Asaduddin Owaisi’s All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) has announced an alliance with Humayun Kabir’s Am Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP) ahead of the upcoming West Bengal assembly election. The announcement was made on Sunday, with both parties confirming their joint participation in the polls. Kabir, a former Trinamool Congress leader, stated that his party would field 154 candidates across the state, including his own candidacy from Rejinagar and Naoda constituencies.

Kabir also mentioned that Poonam Begum would contest from Bhabanipur against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and opposition leader Suvendu Adhikari. He told news agency ANI that the alliance with AIMIM might contest in eight constituencies. Owaisi, confirming the partnership, criticized Mamata Banerjee’s 15-year tenure, claiming that West Bengal’s Muslim community had not seen adequate development and had faced injustice.

AIMIM had previously contested the 2021 West Bengal election but failed to achieve significant results. The new alliance signals a renewed attempt to expand its political presence in the state.

Two main accused in the murder of Inquilab Manch spokesperson Hadi, identified as Faisal Karim Masud alias Rahul and Alamgir Hossain, were produced before the Bidhannagar Sub-Divisional Court in North 24 Parganas, West Bengal, on Sunday, March 22, 2026, after completing a 14-day police remand. When questioned by journalists about the killing, Faisal denied any involvement, stating he did not commit the act or participate in such activities. He declined to comment on whether he had been falsely implicated.

Before the court appearance, Faisal underwent a medical examination at Bidhannagar Sub-Divisional Hospital. The two were arrested on March 8 from Bangaon, near the Bangladesh border, by the West Bengal Special Task Force (STF). According to STF sources, both men had confessed to the killing and had entered India through the Meghalaya border, staying in various locations for several months. They were charged under specific legal provisions and remanded to police custody.

Hadi was shot on December 12, 2025, in Dhaka’s Paltan area by helmeted assailants on a motorcycle and later died on December 18 while receiving treatment in Singapore.

A special court in Bidhannagar, West Bengal, has ordered the imprisonment of Faisal Karim Masud and his associate Alamgir Hossain, the two main accused in the murder of Inquilab Manch convener Shahid Sharif Osman Bin Hadi. The order was issued on Sunday afternoon following the completion of their 14-day remand. Both were presented before the court at noon, after which a hearing took place. The court also directed that the two be interrogated at the jail gate.

According to the case details, Faisal and Alamgir were arrested by West Bengal Police on the night of March 7 during an operation in Bangaon, near the Bangladesh border. They were subsequently placed on a 14-day remand by a local court. Additionally, on March 13, the West Bengal Police Special Task Force arrested a man named Philip Sangma for allegedly helping the two accused enter India through the Meghalaya border. He was placed on a seven-day remand and later produced before the court on March 21.

The court’s latest order marks a continuation of the legal process following the cross-border arrests and ongoing investigation into Hadi’s murder.

Two main suspects in the murder of Inquilab Mancha convener Shahid Sharif Osman Bin Hadi, identified as Faisal Karim Masud and his associate Alamgir Hossain, were presented before a special court in Bidhannagar, Kolkata, on Sunday afternoon after completing a 14-day remand. The court hearing is scheduled to follow their appearance.

According to the report, both suspects were arrested by West Bengal Police on the night of March 7 during an operation in Bongaon, near the Bangladesh border. Following their arrest, they were placed on a 14-day remand by a local court. Additionally, on March 13, the West Bengal Police Special Task Force detained a man named Philip Sangma for allegedly helping the two suspects enter India through the Meghalaya border. He was placed on a seven-day remand and produced before the court on March 21.

The case continues to draw attention as Indian authorities proceed with legal actions against the accused individuals linked to the cross-border murder investigation.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee described Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the 'biggest intruder' during an Eid gathering in Kolkata. She made the remark on Saturday while attending the main Eid congregation at Red Road, where she also delivered a message of communal harmony alongside her political comments.

Banerjee criticized what she described as divisive politics, saying that while relations are built with foreign countries abroad, people at home are being divided. Her statement came as thousands of worshippers offered Eid prayers across Kolkata and other Indian cities amid festive enthusiasm. Some areas faced difficulties due to bad weather, but security measures were tightened nationwide.

The President, Prime Minister, and other political leaders extended Eid greetings to citizens across the country, marking the occasion with official messages of goodwill.

Surat, the textile heart of Gujarat, is facing a severe crisis as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) shortages threaten to halt production across its garment factories. The disruption stems from the closure of the Hormuz Strait and ongoing conflict in West Asia, which have cut India’s LPG supply by 30 percent. Thousands of migrant workers from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Odisha are leaving the city as cooking gas becomes unavailable, forcing many small and medium textile units to shut down.

Reports indicate that some factories have already reduced operations to one or two days a week due to labor shortages. In worker colonies, LPG scarcity has driven prices up to 500 rupees per kilogram on the black market, while small cylinders now cost five times their usual price. Many workers, unable to cook or afford food, are returning to their villages despite having jobs.

Industry experts warn that if the exodus continues, India’s domestic and export textile markets could collapse ahead of the festive season. Factory owners are urging the government for fuel subsidies and faster LPG deliveries, but the situation remains uncertain until Middle East tensions ease.

An Air India flight bound for Vancouver, Canada, was forced to return to Delhi after nearly eight hours in the air when it was discovered that the aircraft lacked the necessary authorization to operate in Canadian airspace. The AI-185 flight departed Delhi at 11:34 a.m. local time on Friday and turned back near Kunming, China, after realizing the issue. The Boeing 777-200LR aircraft landed safely in Delhi after a total flight time of seven hours and fifty-four minutes.

According to the airline, the incident occurred because only its Boeing 777-300ER fleet currently holds permission to operate on the Canada route. Air India described the return as a “standard operating procedure” decision taken for operational reasons. All passengers and crew disembarked safely, and the airline apologized for the inconvenience.

The airline’s ground team in Delhi arranged hotel accommodations and assistance for passengers before re-departing the same flight the following morning. The incident is expected to have significant financial implications due to high fuel consumption during the nearly nine-hour flight.

India’s Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has reportedly withheld the release of the Oscar-nominated film “The Voice of Hind Rajab,” citing concerns that it could harm India-Israel relations. The Tunisian director Kaouther Ben Hania’s docudrama tells the story of a five-year-old Palestinian girl, Hind Rajab, who was allegedly killed by Israeli soldiers while waiting to be rescued in Gaza.

Indian distributor Manoj Nandwana said he submitted the film for approval in February, hoping for a March release, but the CBFC blocked it, reportedly warning that the film’s release might damage diplomatic ties. He noted that the decision came shortly after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Israel. The film had already been barred from several Indian film festivals, including those in Goa, Bengaluru, Pune, and Kerala.

Badi Ali, co-founder of production company Watermelon Pictures, criticized the move as unreasonable, while director Ben Hania questioned on social media whether the relationship between the two democracies was so fragile that a film could threaten it.

India has appointed Vikram Doraiswami, currently serving as High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, as its new ambassador to China. He will replace Pradeep Kumar Rawat and is expected to assume his duties in Beijing soon. Doraiswami, a 1992 batch officer of the Indian Foreign Service, previously served as India’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh during Sheikh Hasina’s tenure and has also held ambassadorial roles in South Korea and Uzbekistan.

Doraiswami’s diplomatic experience includes earlier service in Beijing from 1996 to 2000, during which he studied the Chinese language at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. He has also held senior positions in India’s Ministry of External Affairs, notably leading the Indo-Pacific division. Before joining the foreign service, he briefly worked as a journalist and earned a master’s degree in history from the University of Delhi.

The appointment comes as part of India’s efforts to rebuild relations with China following the 2020 border conflict, with both sides still maintaining troop deployments along the frontier.

Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee announced her party’s election manifesto on March 20, 2026, during a press conference at her residence in Kalighat, Kolkata. The manifesto includes ten key promises, such as a monthly allowance for women and a new scheme called ‘Banglar Yuba Sathi’ to support unemployed youth. She also pledged initiatives for farmers’ development and guaranteed access to safe drinking water for every household.

Banerjee emphasized healthcare as the manifesto’s central commitment, announcing plans to hold medical camps in every block and small town across West Bengal to ensure government healthcare for all citizens. Additional pledges include transforming Kolkata into a major commercial hub for eastern India and the world, and improving access to education, housing, and administrative services.

She stated that her campaign activities would begin after the Eid festival.

Former Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) chief Amarjit Singh Dulat has stated that Iran will not be defeated in the ongoing conflict triggered by joint US and Israeli attacks. In an interview published on Thursday by Indian news agency ANI, Dulat said India should stand by Iran, describing the country as a long-standing friend and ally.

Dulat emphasized that the current confrontation is not new, noting that tensions have persisted for the past two decades. He reminded that India and Iran have historically maintained close ties, with both nations supporting each other during times of crisis. According to him, India’s foreign policy should reflect this mutual trust and solidarity.

He further expressed confidence that India’s role in the present situation would be timely, balanced, and appropriate, reaffirming his belief that Iran would withstand Western and Israeli pressure without losing the war.

In February, 26-year-old Zubin Nath from Assam’s Chirang district died in an accident at a tile factory in Bengaluru, where he had worked for nearly five years. His father said he was informed that Zubin fell into a machine and died instantly. The next day, his body was brought home with the help of a contractor. Despite the tragedy, his death received little public attention.

According to Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, 162 migrant workers from the state have died between September and February while working outside Assam. Opposition legislator Akhil Gogoi noted that the issue has received minimal political attention ahead of the state assembly elections. Residents from Cachar district reported multiple deaths in illegal coal mines in Meghalaya, while nine tribal workers from Karbi Anglong and Hojai died in a Chennai industrial accident last September.

Experts and opposition leaders argue that the exodus of workers exposes the lack of employment opportunities in Assam. Many rural residents, particularly from tribal and Muslim communities, are forced into hazardous jobs outside the state due to failed government projects and declining agricultural livelihoods.

India’s long-standing policy of ‘strategic autonomy’—maintaining balanced relations with major global powers—faces new challenges amid rising tensions involving Iran. For over a decade, New Delhi has engaged with multiple blocs, including the Quad with the United States, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization with China, BRICS with Russia, and I2U2 with Israel and the UAE. The approach has aimed to protect national interests without overdependence on any single partner.

Recent developments around Iran have disrupted this balance, particularly affecting India’s priorities of ensuring expatriate safety, countering terrorism in neighboring states, and securing oil and gas supplies. Although diplomatic efforts have intensified, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar contacting Iranian leaders, only two Indian gas tankers have been cleared to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. Reuters reported that 22 Indian vessels remain detained in the region.

The release of these ships may depend on India returning three seized Iranian vessels or sending medical supplies to Tehran. However, such moves risk straining India’s ties with Washington, which previously allowed limited Russian oil purchases under specific conditions.

At least seven people, including three children, were killed in a major fire that broke out on Wednesday morning in a residential building in the Palam area of southwest Delhi. According to the Delhi Fire Service, the blaze started around 7 a.m. in one of the rooms and quickly spread throughout the building.

Thirty fire service units rushed to the scene to bring the flames under control and rescue residents trapped inside. Officials said the dense population of the area made the rescue operation difficult. Local police and emergency response teams also joined the operation soon after the incident was reported.

During the rescue, seven bodies were recovered from the building, including those of three children. The fire caused extensive damage to the structure, destroying furniture and valuables inside, according to the Delhi Fire Service. The cause of the fire has not been detailed in the report.

Police in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, arrested 14 people for organizing an iftar gathering on a boat in the middle of the Ganges River and allegedly throwing leftover food into the water. The arrests followed the circulation of a video on social media showing the event. Authorities said the accused were charged with hurting religious sentiments, polluting the environment, and disturbing public order.

The case was filed at the Kotwali police station based on a complaint from a leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s youth wing. The complaint stated that the Ganges is sacred to followers of Sanatan Dharma and that discarding food into the river desecrated its sanctity. Assistant Commissioner of Police Vijay Pratap Singh said the video, which went viral on Instagram, led to the investigation and subsequent arrests.

Police sources confirmed that the authenticity of the video is being verified and efforts are underway to identify others involved. River patrol surveillance has been increased to prevent similar incidents in the future.