Four members of a family in Kerala, India, have died by suicide after being unable to pay their house rent. Police reported that the body of a seven-year-old girl was recovered from a river near Piravom on Sunday, marking the completion of the search for all four family members. Earlier, on Friday evening, the bodies of the girl’s visually impaired mother Viji and her two-year-old brother were found in the same river, followed by the father’s body on Saturday.

Investigators identified Viji and her son as residents of a rented house in Kothamangalam. The father, Narayanan, originally from Palakkad, had been living there with his family. Police said the family had recently sought help from the Kothamangalam police station after failing to pay rent due to financial hardship. Authorities had arranged alternative housing for them, where they were scheduled to move on Sunday.

CCTV footage from a restaurant in Piravom showed the family dining together on Thursday. Police have registered an unnatural death case and will hand over the bodies to relatives after autopsy.

A major tragedy was averted in Mumbai during the Ashura Tazia procession when police arrested a man accused of attempting to poison thousands of participants. On Friday, authorities detained Fayaz Premji in the Byculla area after several people fell ill from consuming pills he had distributed. Tests revealed the pills contained zinc phosphide, a toxic compound commonly used in rat poison. Premji reportedly admitted that he planned to kill around 15,000 people by distributing the poisonous tablets.

According to NDTV, Premji was seen handing out the pills near the Rehmatabad cemetery on Reay Road, claiming they were painkillers or immunity boosters. At least eleven people became sick after taking the capsules and were hospitalized, though all are now out of danger. One of the affected individuals, Salman Sayed, reported stomach pain and vomiting after ingestion.

A local court on Saturday placed Premji in police custody for two days as the investigation continues into the attempted mass poisoning plot.

A major corruption scandal has erupted over alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, India. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed by the Uttar Pradesh government has arrested eight people responsible for counting cash and valuables, recovering nearly 8 million rupees and some foreign currency. The accused have been remanded in judicial custody until June 29. Investigators found serious procedural violations, including lack of security checks, absence of guards, and improper CCTV retention. The key to the donation box was held by a former driver of the temple trust’s general secretary, violating regulations.

The controversy began when Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav and former legislator Pawan Pandey alleged large-scale misappropriation of temple funds. Following the uproar, the trust’s general secretary Champat Rai and trustee Anil Mishra resigned. Opposition leaders from Shiv Sena (Uddhav), Congress, and others have accused the ruling BJP and RSS of betraying Hindu sentiments and demanded arrests of senior trust officials. Congress leaders called for an impartial probe, alleging attempts to shield key culprits.

Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya dismissed the opposition’s claims, asserting that arrests followed the SIT’s findings and promising strict action against those guilty.

Congress MP Sonia Gandhi has sharply criticized the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government for its stance and silence on the Gaza issue. In an opinion article published on June 27, 2026, she accused the government of abandoning India’s historic support for Palestine in favor of closer ties with Israel. Citing a UN commission report, she alleged that Israel committed genocide in Gaza following Hamas’s 2023 attack, causing massive civilian casualties, including over 20,000 children killed and 44,000 injured. Gandhi also condemned the international community’s inaction in stopping the conflict.

She argued that New Delhi’s silence on the suffering of Gaza’s civilians is morally indefensible and contrary to India’s national interests. According to her, moving away from India’s traditional pro-Palestine position could harm the country’s global image. She urged the government to take a clearer stand in support of Palestinian rights.

The BJP strongly rejected her comments, calling them misleading. Party spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla said India has repeatedly clarified its position, provided humanitarian aid, and supported ceasefire resolutions at the UN, accusing Congress of mixing foreign policy with vote-bank politics.

West Bengal opposition leader Suvendu Adhikari has announced plans to implement a strict anti-conversion law, the National Register of Citizens (NRC), and a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the state. Speaking at an event in Kolkata’s Rabindra Sadan on Friday, he said these measures aim to strengthen national security and protect Bengal’s heritage and culture. Adhikari claimed that illegal infiltration across international borders has led to rising religious conversions and demographic imbalance in West Bengal.

He stated that the government would soon take steps to enforce these laws and that detention centers have already been established in border districts to identify and repatriate illegal entrants. Adhikari added that those entering India illegally and threatening national security would be sent back to their countries. Referring to the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), he said Hindus who sought refuge in India due to religious persecution are not infiltrators but eligible for Indian citizenship.

Adhikari also warned that actions disrespecting India’s armed forces or opposing national operations would not be tolerated in West Bengal.

A newly formed group called the ‘Cockroach Janata Party’ (CJP) has launched a sit-in protest in New Delhi demanding the resignation of India’s Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The protest, led by CJP founder Abhijit Deepke, began last Saturday at Jantar Mantar and will continue until the minister steps down. The movement emerged in response to repeated exam paper leaks and irregularities in national-level admission and recruitment tests, which have placed the Modi administration under pressure.

The CJP, created only a month ago as a satirical take on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party, uses the cockroach as its symbol, inspired by a controversial remark allegedly labeling unemployed youth as “cockroaches.” The protests have drawn hundreds daily, with participants carrying national flags, singing patriotic songs, and presenting flowers to police officers to maintain peace. Symbolic acts, such as banging utensils and writing demands on diapers, have been used to mock government failures.

Following widespread exam controversies, including the cancellation of a major medical entrance test, the government has tightened security measures and used military aircraft to transport exam papers. Protesters plan to expand their organizational structure and push for long-term reforms in India’s examination system.

At least 23 Muslim religious sites, including mosques, madrasas, eidgahs, and dargahs, have been demolished across several BJP-ruled Indian states over the past 45 days, according to reports from international media and human rights organizations. The demolitions occurred mainly in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Haryana. The U.S.-based rights group Justice for All expressed concern over the rapid rise in mosque demolitions, citing incidents in Sambhal, Varanasi, and Jaipur. Historical structures such as the 1,000-year-old Ganj Shahida Mosque in Varanasi and the 200-year-old Dargah Panch Piran in Delhi were among those destroyed.

Local waqf boards and caretakers alleged that the demolitions were carried out hastily and without prior notice, despite the sites’ legal and historical significance. The organization stated that these incidents do not appear to be isolated but part of a broader pattern targeting Muslim religious heritage in BJP-governed regions.

The wave of demolitions has raised serious concerns about religious freedom and minority rights in India, with observers warning of growing insecurity among the country’s Muslim population.

Authorities in Ayodhya, India, have arrested eight individuals accused of embezzling donations from the Ram Temple. The arrests followed a First Information Report (FIR) filed on June 25, 2026, based on recommendations from a Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed by the Uttar Pradesh government. Those detained include Lovkush Mishra, Anukalp Mishra, Avinash Shukla, Manish Yadav, Ramshankar Yadav alias Tinnu, Subhash Chandra Srivastava, and Karunesh Pandey. They face charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for theft, criminal breach of trust, fraud, and conspiracy.

The case originated after allegations surfaced on June 7 that temple donation funds were being misappropriated. The Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust requested an SIT probe, which submitted its preliminary report on June 23. Opposition parties have accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party of shielding senior trust officials, while Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath stated that action was taken strictly on the SIT’s findings.

The Ram Temple, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in January 2024, has received substantial donations since opening. Officials said discrepancies were found only in the counting of cash from donation boxes, not in direct receipt-based contributions.

An Air India pilot has been dismissed after a passenger aircraft from Delhi to Amritsar accidentally entered Pakistan’s airspace on June 22, according to India’s civil aviation regulator DGCA. The Airbus A321 was instructed by air traffic control to hold in the air due to a bird strike inspection at Amritsar airport. During this holding pattern, at 10:08 p.m., the aircraft briefly crossed into Pakistani airspace before returning safely to Delhi.

DGCA stated that the aircraft entered Pakistani airspace for a short time while attempting to land under radar vectoring and that coordination was made with Pakistan’s air traffic control. The incident was not immediately reported, leading to disciplinary action against the pilot and an Amritsar air traffic controller. Air India confirmed the airspace violation and said an internal investigation is underway.

Airport officials said the incident occurred when Amritsar’s approach surveillance service was offline. After returning from Pakistani airspace, the flight diverted to Delhi due to low fuel and later completed its journey successfully.

A series of reports and eyewitness accounts describe escalating violence, discrimination, and state-backed repression against Muslims across India in 2026. In Purulia, West Bengal, a Muslim street vendor was killed by extremist mobs, while others faced police harassment and false charges. Human rights organizations documented widespread attacks, including the demolition of at least 23 mosques, madrasas, and shrines in BJP-ruled states such as Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, and Rajasthan. The demolitions often occurred without legal notice, targeting centuries-old religious sites.

Post-election violence in West Bengal reportedly intensified under the new BJP government, with bulldozer operations destroying Muslim homes and businesses. The Association for Protection of Civil Rights recorded dozens of violent incidents and property attacks across multiple districts. Human Rights Watch and international observers accused Indian authorities of using collective punishment, unlawful demolitions, and public beatings of Muslim men. U.S. human rights envoy Stephen J. Rapp warned that the persecution could amount to crimes against humanity, citing forced evictions and extrajudicial killings in Assam and Uttar Pradesh.

The reports collectively depict a deteriorating human rights environment for India’s 250 million Muslims, with growing fear, displacement, and erosion of religious freedom.

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has claimed that 10,000 people have been pushed into Bangladesh from temporary shelters in various border districts. He also stated that the process of sending another 1,800 people back to Bangladesh is underway. Adhikari made the remarks on Tuesday, June 23, during the state assembly’s budget session while responding to opposition leader Ritabrata Banerjee.

Adhikari said that the state government is enforcing Indian laws and clarified that those being sent back are illegal entrants, not Indian citizens. He emphasized that government funds should not be used to provide food, clothing, or medicine for illegal immigrants. The Chief Minister further indicated that the state’s policy is to hand over such individuals directly to central agencies like the Border Security Force (BSF) instead of detaining them in state jails.

Highlighting border security measures, Adhikari mentioned that 142.79 acres of land have been handed over to the BSF for border fencing, and the construction of barbed wire fences along 600 kilometers of the border is expected to be completed within the next few months.

All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi has called for the direct intervention of India’s Home Minister Amit Shah to halt the demolition and removal of Muslim religious structures in Rajasthan’s border districts. In a message posted on social media platform X on June 21, Owaisi alleged that local administrations in several border districts were deliberately targeting mosques, madrasas, and dargahs for demolition.

Citing information from AIMIM’s Bikaner district president Shafi Jamil Qasmi, Owaisi stated that four mosques and dargahs in Bikaner and nine more in Phalodi, Jaisalmer, and Barmer had already been demolished. He also claimed that eviction notices had been issued against more than a hundred other religious sites. According to Owaisi, the authorities justified the operations on national security grounds, first alleging that the structures were built on grazing land and later citing approval and documentation issues.

Owaisi described the demolitions as discriminatory and unlawful, urging Amit Shah to take immediate action to stop them. As of now, neither the Rajasthan state government nor the Union Home Ministry has issued an official response.

The BJP-led West Bengal government has renamed Kolkata’s historic ‘Sohrabardi Avenue’ as ‘Gopal Mukherjee Road’, a move announced on June 20 and described by Chief Minister Shuvendu Adhikari as a correction of a long-standing historical error. Adhikari claimed the previous name honored a figure responsible for political violence, while the new name recognizes a ‘true protector and savior’. The decision was made public through Adhikari’s post on X, calling it a historic step taken on West Bengal Day.

Opposition leaders and historians have strongly contested the decision, arguing that the avenue was not named after Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy, the last Premier of undivided Bengal, but after his uncle Dr. Hasan Suhrawardy, a renowned physician and educator. Critics, including Trinamool Congress leaders Saket Gokhale and Kunal Ghosh, urged the government to verify historical records, warning that punishing the wrong person’s legacy would be a grave mistake.

The controversy deepened as reports highlighted Hasan Suhrawardy’s humanitarian contributions and Gopal Mukherjee’s violent role in the 1946 Kolkata riots. Observers described the renaming as politically motivated historical distortion that undermines Kolkata’s cultural identity.

A major political upheaval has emerged in West Bengal as a rebel faction of the Trinamool Congress, calling itself the 'Real Trinamool', announced the removal of Mamata Banerjee from the post of party chairperson. The group also declared the temporary suspension of senior leader Abhishek Banerjee. The decision was made at a meeting held at a hotel in New Town, Kolkata, reportedly attended by 60 legislators and 70 municipal councillors. Arup Roy, an MLA from Howrah, was named the new chairperson.

The rebellion followed the expulsion of Ritabrata Banerjee by Mamata’s leadership for alleged anti-party activities. Ritabrata’s supporters responded by forming a new committee, arguing that the party’s constitution requires reconstitution of the national executive every three years, which they claim was overdue since February 2022. Rebel leaders said the move was necessary to preserve organizational legitimacy and continuity.

Reports indicate the Trinamool Congress is now split into three factions. Rebel MPs plan to approach India’s Supreme Court to claim control over the party’s election symbol, while uncertainty looms over the management of about 1,100 crore rupees in party funds.

At least 14 people were killed in a devastating fire that broke out on Monday at a coaching center building in the Aliganj area of Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India. Several others were injured in the incident, according to local sources. Witnesses said the fire spread rapidly throughout the building, trapping students and staff inside. Some students reportedly jumped from the first floor to escape the flames, while videos circulating on social media showed people attempting to flee the burning structure.

Firefighters battled the blaze for more than an hour before bringing it under control. Rescue teams later recovered at least 14 bodies from the site. The building, located in a busy commercial area, also housed a pet shop and several other businesses, which contributed to panic and chaos in the neighborhood. Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the fire.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy and announced financial assistance of 200,000 rupees for each victim’s family and additional support for the injured. Local administration officials have pledged to assist the affected families.