The Punjab state government and several Indian farmers’ unions have publicly expressed solidarity with Iran amid continued US and Israeli attacks and the Indian government’s silence. Last week, the Punjab assembly observed a one-minute silence in support of the Iranian people. During a budget session recording, legislator Sukhwinder Kumar Sukhi condemned the attacks that began on February 28, calling a school bombing that killed about 165 children inhumane. Assembly Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan urged members to honor the victims with silence.

Sukhi told The Wire that he raised the issue at the state level to alert other Indian states. Despite a meeting between India’s foreign secretary and Iran’s ambassador in New Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government has not issued any formal statement on the war or the killing of Iran’s leader. Meanwhile, thousands of farmers across Punjab protested a recent US-India trade deal, expressing solidarity with Iran. Farmer leader Jagmohan Singh said both the war and the trade pact were anti-farmer.

Student and civil society groups in Punjab, as well as demonstrators in Indian-administered Kashmir, continue protests against US-Israeli aggression and in support of Iran and Palestine.

Opposition parties in India, including the Trinamool Congress, have submitted an impeachment notice against Chief Election Commissioner Jnanish Kumar, accusing him of biased and discriminatory conduct. According to Trinamool Congress sources, a total of 193 members of Parliament from both the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha have signed the notice. The signatories allege that Kumar failed to uphold the dignity of his office, citing irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll and claims that many citizens were deprived of their voting rights.

The move comes amid ongoing political and legal disputes between the Election Commission and the Trinamool Congress over the voter list revision process, just months before the state assembly elections. The controversy has intensified after nearly 6.3 million names were reportedly removed from the voter list in West Bengal, with another 6 million still under review.

Under the Indian Constitution, an impeachment notice against a Chief Election Commissioner requires signatures from at least 100 Lok Sabha members or 50 Rajya Sabha members. If accepted, the Speaker or Chairman may form a committee to investigate the allegations.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs has refrained from commenting on whether two suspects in the murder of Sharif Osman Bin Hadi will be extradited to Bangladesh. The suspects, Faisal Karim Masud and Alamgir Hossain, were arrested by West Bengal’s Special Task Force on March 7 near the Bongaon border and have been placed on 14-day remand by an Indian court. During a weekly briefing in New Delhi, ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said he had nothing to add beyond the statement issued by the West Bengal government.

Jaiswal also confirmed that Bangladesh’s DGFI chief had visited India and might have met Indian officials during the Raisina Dialogue. On energy cooperation, he said Bangladesh has requested additional diesel supplies amid the Middle East conflict, and India is considering the request after assessing refinery capacity and domestic demand. Similar requests have come from Sri Lanka and the Maldives.

He noted that India has been exporting refined petroleum products to neighboring countries and that diesel supply to Bangladesh from the Numaligarh refinery has continued since 2007 under a 2017 bilateral agreement.

The Indian rupee fell to its lowest level in history on Friday, trading at 92.39 per US dollar, surpassing the previous record of 92.3575. The decline followed growing concerns over energy supply disruptions and surging oil prices triggered by the ongoing war centered on Iran. Analysts cautioned that if the Middle East conflict continues, inflationary pressures in India could intensify further.

According to Reuters, the rupee has lost more than one percent of its value since the start of the Iran conflict. However, the Reserve Bank of India’s market interventions have helped keep the currency relatively stable compared with other emerging economies. Official data showed India’s consumer price index inflation rose to 3.21 percent in February, up from a revised 2.74 percent in January, marking a ten‑month high.

Food inflation also increased to 3.47 percent in February from 2.13 percent the previous month. The revised CPI now uses 2024 as the base year and expands the basket of goods from 299 to 358 items.

Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and National Conference president Farooq Abdullah narrowly escaped an assassination attempt, according to his son and current Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. The incident occurred on Wednesday at a wedding ceremony in the Royal Park area of Greater Kailash, Jammu, where Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Chowdhury was also present.

A video circulating on social media shows a man approaching Farooq Abdullah with a pistol before being subdued by his security personnel. Police later arrested the suspect, identified as a resident of Jammu. During interrogation, the man reportedly claimed he had been attempting to kill Abdullah for the past 20 years, though his exact motive remains unclear.

Omar Abdullah questioned how an armed individual managed to get so close to his father despite the presence of Z-plus and NSG security cover. The police investigation into the security breach and the suspect’s motives is ongoing.

Indian airlines are facing a new operational crisis as several Middle Eastern countries have partially or fully closed their airspace due to ongoing regional conflict. The closures have disrupted international routes, particularly flights to Europe and North America, which were already rerouted after Pakistan shut its airspace to Indian carriers last year.

According to aviation data, Air India and IndiGo, India’s largest international carriers, were unable to operate about 64 percent of their scheduled flights to the Middle East, Europe, and North America over the past ten days. HSBC reported that the geopolitical tension in the Middle East is expected to raise operating costs and reduce profitability for Indian airlines, estimating that a seven-day suspension in affected regions could cut annual profits by around 1.2 percent.

IndiGo continues to face difficulties despite resuming some routes, as it relies on six Boeing aircraft leased from North Atlantic Airways, registered in Norway and subject to EU safety directives. European authorities have advised avoiding the airspace of Iran, Iraq, Israel, Kuwait, Lebanon, Qatar, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia, further complicating IndiGo’s operations.

India has condemned an attack on a Thailand-flagged cargo ship named Mayuri Naree that was en route to Kandla, Gujarat, when it came under assault in the Hormuz Strait on March 11. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs issued a statement on Wednesday expressing strong disapproval of the incident, noting that commercial vessels are increasingly being targeted amid ongoing conflicts in West Asia.

The statement highlighted that similar attacks during the early stages of the regional conflict had already caused loss of valuable lives, including Indian nationals. It added that the intensity of such assaults and the resulting casualties appear to be rising. India emphasized that targeting commercial shipping and endangering innocent civilian crew members, or obstructing freedom of navigation and trade, is unacceptable.

The ministry’s remarks reflect growing concern over maritime security in the region, as attacks on civilian shipping threaten international trade routes and the safety of seafarers.

India has imposed strict controls on natural and cooking gas supplies due to disruptions in liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments caused by the ongoing war involving Iran, Israel, and the United States. The directive, issued by the Indian Ministry of Energy, aims to ensure balanced distribution and uninterrupted supply to priority sectors. Restaurant owners have expressed concern that the restrictions could force widespread closures across the country.

According to the ministry’s order, LNG supply will prioritize households, the transport sector, and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) production. Other sectors such as fertilizer and tea industries will receive only 70 to 80 percent of their usual gas demand, depending on availability. To offset the shortfall, gas supplies to petrochemical plants and power stations will be reduced partially or entirely.

Several Indian industries, including ceramics and tiles, have already reported reduced gas supply affecting production. Restaurants and hotels across India fear operational disruptions as the government continues to prioritize domestic gas use amid the Middle East conflict.

Two main suspects in the murder of Inquilab Manch convener Shahid Sharif Osman Hadi, Faisal Karim Masud and his associate Alamgir Hossain, were arrested in West Bengal on Sunday. Following the arrests, the ruling Trinamool Congress questioned how the accused managed to enter India despite the Border Security Force (BSF) being under the authority of Home Minister Amit Shah.

Trinamool spokesperson Arup Chakraborty told BBC Bangla that the accused entered India through the Meghalaya border, where a BJP-allied government is in power. He accused Amit Shah of failing to protect the border and claimed that the suspects traveled through Assam and Tripura, both ruled by BJP governments, before being caught by West Bengal police.

BJP spokesperson Debjit Sarkar countered that West Bengal has become a safe haven for criminals from Bangladesh and other countries. He cited the porous 400-kilometer border and alleged that the state’s land policies have weakened BSF’s ability to secure the frontier.

West Bengal Police have filed a case against two Bangladeshi nationals, Faisal Karim Masud and Alamgir Hossain, for illegal entry into India after their arrest in connection with the murder of Sharif Osman Hadi, convener of Inquilab Manch. The two were detained near Bongaon, close to the India-Bangladesh border, and were found without Indian identification documents. They have been remanded to 14 days of police custody following their court appearance.

A police officer told BBC Bangla that the decision to hand over the suspects to Bangladesh does not fall under the jurisdiction of the state police. The Bangladeshi Deputy High Commission in Kolkata has requested consular access to meet the detainees through the Indian government. The officer added that, given the sensitive and serious nature of the case, the process could be completed swiftly through administrative cooperation between the two countries.

Preliminary interrogation revealed that the suspects fled Bangladesh after Hadi’s killing and entered India illegally through the Meghalaya border. Police are investigating whether others were involved in the illegal entry.

India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar addressed the Rajya Sabha on Monday, outlining the country’s position on the ongoing Middle East conflict. He stated that India stands for peace and revealed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken with leaders of the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Jordan, and Israel. According to Jaishankar, these leaders assured the safety of Indian nationals residing in their respective countries.

Jaishankar added that several thousand Indians remain stranded in Iran, where communication with the country’s leadership is currently difficult. He noted that the closure of the Strait of Hormuz has raised public concern over potential fuel shortages in India, but urged citizens to remain calm. He emphasized that the government prioritizes public welfare and is maintaining diplomatic dialogue with the United States.

In a subsequent address to the Lok Sabha, Jaishankar said arrangements are being made to bring back Indians from Iran via Armenia, with assistance from the Indian embassy in Tehran and cooperation from Iranian authorities.

India successfully defended its T20 World Cup title by defeating New Zealand by 96 runs in the final held on March 8, 2026. With this victory, India became the first team to win the T20 World Cup three times and the first host nation to lift the trophy. New Zealand, meanwhile, suffered its second defeat in a T20 World Cup final.

Batting first, India posted a commanding total of 255 for 5 in 20 overs, led by Sanju Samson’s 89, Ishan Kishan’s 54, and Abhishek’s 52. In reply, New Zealand managed 159 in 19 overs, with Tim Seifert scoring 52 and Mitchell Santner adding 43. Jasprit Bumrah took four wickets for 15 runs, earning the Player of the Match award, while Samson was named Player of the Series.

The result reinforced India’s dominance in the T20 format and marked a historic milestone as the first team to win consecutive T20 World Cups and the first host to claim the title.

Indian police have arrested two Bangladeshi nationals, including Faisal Karim Masud, the main accused in the murder of former Inquilab Mancha convener Sharif Osman Hadi. The arrests were made by the Special Task Force of West Bengal Police from the Bongaon border area on Sunday, according to Indian news agency ANI. The detainees, identified as Faisal Karim Masud and Alomgir Hossain, were accused of illegal entry and residence in India.

Police said the two suspects fled Bangladesh after committing serious crimes, including extortion and murder, and had been hiding in India. They were captured during a late-night operation between March 7 and 8 based on specific intelligence. Preliminary interrogation indicated their direct involvement in Hadi’s killing, after which they entered India through the Meghalaya border and later gathered in Bongaon to return to Bangladesh.

A case has been filed against the two under specific legal provisions, and a local court has ordered them into police custody for further investigation.

Indian police have arrested Faisal Karim Masud, the prime suspect in the murder of Inqilab Monch spokesperson Sharif Osman Hadi, along with his associate Alamgir Hossain. The arrests were made on Sunday by the Special Task Force (STF) of West Bengal Police from the Bangaon border area. The Indian news agency ANI confirmed the arrests through a post on X, citing an STF press release.

According to the release, the detainees were identified as Rahul alias Faisal Karim Masud, aged 37, from Patuakhali, and Alamgir Hossain, aged 34, from Dhaka. During initial interrogation, both admitted to killing Bangladeshi political activist Osman Hadi and fleeing to India through the Meghalaya border. They reportedly moved across several Indian regions before settling in Bangaon.

Police stated that the suspects had been planning to re-enter Bangladesh illegally. A specific case has been filed, and a court has ordered them into police custody. The process of returning the accused to Bangladesh is underway.

Kolkata Police’s Special Task Force (STF) has arrested Faisal Karim Masud, the prime accused in the murder of Osman Hadi, spokesperson of the Inquilab Mancha and face of the July Movement, along with another suspect named Alamgir Hossain. Both were detained from Bongaon in North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal, near the Bangladesh border. They were produced before the Bidhannagar court on Sunday, which ordered a 14-day police remand.

Police sources said the two Bangladeshi nationals had illegally crossed the border into India and were hiding in Bongaon. They reportedly attempted to re-enter Bangladesh when apprehended. Masud, aged 37, is from Patuakhali, and Alamgir, aged 34, is from Dhaka. STF officials stated that both suspects confessed to their involvement in Hadi’s killing and had entered India through the Meghalaya border, moving across several locations before settling in Bongaon.

A case has been filed under specific legal provisions, and investigators plan to question the suspects further while they remain in police custody.