A major fire broke out on the Tatanagar–Ernakulam Express in Andhra Pradesh early Sunday, resulting in one death. The incident occurred at 1:45 a.m. near Yelamanchili, about 66 kilometers from Visakhapatnam. Two coaches of the train caught fire while carrying 158 passengers. After the blaze was extinguished, one body was recovered from the affected coaches.

Following the incident, railway authorities detached the two damaged coaches from the train and arranged replacement compartments for the affected passengers at another station. Two forensic teams have been deployed to determine the cause of the fire, according to police officials.

Train movement on the Vijayawada–Visakhapatnam route was temporarily disrupted due to the accident, though railway staff were working to restore normal service as quickly as possible.

Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh’s Joint Secretary General Maulana Azizul Haque Islamabadi has alleged that extremist Hindutva groups in India have launched a religious war against minorities. In a statement issued on Sunday, he condemned what he described as the suppression of security and religious freedom of Muslim and Christian minorities in India. He cited incidents of Muslims being beaten to death on suspicion of being ‘Bangladeshi’ and attacks on Christmas celebrations in several Indian states.

Islamabadi further claimed that India’s ruling Hindutva forces are inciting nationalist hatred and anti-Muslim sentiment against Bangladesh. He referred to a BJP leader’s reported threat to treat Bangladesh as Israel did Gaza and accused Indian mainstream media of spreading anti-Bangladesh propaganda. He warned that India’s alleged hegemonic behavior could hinder good relations with neighboring countries.

He also mentioned recent incidents in Bangladesh, including arson attacks on Hindu homes in Chattogram and explosions near Christian institutions in Dhaka, which he attributed to political manipulation by fascist and hegemonic forces. He called for unity to resist such conspiracies and urged the Bangladeshi government to take a stronger stance against minority persecution in India.

Meghalaya Police and India’s Border Security Force (BSF) have denied Bangladesh Police’s claim that two suspects in the killing of Inquilab Mancha spokesperson Shahid Osman Hadi crossed into India’s Meghalaya state through the Haluaghat border. Senior officials from both agencies told the Hindustan Times on Sunday that the allegations were misleading and lacked evidence. They stated that no suspects had been identified or arrested in the Garo Hills region and that there had been no formal or informal communication with Bangladeshi authorities.

Earlier, Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Additional Commissioner S. N. Md. Nazrul Islam said the suspects, Faisal Karim Masud and Alamgir Sheikh, fled through Haluaghat after the shooting, assisted by intermediaries. However, Meghalaya Police dismissed this account, saying there was no intelligence or field verification supporting such claims. BSF Inspector General O. P. Upadhyay also rejected the report, saying no evidence existed of any border crossing.

Both agencies said surveillance along the border had been strengthened and intelligence operations intensified to prevent misuse of the frontier by criminal networks.

At least 400 Muslim families in Bengaluru, Karnataka, were reportedly rendered homeless after the state government demolished around 200 houses without prior notice. The demolition took place in Fakir Colony and Wasim Layout of Kogilu village at around 4 a.m. on December 22, carried out by Bengaluru Solid Waste Management Limited. The incident occurred during the winter season, leaving hundreds of families without shelter.

The affected residents claimed they had lived in the area for about 25 years and possessed valid Aadhaar and voter ID cards. They alleged that police forcibly evicted them without warning, leaving many unable to retrieve essential documents and belongings. The event has sparked a political dispute between Karnataka’s ruling Congress and Kerala’s Left Front, with opposition parties accusing Congress of adopting the Bharatiya Janata Party’s controversial “bulldozer rule.”

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan condemned the action, calling it an example of anti-minority politics under the Congress government. Reports also noted a broader rise in minority persecution across India, including violence against Bengali-speaking Muslims and attacks on Christians during Christmas celebrations.

A 24-year-old student from Tripura, Angel Chakma, was killed in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, after being attacked by a group of youths who allegedly hurled racial slurs and accused him of being Chinese. The incident occurred on December 9 when Angel and his younger brother went shopping. After protesting the insults, Angel was stabbed in the neck and spine, leaving him critically injured. He remained on life support for 14 days before dying. His father is a Border Security Force (BSF) soldier. The case has sparked outrage across India, particularly in the northeastern states.

Police have arrested five suspects, including two minors, while the main accused, Yagya Awasthi, remains at large and is believed to have fled to Nepal. Authorities have announced a reward for information leading to his capture. The suspects face charges of murder and criminal conspiracy.

Student organizations across northeastern India have demanded a national law against hate crimes. Tipra Motha Party leader Pradyot Bikram Manikya Debbarma condemned the attack, calling it a blow to national unity and dignity.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has expressed concern over the rising Muslim population in the state, predicting that by the time the next census report is released in 2027, the proportion of Muslims of Bangladeshi origin could reach around 40 percent. He noted that in the 2011 census, Muslims made up 34 percent of Assam’s population, of which 3 percent were classified as indigenous Assamese Muslims and the remaining 31 percent were of Bangladeshi descent. Sarma also pointed out that no census was conducted in 2021.

His remarks have reignited political and social debates in Assam over migration, identity, and citizenship, particularly in the context of longstanding disputes about alleged illegal immigration from Bangladesh. Discussions about demographic shifts and their social and political implications have been ongoing in the state for years.

The Chief Minister’s forecast has drawn mixed reactions in political circles. Some have welcomed his emphasis on demographic issues, while others warned that such comments could inflame communal tensions.

More than 24,600 Indian nationals were deported from 81 countries in 2025, according to a report presented by India’s Ministry of External Affairs in the Rajya Sabha. Saudi Arabia led the list, deporting over 11,000 Indians within the year, while the United States deported 3,800, the highest figure from that country in the past five years. The ministry’s data was cited in a report published by the Times of India.

The report stated that most deported Indians from Saudi Arabia were low-skilled workers employed in construction, domestic, and caregiving sectors. Many were expelled due to false documentation or fraud by Indian manpower export companies. In contrast, deportations from the U.S. were linked to visa overstays and enforcement actions under the Trump administration. Washington D.C. recorded the highest number of deportations among U.S. cities.

Myanmar ranked third with 1,591 deportations, followed by Malaysia, the UAE, Bahrain, Thailand, and Cambodia. The ministry also noted that some Indians deported from Myanmar and Cambodia had fallen victim to cyber fraud schemes that lured them with promises of high-paying jobs but forced them into illegal activities.

Several extremist Hindu organizations staged a violent protest on Saturday near the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission in Guwahati, India. According to a diplomatic source cited by the report, hundreds of protesters under the banners of Hindu Yuva Chhatra Parishad, Rashtriya Hindu Front, and Hindu Ekta Manch attempted to enter the mission premises while carrying saffron flags and chanting anti-Bangladesh slogans. Police intervened before they could reach the mission, after which the protesters blocked a nearby road and held a rally. During the rally, effigies of Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus were burned, and a memorandum was later submitted to the mission.

The demonstration followed a series of violent incidents targeting Bangladeshi missions across India, including an attack on the Bangladesh High Commission in Delhi on November 20. The report alleged that the attack occurred with the encouragement of the Modi government and included threats against High Commissioner Riaz Hamidullah. In response, Bangladesh summoned the Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka and demanded stronger security for its missions.

Subsequent unrest spread to Mumbai, Kolkata, and Agartala, with extremists setting fire to the Bangladesh visa center in Siliguri. Bangladesh has since suspended visa issuance for Indian nationals, heightening diplomatic tension between Dhaka and New Delhi.

Two female students at Kolkata’s Jadavpur University have alleged that they were harassed for wearing hijabs during an English examination. According to the report, the head of the English department, Shashwati Haldar, ordered one student to remove her hijab in a crowded classroom after another student was found with a headphone. Despite the student’s denial, she was taken to another room and searched, but no prohibited items were found. A second hijab-wearing student faced similar treatment and was subjected to uncomfortable questions. Both students said the incident caused them to lose 15–20 minutes of exam time.

Following the incident, fellow students staged a protest during the university convocation, holding posters reading “My Body My Choice” and “Say No to Islamophobia.” They also submitted a complaint to the vice-chancellor, condemning the selective search of only hijab-wearing students while others with hoodies and coats were not checked. The report described the event as part of a growing trend of Islamophobia in West Bengal, comparing it to incidents in other Indian states.

The article also referenced a recent case in Bihar where a minister publicly removed a woman’s hijab, highlighting broader concerns about minority treatment in India.

Hotels in Siliguri, Malda, and Cooch Behar districts of West Bengal have imposed a ban on Bangladeshi guests, displaying notices that prohibit their entry. The decision, announced by local hotel owners’ associations, was reportedly taken in protest against alleged persecution of minorities in Bangladesh and recent tensions along the border. Leaders of the associations said the move also follows the suspension of passport and visa services from Bangladesh.

The Malda Hotel Owners’ Association president stated that no Bangladeshi guests would be allowed to stay in district hotels, citing concerns over the situation in Bangladesh. Similarly, the Cooch Behar association said it halted services for Bangladeshi citizens after India suspended visa facilities. In Siliguri, the local association confirmed that 180 hotels under its jurisdiction have implemented the restriction, withdrawing earlier exemptions for medical and educational visitors.

The decision has drawn mixed reactions. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) welcomed the move, while the Trinamool Congress described it as an independent decision by hotel owners. Critics argued that such actions reflect growing hostility toward Bangladesh and could harm bilateral relations.

On Friday, a large group of armed Hindutva activists demonstrated outside the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata’s Beckbagan area, protesting the death of Bangladeshi minority member Dipu Das. The rally, which coincided with Friday prayers, featured saffron-clad monks carrying swords and tridents, chanting religious slogans, and displaying images of Dipu Das. Despite the charged atmosphere, no untoward incidents occurred due to heavy police security and barricades around the mission.

Opposition leader Suvendu Adhikari led a delegation of five, including four representatives of the Hindu Sanhati Sangh, to submit a memorandum to the Deputy High Commission demanding justice for Dipu Das. Adhikari later addressed a gathering, declaring solidarity among Indian Hindus to protect Bangladesh’s Hindu population. Protesters from several Indian states joined the rally, calling for boycotts of trade with Bangladesh and expressing anger over alleged attacks on Hindus across the border.

The report linked the Kolkata protest to broader communal tensions, noting recent killings of minority individuals in both India and Bangladesh, and suggested that political forces were exploiting such incidents for gain.

The nonprofit organization Open Doors reported that more than 60 attacks on Christians occurred across India during the Christmas period. Incidents included vandalism of churches, destruction of decorations, and threats against people celebrating the holiday. The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India condemned the assaults, attributing them to extremist Hindu nationalist groups and urging the Home Minister to ensure legal protection for Christians.

Among the most criticized incidents was one in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, where a local BJP leader, Anju Varghava, was seen harassing and assaulting a visually impaired Christian woman during a Christmas event. The viral video drew widespread criticism, prompting the local BJP unit to issue a show-cause notice. Varghava denied wrongdoing, and police said no complaint had been filed. Videos from Odisha and Delhi also showed extremist youths harassing Christmas vendors and women in festive attire.

The United Christian Forum reported that at least 600 attacks on Christians occurred across India this year, raising concerns about the safety and religious freedom of minority communities.

Madhya Pradesh Urban Administration Minister and senior BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya has stirred fresh controversy by claiming that the Taj Mahal was originally a temple later converted into a mausoleum by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. Speaking at the inauguration of a cricket tournament in Bina town of Sagar district, he said Mumtaz Mahal was first buried in Burhanpur and later moved to a site where a temple was under construction, which eventually became the Taj Mahal.

His remarks created a stir among attendees, and a video of his speech quickly spread across social media, drawing sharp and divided reactions. Supporters described his statement as a “historical interpretation,” while critics called it provocative and misleading. The debate has since intensified online.

At the same event, Vijayvargiya also made a remark about people from Bihar, saying humility was not mandatory for them but praised BJP national executive member Nitin Naveen for his modesty. This comment too triggered mixed reactions online, with some calling it normal political talk and others labeling it inappropriate.

Christmas celebrations across India were overshadowed by fear and tension as reports of threats, disruptions, and attacks emerged from several states. Allegations pointed to the involvement of groups linked to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and other right-wing Hindu organizations. Incidents were reported in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Kerala, targeting churches, prayer meetings, carol events, and decorations. Police made arrests in some areas and increased security, while religious leaders urged protection of constitutional rights.

In Raipur, Chhattisgarh, a group of 80 to 90 people allegedly vandalized Christmas decorations at a shopping mall. The Vishva Hindu Parishad called on Hindus to avoid Christmas celebrations, labeling them a threat to cultural awareness, which critics said fosters exclusion and harassment. In Kerala, children under 15 singing carols were attacked, and one RSS-linked suspect was arrested. A BJP leader’s remark defending the assault drew public outrage. In Madhya Pradesh, a blind woman was reportedly harassed during a prayer meeting, and Christians faced intimidation.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan condemned the incidents as contrary to India’s secular values, accusing RSS-linked groups of pressuring schools to cancel Christmas events.

Hotel owners in Siliguri, India, have announced they will no longer rent rooms to Bangladeshi citizens. The decision was confirmed by the Greater Siliguri Hotel Business Welfare Association, which stated that the move was taken in the interest of the country. The association acknowledged that the decision could cause some financial loss to local hotel owners. The report was carried by The Telegraph India.

Ujjal Ghosh, joint secretary of the association, said the group had made a similar decision in December of the previous year, though at that time exceptions were made for Bangladeshi students and patients. The new directive removes all such exemptions. Ghosh cited alleged violence and anti-India statements in Bangladesh as reasons for the stricter stance. The association represents 180 hotels in Siliguri, all of which are expected to comply with the ban.

The report also noted that the local visa office had been closed earlier following protests by the Vishva Hindu Parishad. Many Bangladeshis travel to Siliguri each year for education, tourism, and medical treatment.