The All India Muslim Personal Law Board has announced plans for a nationwide protest in India following concerns over the demolition of mosques and madrasas. The decision was made during the board’s executive meeting on June 22, 2026, which discussed the protection of Muslim rights, religious freedom, and recent policy actions in several states. The board alleged that incidents of mob violence, demolition drives, and restrictions on religious practices have increased in some BJP-ruled states, threatening social harmony and democratic values.

The board also expressed dissatisfaction with a recent High Court ruling in the Kamal Maula Mosque–Bhojshala case in Madhya Pradesh, claiming it contradicts historical and official records. It pledged legal support to the mosque committee in the ongoing Supreme Court case. The board criticized moves to make singing “Vande Mataram” mandatory in schools and madrasas, arguing that it violates constitutional religious freedom, while welcoming the Calcutta High Court’s interim stay on the directive.

Reaffirming its opposition to the Uniform Civil Code, the board said such measures undermine India’s pluralistic structure. It decided to form a special committee to coordinate the nationwide movement for protecting Muslim rights and religious institutions.

Supporters of the 'Cockroach Janata Party' have launched an indefinite sit-in protest in New Delhi demanding the resignation of India’s education minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Defying police orders, the group—formed by Gen Z activists—has set up tents in the capital despite intense summer heat. The movement’s leader, Abhijit Dipke, a recent Boston University graduate, returned to India earlier this month and brought the viral online campaign to the streets.

The protest stems from widespread anger among India’s youth over repeated exam paper leaks and irregularities. Nearly half of India’s 1.4 billion people are under 25, and many face academic and job pressures. The Cockroach Janata Party, which began as a social media satire, gained traction after India’s chief justice compared young people to cockroaches, sparking outrage. Dipke’s movement now boasts over 22 million Instagram followers—twice that of the ruling party.

The government temporarily banned Telegram to curb leaks, but critics called it a short-term fix. More than 15 student suicides between exams have intensified calls for the minister’s resignation. Protesters vow to remain until Pradhan steps down, which would mark the first such resignation under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 12-year rule.

An investigative report by international outlet Muslim Mirror has revealed that more than 23 mosques, madrasas, eidgahs, and dargahs were demolished or partially removed across several Indian states in the past 45 days. The report noted that most incidents occurred in states governed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Authorities stated that the demolitions were part of drives to clear government land, remove unauthorized structures, and implement development projects.

Local Muslim communities, however, alleged that long-established religious sites were also targeted under these operations. Residents and affected individuals said that several mosques and dargahs had served as religious and social centers for years, and their sudden demolition caused anxiety and discontent in many areas. Community representatives described the incidents as alarming and called for impartial investigations, accountability, and rehabilitation for those affected.

Administrative officials reiterated that the actions were not aimed at any specific religious group but were part of broader urban development and anti-encroachment measures. Human rights and minority rights observers expressed concern and urged transparent investigations and protection of religious freedom and minority rights.

A large-scale International Yoga Day event on Kolkata’s historic Red Road, attended by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, drew both enthusiasm and political controversy. The event, held on Sunday with thousands of participants, also featured West Bengal Governor C. V. Ananda Bose and opposition leader Suvendu Adhikari. Preparations for the program included setting up a large stage and closing the road for several days.

The main controversy centered on the use of Red Road, with critics alleging unequal treatment in granting permission for public events. They pointed out that while permission for Eid prayers at the same location had previously been denied, the road was closed for an extended period for the yoga celebration. Social and political figures argued that uniform policies should apply to all religious and social gatherings held in public spaces.

During the event, Modi described yoga as a symbol of holistic well-being, mental peace, and social unity. Despite similar programs across West Bengal, the debate over Red Road’s use dominated public discussion that day.

Authorities have frozen three bank accounts of India’s Trinamool Congress (TMC) containing about ₹440 crore, placing them under a ‘debit freeze’ that prevents any withdrawals or outward transfers. The move followed a formal complaint by ten rebel TMC legislators demanding an investigation into the source of the funds. A senior police officer confirmed that the accounts, held in a private bank, remain operational only for deposits.

The freeze comes amid escalating internal conflict within the TMC after its recent assembly election defeat. Rival factions led by former minister Aroop Biswas and opposition leader Ritabrata Banerjee have been contesting control over the party’s finances and organization. The rebel legislators alleged that the funds may have originated from illegal activities such as misuse of public money or unauthorized collections, urging a full criminal investigation.

Party insiders said they are awaiting official notice of the freeze. Analysts noted that the suspension of account operations could severely disrupt TMC’s routine expenses and political activities until the leadership dispute and investigation are resolved.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in the International Yoga Day celebration held on Kolkata’s historic Red Road on Sunday, June 21, 2026. Thousands attended the event, which featured a large stage and extensive preparations in the surrounding area. West Bengal Governor C. V. Ananda Bose and opposition leader Suvendu Adhikari were also present. Adhikari thanked the Prime Minister for promoting yoga in the state, while Modi described yoga as a symbol of holistic development, mental peace, and social unity.

Modi emphasized that regular yoga practice supports physical health, reduces stress and anxiety, and fosters balance in life. He noted that yoga transcends age and builds connection and harmony among people. Similar programs were organized across West Bengal, including at Malda’s Satya Chowdhury Stadium and the riverside near Dakshineswar Kali Temple.

The event sparked controversy as critics questioned why Red Road was closed for the yoga celebration when permission for Eid prayers at the same venue had previously been denied. Some social and political voices called for consistent policies and equal access for all public events.

A court in India has granted the National Investigation Agency (NIA) an additional 45 days to complete its investigation into three Bangladeshi nationals arrested for illegally entering India through the Meghalaya border. The accused are reportedly linked to the murder of Bangladeshi activist Sharif Osman Bin Hadi. On June 19, a vacation judge ordered that the three—Rahul alias Faisal Karim Masud, Alamgir Hossain, and Philip Sangma—be placed in judicial custody for three days following their earlier detention by the NIA.

The NIA told the court that it had recently received new records from the West Bengal Police’s Special Task Force and additional documents from the Supreme Court on June 8, which required further analysis and cross-verification with the accused. The defense lawyer opposed the extension, but the court accepted the NIA’s reasoning. The agency had previously interrogated the suspects for several days under its custody.

The case stems from the December 12, 2025 killing of Hadi in Dhaka, which sparked unrest across Bangladesh. Investigators say the suspects fled to India after the murder and were later arrested in March while attempting to return to Bangladesh.

Farmers in Murshidabad district of West Bengal have strongly opposed the state government’s plan to acquire over 500 acres of farmland for the Border Security Force (BSF). The initiative, announced by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari to build fencing along a 27-kilometer stretch of the India-Bangladesh border, triggered major protests on May 31 when BSF personnel attempted to mark around 15,000 bighas of land. Farmers blocked roads and clashed with police and BSF officers until authorities verbally assured them that their land would not be seized.

The Association for Protection of Democratic Rights (APDR) investigated the situation and submitted a report to the district administration, calling the land acquisition illegal and unconstitutional under state law. The group alleged that the government was using the pretext of border security to construct detention centers and intimidate farmers by labeling them as “Bangladeshis.” APDR demanded an end to forced deportations and the closure of detention centers in Murshidabad.

APDR leaders warned that if their demands were not met, they would mobilize a larger public movement to protect farmers’ livelihoods and oppose the land acquisition plan.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited West Bengal for the first time since the Bharatiya Janata Party came to power. During a two-day trip beginning Saturday, he attended the West Bengal Day event on June 20, where he discussed issues including partition, the India-Bangladesh border, and illegal infiltration.

Modi stated that there had once been a conspiracy to attach West Bengal to Pakistan, alleging that the Congress party had given up resisting it, while Shyama Prasad Mukherjee had stood firm. He said the people of Bengal have not forgotten the riots and bloodshed in Kolkata and Noakhali, and announced that a large statue would be built in Mukherjee’s honor. Modi also claimed that infiltration occurred under Congress, Left, and Trinamool governments, but that work has now begun to complete the barbed-wire fencing along the border.

West Bengal Chief Minister Shuvendu Adhikari also spoke at the event, asserting that a government fulfilling Mukherjee’s vision is now in power and will advance development in cooperation with the central government.

Police in Delhi have uncovered an inter-state network involved in buying and selling newborn babies for large sums of money. The operation was centered around Hira Multispeciality Hospital in Begumpur, Rohini, where traffickers allegedly kept infants until they were sold to childless couples using forged documents. The investigation began after a local resident reported suspicious activity involving a woman frequently seen with different newborns. Acting on this tip, police conducted a sting operation and arrested a woman named Jyoti, also known as Kamlesh, during a baby handover on June 5.

Following her arrest, police detained several accomplices and recovered about 300,000 rupees. Five infants under one month old were rescued. Authorities allege that the hospital’s owner, Dr. Viveki, played a key role in coordinating the sales. The network reportedly sourced babies from poor families in Rajasthan and other regions, selling girls for 300,000–400,000 rupees and boys for up to 800,000 rupees. Additional arrests were made in Gujarat, Haryana, and Madhya Pradesh.

Police are now working to locate the infants’ biological families and determine whether the children were sold voluntarily or abducted. Legal action is being considered against both sellers and buyers.

The BJP-led West Bengal government officially celebrated June 20, 2026, as the first ‘West Bengal Day’. The date was chosen to commemorate the 1947 decision in the Bengal Legislative Assembly that led to the partition of Bengal and the western region’s integration with India. The previous Trinamool Congress government had rejected the idea of celebrating the partition, instead designating the Bengali New Year’s Day as West Bengal Day.

According to the BJP, June 20 symbolizes the creation of West Bengal and its union with India. Party leaders and affiliated historians describe it as the day marking the homeland for Bengali Hindus, crediting Syama Prasad Mookerjee for opposing the United Bengal Plan and ensuring a separate state. Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the celebrations in Kolkata, which included floral tributes to Mookerjee across districts.

However, some historians, including Harvard professor Sugata Bose, criticized the observance, arguing that the partition was already determined by the Mountbatten Plan and that June 20 should be remembered as a tragic day rather than a day of pride.

The Trinamool Congress, led by Mamata Banerjee, has fractured into three separate factions just weeks after the announcement of election results in West Bengal. The party, which had ruled the state for 15 consecutive years, disintegrated within 28 days of its defeat. Most state legislators have formed a new bloc under Ritabrata Banerjee, calling themselves the 'Real Trinamool' and acting as the main opposition in the state assembly. Meanwhile, at least 20 Members of Parliament in Delhi have left to join a new party named NCPI, pledging support to the ruling NDA coalition. The original party remains under Mamata Banerjee and her nephew Abhishek Banerjee, now referred to as the 'Kalighat Trinamool'.

Analysts attribute the split to three main factors: the party’s lack of ideological foundation and dependence on populist politics, the Bharatiya Janata Party’s strategic involvement in encouraging defections, and internal discontent over Abhishek Banerjee’s corporate-style leadership. The BJP reportedly sought to replace Mamata’s confrontational politics with a more cooperative opposition in the state.

The rapid disintegration marks a major turning point for the 28-year-old party, raising uncertainty about its future political relevance in West Bengal and national politics.

A woman in Korea district of Chhattisgarh, India, has accused her husband of extreme physical and mental abuse, sparking widespread outrage. According to the complaint, the husband tied her hands and feet, shaved her head, smeared her face with ink and engine oil, beat her, and forced her to drink urine in front of their children. The woman said the incident occurred on June 14 when her husband, Jitendra Ghasia, found her at a friend’s house where she had taken shelter after leaving him due to long-term domestic violence and financial hardship.

The victim stated that she had been married to Jitendra for about 15 years and had endured continuous suspicion and abuse. She alleged that her children were forced to participate in the assault, including slapping her and performing humiliating acts. A video of the incident later surfaced, showing the husband accusing her of infidelity. Police initially filed charges under several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including domestic violence and criminal intimidation.

After the video became public, police added more serious charges. Additional Superintendent of Police Suresha Chaube said the case was being reexamined, and the accused would be presented in court for remand. The video has triggered strong condemnation and demands for justice on social media.

An Israeli soldier has reportedly left India after a war crimes complaint was filed against him. The soldier, identified as Eitan Gilboa of Israel’s 271st Combat Engineering Battalion, had been visiting India on vacation. According to a lawyer involved in the case, who spoke to Middle East Eye, Gilboa departed India a few days after the complaint was lodged by the Hind Rajab Foundation (HRF).

The Brussels-based HRF filed the case accusing Gilboa of involvement in crimes against humanity in Gaza. The organization alleged that he participated in killings and destruction in residential areas and shared related videos and photos on social media. HRF also claimed that Gilboa took part in multiple incidents of civilian infrastructure destruction, which they argue constitute war crimes under the 1960 Geneva Convention.

The complaint prompted HRF to request Indian authorities to arrest Gilboa, but he reportedly left the country shortly thereafter. The case has drawn attention to international accountability for alleged wartime actions in Gaza.

BJP leader and minister Dilip Ghosh has sparked controversy by telling former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to go to Bangladesh. His remarks came on Thursday morning, shortly after authorities replaced Banerjee’s long-time personal security officers following a protest march in Kalighat. Ghosh accused Banerjee of refusing to respect the constitution and government authority, questioning why she remained in India if she did not accept them.

The dispute began when Trinamool Congress leader Derek O’Brien stated in the Rajya Sabha that Banerjee’s security team, which had served her for two decades, was replaced by three new officers. Ghosh defended the government’s right to make such changes, arguing that Banerjee herself had frequently transferred officials during her tenure as chief minister. He also criticized her recent protest activities and blamed her party for the state’s hawker problems.

Ghosh further commented on the arrests of former ministers Udayan Guha and Sushanta Ghosh, alleging corruption and misuse of power by Trinamool leaders. His statements have intensified political tensions in West Bengal.