our deep and enduring ties with the Indian Ocean world. As envisioned by Hon’ble PM Shri Narendra Modi ji, this initiative reflects the spirit of Vikas bhi, Virasat bhi—where development walks hand in hand with civilisational resurgence, and tradition becomes a cornerstone of transformation. Honoured to witness this proud confluence of legacy, craftsmanship, and nationhood.“
A historic moment for Bharat and our civilisational pride.
Presided over the induction ceremony of the Ancient Stitched Ship INSV Kaundinya at Karwar Naval Base today—an extraordinary recreation of a 5th-century vessel, inspired by Ajanta murals and handcrafted by Kerala’s… pic.twitter.com/YonXLLKl81
— Gajendra Singh Shekhawat (@gssjodhpur) May 21, 2025
Inspired by Ajanta, stitched with coir
INSV Kaundinya is a unique vessel crafted using age-old techniques. It is stitched with coir and planks instead of modern rivets. The vessel draws inspiration from the 5th-century murals of the Ajanta caves, blending ancient craftsmanship with modern scientific inputs to recreate a vessel from India’s maritime past.
The vessel has been named after the legendary Indian sailor and sage Kaundinya. It is believed that he sailed to Southeast Asia. According to Sanjeev Sanyal, the legends say he married a local Naga princess and founded the kingdom of Funan, the first historically attested Indianised kingdom, in what is now Cambodia/South Vietnam. The ship symbolises India’s ancient naval prowess and its historic oceanic trade routes. The name also evokes India’s soft power and spiritual presence in Asia long before the term existed.
Kaundinya is the first Indian mariner, who we know by name, to have crossed the seas to visit SE Asia. He married a local Naga princess and founded the kingdom of Funan, the first historically attested Indianised kingdom, in what is now Cambodia/South Vietnam
The vessel was constructed as part of a tripartite collaboration between the Ministry of Culture, the Indian Navy, and Goa-based shipbuilding firm M/s Hodi Innovations. Master shipwright Babu Shankaran used traditional coir-stitching techniques to handcraft the ship. It was completed in February 2025.
The Indian Navy, along with IIT Madras, contributed to making the design sea-worthy for long-distance voyages. The result is a vessel that not only reflects traditional aesthetics but also meets modern performance standards.
Ancient look, modern purpose
The vessel has distinctive features such as the Gandabherunda (two-headed eagle) and a lion-headed prow. INSV Kaundinya also carries a Harappan-style anchor, which reinforces the connection with the civilisational depth and historical shipbuilding knowledge of India.
The ship is scheduled to embark on its maiden voyage along ancient trade routes, reviving interest in India’s maritime culture and reaffirming the country’s historical outreach to the wider world.
INSV Kaundinya is a floating chronicle of India’s forgotten sea traditions, which have now been restored and are ready to sail again.
A sensational report from Dainik Bhaskar says that Hindu families are relocating in significant numbers from the Shanichari and Shukrawari regions of Sagar city in Madhya Pradesh. Over the past decade, the Hindu demographic in this area has diminished by 4.88 per cent, raising serious concerns.
According to the report, over the past five years, 41 Hindu families have sold their houses and left these regions. All these properties have been acquired by individuals from the Muslim community. Over the past ten years, a total of 228 people from 63 Hindu families have departed from the area and numerous houses continue to display “for sale” signs.
The sensitive report was also shared by Priyank Kanoongo, Member of National Human Rights Commission and former chairman of National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR).
— प्रियंक कानूनगो Priyank Kanoongo (@KanoongoPriyank) May 20, 2025
The team from Dainik Bhaskar interviewed several families compelled to vacate their ancestral residences. According to Umashankar Sharma, members of the Muslim community gathered around his 150-year-old family residence and began to intimidate him. At the time, only women were present in the house. Consequently, he was pressured to sell his property, valued at Rs 18 lakh for a mere Rs 5.30 lakh.
Rajpal Singh disclosed that pieces of meat and eggshells were discarded near his house, creating an unpleasant living environment. His 625 square foot home remained unsold for two years, ultimately forcing him to sell it at a reduced price. A man conveyed that his daughter was trapped in a love affair with a Muslim youth, forcing him to marry her to the young man. She endured abuse at his hands, prompting him to sell their house.
Santosh Kumar Sahu stated that only one or two Hindu families remained in the vicinity. Due to the predominance of Muslim households, his children faced difficulties in finding partners. The prevailing environment hindered marriage proposals. Hence, he had to sell his house, worth Rs. 30 lakhs for Rs. 22 lakhs.
A Hindu woman residing in the Shanichari Chaugana region expressed her concerns regarding the safety of her two daughters in her husband’s absence. After an altercation with members of the Muslim community, she sold her property appraised at Rs 22 lakh for a mere Rs 14 lakh.
According to Ajay Dubey who is the district president of the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), the declining situation in the area is causing Hindu families to sell their properties and move away. He has called on the administration to take decisive action to end the migration and indicated that his organization is willing to support the families in distress.
In a major boost to the ‘Make in India’ initiative, India is likely to invest $10 billion ($850 million) by 2040 to purchase around 112 crude oil tankers to be made in India. Being the third-largest importer of crude oil, India aims to curb its dependence on foreign-owned vessels by building a domestic fleet. With this move, India seeks to bolster its energy security.
Currently, government-owned oil companies lease an ageing fleet from international companies. However, the petroleum and shipping ministries want to discontinue this practice and come up with a fleet of “built-in-India” oil tankers.
In the first phase, India will purchase 79 tankers, of which 30 will be medium-range vessels, Bloombergreported, citing official sources.
The report says that the purchase order for the first 10 crude oil tankers will be out this month end. For this, only locally built ships or those built in collaboration with foreign companies would be taken into consideration for purchase.
Besides, India is also focusing on enhancing its crude oil refining capacity from 250 to 450 million tonnes annually by 2030, driven by rising local and global demand for oil products. Building an indigenous shipping capacity will help India ensure an uninterrupted energy trade flow, since India is significantly dependent on imported crude.
%India is working towards increasing the share of locally built crude tankers from 5 per cent to 7 per cent by the year 2030 and to 69% by 2047, the year by which India aims to achieve the status of a “developed nation”.
It must be noted that India spends around $75 billion annually on leasing ships but controls only 2 per cent of the world’s total tonnage in shipping.
Modi government’s boost to India’s shipbuilding industry
In a massive boost to India’s shipbuilding industry, the Modi government has accorded the coveted ‘infrastructure’ status for large ships. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced in her speech for the budget 2025-26 on 1st February said that the ships above a specified size would be included in the harmonised master list (HML) for infrastructure, making them eligible for financial incentives. This will attract private investment in the shipbuilding industry and enhance fleet modernisation.
The Modi government announced the allocation of a Maritime Development Fund (MDF) with a corpus of Rs 25,000 crore. This fund would be utilised for long-term financing to support the country’s maritime industry, particularly ship acquisition. Up to 49% of the corpus will be contributed by the Central government, while the rest of it will be mobilised from port authorities, other government entities, Central PSEs, Financial Institutions and the private sector.
The global shipbuilding market was estimated at $207.15 billion in 2023, rising at a 6.5% CAGR to $220.52 billion by 2024. India’s market was valued at $90 million in 2022 and is expected to grow to $8,120 million by 2033, representing a staggering 60% CAGR.
The global maritime landscape is dominated by China, Japan and South Korea, with the three of them contributing 50%, 15% and 28% respectively to global shipbuilding. India, however, is collaborating with China’s direct competitor, South Korea, to expand its shipbuilding capacity. South Korea’s HD Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. is negotiating with India’s state-owned Cochin Shipyard Ltd. for a new facility in the coastal city of Kochi.
While India currently ranks 22nd in the global shipbuilding industry, India aims to enter the top 10 global rank by 2030 and become one of the top 5 countries by 2047. This ambition is a part of the Modi government’s broader visions, including the Maritime India Vision 2030 and Amrit Kaal Vision 2047, intended to capture a massive share of the global shipbuilding and ship repair markets.
In May this year, the Maharashtra government approved the Shipbuilding, Ship Repair and Ship Recycling Policy, 2025. The decision comes as a major leap towards enhancing India’s maritime capabilities, an area which was prioritised by the central government in this year’s budget. In ship repair, India ranks 20th globally, while in ship recycling, the country stands in second place with a share of 32.6%. Maharashtra accounts for 11 per cent of India’s shipbuilding capacity and 21 per cent of production. The policy is an effort to make use of India’s untapped potential in the maritime sector.
Atmanirbhar Bharat, stronger Bharat
Besides potential foreign collaboration with key international players, India, by prioritising domestically built ships, aims to bolster its maritime and naval capabilities, curb vulnerability to geopolitical disruptions like blockades or wars. In the longer run, India seeks to strategically decouple from reliance on foreign powers for critical energy transport services. Focus on domestically constructed fleet is vital for securing India’s energy supply chain, especially because India is the third-largest oil importer. With crude oil refining capacity expected to grow from 250 million tons to 450 million tons by 2030, India will be able to fare better in terms of meeting domestic and international demands.
Domestic shipbuilding would not only create thousands of jobs for Indians, boost economic growth through indigenous manufacturing but also enhance India’s strategic autonomy in energy logistics, thus positioning the country better to navigate the volatility that comes along the global energy market as well as sanctions-related challenges as seen in the case of Russian oil shipments.
