A rape and murder case involving an 11-year-old Muslim schoolgirl in Baruipur, West Bengal, has sparked widespread outrage. Police have arrested three suspects—Ananda Sardar, Prabhas Mondal, and Dibakar Sardar—and are investigating allegations of delayed police response. State police chief Siddhanath Gupta visited the crime scene, reviewed evidence, and assured that complaints about police inaction would be examined seriously.

Preliminary findings suggest the girl was sexually assaulted and brutally beaten before being strangled and her body dumped in a pond near a railway line. The autopsy report noted injuries consistent with assault and indicated she may have been alive when submerged. The victim’s mother demanded swift justice and maximum punishment for the perpetrators.

Protests erupted in the area following the incident, prompting heightened security. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari met police officials and the victim’s family but warned against violent demonstrations. His administration faced criticism for allegedly restricting former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee from visiting the site, as tensions continued to rise across the region.

An investigative report by The New York Times, cited in the article, describes how the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) helped bring the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to power and supported Narendra Modi’s rise as India’s prime minister. The report and other international findings allege that the RSS promotes an ideology inspired by Hitler, undermines constitutional freedoms, and fosters anti-Muslim and anti-Christian sentiment. Multiple organizations, including the United Nations, Human Rights Watch, and Amnesty International, have documented growing religious discrimination, hate speech, violence, and restrictions on freedom of religion in India.

Data from Pew Research Center and India Hate Lab show that Muslims face disproportionate levels of bias and hostility, with hate speech incidents increasing by 13 percent between 2024 and 2025. Human Rights Watch also recorded demolitions of Muslim homes and businesses and deportations of Indian citizens. Despite UN calls for stronger legal protections and accountability, the article notes little improvement. The author warns that India’s treatment of minorities affects regional stability and urges international dialogue to address the issue.

The piece concludes that protecting all religious communities is essential for peace and prosperity across South Asia and calls for renewed commitment to secular and democratic principles.

Continuous heavy rainfall over several days has caused severe flooding, landslides, and building collapses across Maharashtra, India, leaving at least 13 people dead. The worst damage occurred in Mumbai, Pune, and Thane, where road and rail services have been heavily disrupted. In Pune’s Maval area near Lohagad Fort, a section of hill collapsed overnight, burying several houses. Authorities fear around 30 people remain trapped under the debris, and rescue operations by the National Disaster Response Force and state disaster teams are ongoing.

A landslide near a tunnel exit on the Mumbai–Pune Expressway forced authorities to close the route, while parts of the old highway remain submerged. Six people, including five children, died when a house collapsed in Mumbai’s Mankhurd area, and a 17-year-old boy drowned in Thane. Maharashtra’s chief minister announced financial aid of five lakh rupees for each victim’s family.

The state meteorological department warned that heavy to very heavy rainfall and strong winds will continue in Mumbai, Pune, Raigad, Thane, and Palghar, maintaining a red alert for Mumbai and Pune. Schools, colleges, and government offices in Mumbai were closed as authorities urged residents to stay indoors.

Police in Kolkata’s southern suburb of Baruipur are investigating the death of a Muslim teenage girl whose body was found in a pond on Sunday morning. A preliminary autopsy report released Monday indicates she was alive when placed in the water, as mud and water were found in her lungs. The report also found multiple injuries, including head wounds and signs of sexual assault. Doctors cited excessive bleeding and drowning as probable causes of death, estimating the incident occurred late Saturday night.

Investigators are reconstructing the sequence of events using autopsy findings, CCTV footage, and statements from arrested suspects. Footage showed the girl walking through Suryapur Bazaar on Saturday afternoon, followed by a man identified as Prabhas Mondal. Police later arrested him and others, though their statements have been inconsistent. Prabhas, known locally as an unemployed drug addict, claimed another suspect, Anand Sardar, planned to kidnap the girl for ransom.

Members of West Bengal’s Muslim community have strongly condemned the killing, alleging discrimination under the current state government and demanding justice for the victim.

A Muslim girl, around 11 years old, was allegedly raped and murdered in Baruipur, a southern suburb of Kolkata, sparking widespread unrest across West Bengal. Her body was recovered from a pond on Sunday morning after she went missing the previous evening. Police have filed a case under the POCSO Act following a preliminary autopsy report and formed a six-member special investigation team to probe the incident. Three suspects have been arrested, and three others detained. One suspect was reportedly beaten to death by an angry mob. Authorities have imposed restrictions on gatherings under Section 163 to prevent further violence.

Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has assured justice for the victim’s family, who are scheduled to meet him at the state police headquarters. Former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s supporters alleged she was prevented by police from visiting Baruipur, a claim denied by state minister Dilip Ghosh. Trinamool Congress leaders, including Abhishek Banerjee, expressed solidarity with the victim’s family and demanded swift punishment.

Members of the Muslim community accused the current government of discrimination and claimed police were detaining Muslims who protested for justice.

An opinion piece by Shekhar Gupta argues that India’s national politics is evolving toward a de facto one-party system under the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), despite the party lacking an absolute majority in the Lok Sabha. The article claims that the BJP has consolidated power by weakening or absorbing regional parties, leaving the Congress as the only significant opposition. However, with a limited electoral success rate, Congress has failed to present itself as a credible alternative.

The analysis identifies four pillars driving the BJP’s dominance: hardline Hindutva, intensified nationalism, effective welfare programs, and visible infrastructure development. It contends that Congress lacks convincing counter-narratives in these areas and has lost its earlier assertive stance on national security and nationalism. The piece recalls Congress’s past military decisiveness under leaders like Indira and Rajiv Gandhi, contrasting it with the party’s current cautious tone on defense and foreign policy issues.

The author warns that if Congress continues to project weakness on national issues and fails to articulate a distinct vision, India’s emerging two-party dynamic could easily shift into a one-party political order.

A man named Lovepreet Singh died after being set on fire by his brother-in-law in Punjab’s Tarn Taran district, India. The incident occurred when Lovepreet went to his in-laws’ house on June 13 to bring back his wife, Sandeep Kaur, following a family dispute. According to reports, his brother-in-law, Sajan Singh, allegedly poured a flammable substance on him and set him ablaze. Gurjeet Kaur, Sajan’s sister-in-law, was severely burned while trying to save Lovepreet. Both victims later died while undergoing treatment.

Police have filed a case against Sajan Singh, who was also injured in the fire and is currently hospitalized. CCTV footage of the incident circulating on social media shows a man suddenly setting another person on fire, followed by chaotic scenes as the victims tried to escape the flames. The footage also shows a woman catching fire while attempting to help.

Authorities are investigating the case, and the video has drawn widespread attention online.

Authorities in Mumbai have issued a red alert after continuous heavy rainfall severely disrupted the city and nearby regions. The India Meteorological Department warned that many areas could experience very heavy to extremely heavy rain. Residents have been advised to stay indoors unless absolutely necessary. In the past 24 hours, several parts of Mumbai recorded more than 200 millimeters of rain, with some areas exceeding 300 millimeters.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has urged people to contact its helpline at 1916 for emergency assistance. Officials also cautioned residents in low-lying and coastal zones to remain alert due to a forecast of a 4.19-meter high tide on Sunday afternoon and another 3.51-meter tide early Monday morning. The heavy rain on Saturday caused flooding in several low-lying areas, road collapses, uprooted trees, damaged houses, and disrupted road and rail services.

Heavy rainfall has also affected normal life in Thane, Palghar, Navi Mumbai, and Pune, according to the report sourced from NDTV.

Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) has protested the demolition of mosques and Muslim homes in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Delhi. The organization alleged that these demolitions were carried out under the pretext of development and security without following proper legal procedures and with political motives. JIH also expressed concern over the ongoing voter list revision process.

In an interview with NDTV, JIH vice president Salim Engineer said that targeting religious structures of a specific community is alarming. He noted that while a few Hindu sites were also affected, the overall approach was biased. He accused the government of using development and security narratives to instill fear and claimed that the demolitions lacked due legal process.

JIH further stated that it does not oppose voter list revisions but criticized the rushed process, warning that legitimate citizens might be excluded. The group urged authorities to ensure that no eligible voter is removed and that no community is unfairly targeted.

According to the report, India has allegedly resumed efforts to push Bangladeshi nationals across the border as part of a deliberate strategy to weaken Bangladesh. The Indian government recently initiated the process of sending back 50 Bangladeshis detained in Tamil Nadu’s Salem district, transferring them under heavy security toward West Bengal for handover at the Haridaspur land border.

The detainees, including 44 men and six women, were moved from a special detention camp in Attur to Tiruchirappalli and then placed on a special coach of the Howrah Express. A 40-member armed police team led by Deputy Superintendent Shaktivel escorted them. Indian officials said the Border Security Force would formally hand them over to Bangladeshi authorities.

The report adds that over 130 foreign nationals remain detained in the same camp, many with pending legal cases. Experts cited in the report view these repeated push-in incidents as part of a broader Indian strategy to maintain tension along the border and politically and socially weaken Bangladesh.

Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee on Saturday expressed strong disapproval of rebel members’ attempt to take control of the party’s Metropolitan office. Speaking in a Facebook Live, she criticized the locking of the office by rebels claiming to represent the 'real Trinamool.' Banerjee presented documents and receipts to counter allegations that the building was ownerless or rent unpaid, insisting that all dues were regularly paid by cheque.

She explained that the Metropolitan office had been temporarily rented because the party’s original Kalighat office was under renovation. Banerjee questioned the rebels’ use of central forces to seal the premises and declared that while a building could be locked, people’s hearts could not. She reaffirmed that her residence at 30B Harish Chatterjee Street had always been and would remain the party’s true headquarters.

The dispute followed a meeting led by Ritabrata Banerjee and other rebel legislators who locked the office gate. Senior leader Chandrima Bhattacharya resigned from all organizational posts amid the tension, while Kunal Ghosh filed a police complaint. The confrontation has intensified political conflict within West Bengal’s Trinamool Congress.

Bollywood actor Aamir Khan is set to marry his partner Gauri Spratt on July 5 in a private ceremony at his residence in Bandra, Mumbai. The event will be a modest family gathering rather than a lavish celebration, with attendance limited to close relatives, friends, and a few well-wishers. The announcement has drawn significant attention from fans following the couple’s recent public acknowledgment of their relationship.

A notable aspect of the wedding is the expected presence of Aamir Khan’s two former wives and their children, reflecting the actor’s continued cordial relationship with his previous families. In a recent video message, Aamir emphasized that spending time with family is more meaningful to him than grand festivities, and he sought blessings and good wishes from his fans for this new chapter.

This will be Aamir Khan’s third marriage, while it is Gauri Spratt’s second. Both bring children from their previous marriages, and all four children are expected to be part of the ceremony, symbolizing a blended family beginning.

The Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) has ordered an investigation into allegations of misappropriation of donation materials at the Badrinath Dham in India. The directive came on Friday following social media claims of financial irregularities, shortly after similar accusations surfaced regarding donations at the Ayodhya Ram Temple. BKTC President Hemant Dwivedi said the committee is taking the matter seriously and has asked for written explanations from concerned officials and employees.

The allegations were raised by an organization named Bhairav Sena, which also demanded a fair inquiry into claims against the president’s personal assistant. Dwivedi denied that the accused individual was his personal secretary, clarifying that the person is a permanent government employee who previously served under three former presidents. BKTC CEO Sohan Singh Rangad confirmed that CCTV footage from the temple premises was reviewed but found to be unclear.

Rangad added that an internal committee has been proposed to conduct a detailed investigation. He warned that if wrongdoing is proven, strict disciplinary and legal action will be taken under the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee Act, 1939, and employee conduct rules.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent acceptance of the ‘Guardian of the Blue Horizon’ award in Seychelles has sparked widespread controversy. The award, received during his official visit from June 27 to 29, was presented by Seychelles President Patrick Herminie and dedicated by Modi to nations fighting climate change. However, observers quickly noticed multiple spelling errors on the certificate, including incorrect spellings of ‘Republic’ and ‘Seychelles,’ which led to ridicule on social media and reports in international outlets such as The Guardian.

Fact-checkers later found that the certificate appeared to be AI-generated using an OpenAI image tool, with a watermark confirming the suspicion. The award had reportedly been created only three days before Modi’s arrival, making him its first and only recipient. Opposition parties, including the Indian National Congress, mocked Modi’s eagerness for awards, while the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party defended the honor as recognition of his environmental leadership. Seychelles’ foreign ministry later clarified that an unapproved draft had been mistakenly circulated and that a corrected version was issued.

The incident has reignited debate over Modi’s pattern of receiving newly created international honors during foreign visits, with critics viewing it as part of his image-driven political strategy.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said New Delhi is closely observing developments related to Bangladesh’s Teesta mega project and possible discussions on purchasing Chinese J-10 fighter jets. He made the remarks during a weekly media briefing in New Delhi, noting that India’s development cooperation with Bangladesh is based on mutual understanding and regular review.

The statement came as Bangladesh and China agreed to strengthen cooperation on Teesta and other transboundary river management. During his recent visit to China, Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Tareq Rahman declared the Teesta project a national priority and pledged to implement it at any cost. Chinese officials have stated that their cooperation with Bangladesh is not aimed at any third country. Meanwhile, China’s ambassador in Dhaka, Yao Wen, said discussions are underway to form a new platform for diplomatic and defense cooperation.

According to reports, India remains concerned about the Teesta project’s progress under Chinese involvement, while the long-pending Teesta water-sharing deal between Bangladesh and India remains unresolved due to opposition from West Bengal’s state government.