A recent incident in Bihar, where Chief Minister Nitish Kumar publicly removed a Muslim doctor’s hijab during a state event, has reignited concerns over deep-rooted Islamophobia within India’s political establishment. Over the past decade, from 2015 to 2025, communal violence targeting Muslims has become increasingly systemic, with independent trackers estimating at least 70–80 Muslim deaths linked to mob attacks and hate crimes. Official data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) omits religion-specific figures, obscuring the true scale of the violence.

Analysts and human rights advocates argue that such attacks are not isolated but reflect a pattern of state-enabled impunity. Common triggers include rumors of cow slaughter, interfaith relationships, and inflammatory political rhetoric. Experts like Dr. Muzammil Ayub Thakur and Dr. Mohammad Ashrafuluzzaman warn that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its ideological affiliates have normalized hate speech and discriminatory laws, including the 2025 Waqf Amendment Act.

Observers fear that without transparent data and judicial accountability, India’s secular fabric will continue to erode, leaving minority communities vulnerable and distrustful of state institutions.

BJP legislator and Jammu & Kashmir opposition leader Sunil Sharma declared that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not remain silent on matters concerning Bangladesh and Pakistan. Speaking at a protest in Kishtwar organized by Hindu groups, Sharma linked recent violence in Bangladesh, including the killing of a Hindu worker, to what he described as an international conspiracy aimed at destabilizing India and provoking regional conflict.

Sharma asserted that countries like the United States and China fear Modi’s leadership and that he symbolizes hope for Hindus in Bangladesh. He further claimed that India’s growing economic and military strength toward 2047 has prompted attempts by rival nations to weaken it. Protesters submitted a memorandum to local authorities and announced plans to appeal to India’s top leadership for intervention to protect Hindu minorities in Bangladesh.

The remarks come amid heightened political sensitivity ahead of Bangladesh’s 2026 elections. Sharma also questioned the silence of international organizations on minority rights in Bangladesh, alleging that unrest there may be intended to delay the polls.

An Air India Boeing 777-300ER bound for Mumbai was forced to return to Delhi shortly after takeoff when pilots detected a sudden drop in oil pressure in the aircraft’s right engine. India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) confirmed that the plane landed safely and that a detailed investigation into the incident is underway.

The regulator stated that the pilots followed standard safety procedures, shutting down the affected engine and operating the aircraft on a single engine, as modern jets are designed to do safely. The aircraft, reportedly about 15 years old, is now undergoing technical inspection. Air India expressed regret for the inconvenience caused to passengers and assured full cooperation with the inquiry.

The incident comes as Air India faces heightened scrutiny following a June crash involving a Boeing Dreamliner that killed 260 people. DGCA has previously flagged multiple safety lapses at the airline, and this latest event is expected to intensify oversight of its maintenance and operational practices.

For the second consecutive day, a group of around 200 assailants attacked the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi on December 21, 2025. The attackers, reportedly members of a radical Hindu nationalist group called ‘Akhanda Hindurashtra’, gathered at the embassy gate, shouting anti-Bangladesh slogans before launching the assault. The incident followed a similar attack the previous day, raising serious concerns about the safety of Bangladeshi diplomats and their families stationed in India.

Video footage from the scene allegedly shows Indian law enforcement officers present but taking little action to prevent the violence, with some reportedly encouraging the attackers. The group behind the assault is known for its extremist agenda advocating the incorporation of Bangladesh into a so-called ‘Greater India’. Bangladeshi officials have expressed deep fear and anxiety following the repeated incidents.

Diplomatic observers warn that the attacks could strain bilateral relations between Bangladesh and India if not addressed promptly. Both governments are expected to discuss enhanced security measures for diplomatic missions in upcoming talks.

India has pushed back 19 individuals suspected of being Bangladeshi nationals from Assam, according to a statement by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on social media. The operation, conducted jointly by Assam Police and the Border Security Force (BSF) in Nagaon and Karbi Anglong districts, was part of the state’s intensified campaign against illegal immigration. Sarma reiterated that Assam would not tolerate unauthorized residents and that border security had been reinforced.

Officials confirmed that anyone found without valid citizenship documents would be detained and repatriated under legal provisions. Analysts, however, have raised concerns that such actions may breach international human rights norms and bilateral agreements between India and Bangladesh. Reports indicate that similar pushbacks have occurred previously, involving not only suspected Bangladeshis but also Rohingya refugees and unidentified individuals.

Bangladesh’s Border Guard (BGB) stated that some of those forced across the border were registered with the UNHCR in India, adding complexity to the humanitarian and diplomatic dimensions of the issue.

Bangladesh has formally questioned India after a group identified as Hindu extremists breached the security perimeter of the diplomatic zone in New Delhi and staged a protest outside the Bangladesh High Commission on Saturday night. According to Foreign Affairs Adviser Touhid Hossain, the demonstrators even issued threats to the High Commissioner, raising serious concerns about the adequacy of Indian security measures.

Hossain rejected India’s explanation that the protest was peaceful and limited to slogans over the killing of Bangladeshi citizen Dipu Chandra Das in Mymensingh. He argued that the protesters’ ability to reach deep into the secured diplomatic area suggested a lapse or deliberate allowance. Bangladesh has already arrested several suspects in connection with the murder, he added, calling the linkage to minority safety issues misleading.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs maintained that the protest did not involve any breach or attempt to disrupt security. Dhaka has noted India’s assurance to review mission security, but the incident has added tension to bilateral relations, highlighting sensitivities over cross-border communal narratives.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has dismissed reports in some Bangladeshi media describing a protest outside the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi as a security concern. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on Sunday that the demonstration, held on December 20 by around 20–25 youths, was peaceful, brief, and posed no threat to the mission’s security.

Jaiswal clarified that the protesters gathered to condemn the killing of Dipu Chandra Das in Mymensingh and to call for the protection of minorities in Bangladesh. He emphasized that there was no attempt to breach the security perimeter, and police dispersed the group within minutes. India, he added, remains committed under the Vienna Convention to ensuring the safety of all foreign missions on its soil.

The spokesperson further noted that India is closely monitoring developments in Bangladesh and remains in contact with Dhaka. New Delhi has expressed concern over attacks on minorities and urged accountability for those responsible for the recent killing.

A Dalit migrant laborer from Chhattisgarh was beaten to death in Kerala’s Palakkad district after being suspected of being a Bangladeshi national. The victim, 31-year-old Ramnarayan Baghel, had arrived in Palakkad on December 13 seeking daily wage work. Local reports indicate that following a theft incident in the area, a mob accused him of stealing and assaulted him with sticks, leading to his death.

Police have arrested five individuals in connection with the killing and have strengthened security in the area to prevent further unrest. The incident has sparked fear among migrant workers, many of whom expressed concern over being targeted due to their appearance or language. Authorities confirmed that an investigation is underway to determine the motive behind the attack.

The case highlights ongoing tensions surrounding migrant laborers in southern India and the dangers of mob justice. Officials said the body will be sent to Baghel’s home village after autopsy procedures are completed, while human rights groups have called for stronger protections for internal migrants.

A group of Hindu extremists under the banner of Akhand Hindu Rashtrasena staged a violent protest outside the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi on Saturday night, issuing death threats against High Commissioner Riaz Hamidullah. Witnesses said around 20 to 25 protesters breached multiple security layers in the diplomatic Chanakyapuri area before chanting anti-Bangladesh slogans and threatening to shoot the envoy. Security personnel reportedly did not intervene, leaving the High Commissioner and his family in a vulnerable position.

Diplomatic sources in both capitals described the incident as unprecedented, questioning how protesters could access such a heavily guarded zone without authorization. The Bangladesh interim government has taken the matter seriously, considering temporary suspension of visa services in Delhi and Agartala as a possible response. The attack follows the killing of Sharif Osman Hadi, a Bangladeshi activist, which has already strained bilateral relations.

The episode adds to escalating tensions between the two neighbors, marked by reciprocal diplomatic summons and increased border friction. Analysts warn that the incident could further complicate India-Bangladesh relations, already under pressure from political and security disputes.

India has announced its 15-member squad for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup, leaving out ODI and Test captain Shubman Gill. The team will be led by Suryakumar Yadav, with all-rounder Axar Patel named as vice-captain. Left-handed wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan returns to the side after a strong domestic season, while finisher Rinku Singh earns a call-up. The tournament will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka from February 7, 2025.

Chief selector Ajit Agarkar explained that Gill’s omission was based on team balance and recent form. Gill has averaged only 24.25 across his last 15 T20 internationals, while Kishan topped the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy with 517 runs. Agarkar noted that having a wicketkeeper-opener strengthens the team’s flexibility. The squad also includes Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, and Washington Sundar as all-rounders, with Jasprit Bumrah leading the pace attack.

The selection signals India’s focus on form and versatility ahead of the World Cup, as the team seeks to end its decade-long wait for a T20 title.

Seven wild Asian elephants were killed and one calf injured when a high-speed passenger train collided with a herd in northeastern India. The incident occurred near Sairang in Mizoram as the Capital Express, carrying 650 passengers from Guwahati to New Delhi, struck the animals. The impact caused the train’s engine and five coaches to derail, though no passengers were injured, according to Indian Railways spokesperson Kishore Sharma.

Officials said the driver applied emergency brakes after spotting nearly 100 elephants on the tracks but could not avoid the collision. The accident site, about 125 kilometers southeast of Guwahati, lies outside a designated elephant corridor. Veterinary teams conducted autopsies on the elephants, which will be buried the following day.

Assam, home to roughly 7,000 wild elephants, has seen several similar accidents in recent years. Conservationists have urged authorities to improve monitoring and install early-warning systems along railway routes intersecting elephant habitats to prevent future tragedies.

India’s Ministry of Defence is finalizing a proposal to acquire 850 kamikaze drones for the Army, Navy, Air Force, and special forces at an estimated cost of ₹2,000 crore. The Defense Acquisition Council is expected to approve the purchase in its upcoming meeting later this December, after which procurement will begin.

According to reports from the Economic Times citing ministry sources, the move follows India’s successful use of combat drones during ‘Operation Sindoor’ against Pakistan in May. Senior defense officials told ANI that drones proved highly effective during that operation, prompting the armed forces to expand their drone arsenal across all branches. Kamikaze drones, also known as loitering munitions, are designed to strike targets and self-destruct upon impact.

Analysts view this procurement as part of India’s broader modernization strategy to strengthen precision strike capabilities and reduce battlefield risks. The integration of autonomous navigation and target recognition technologies in these drones could significantly enhance India’s tactical flexibility in future conflicts.

An Indian parliamentary committee led by Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has described Bangladesh’s current political and security situation as India’s most serious strategic challenge since the 1971 Liberation War. The committee urged the Indian government to handle the crisis with extreme caution and issued several policy recommendations to safeguard New Delhi’s regional influence.

The report warns that Bangladesh’s shifting political alignment—marked by closer ties with Pakistan and China—could erode India’s strategic relevance in Dhaka. It cited China’s growing presence through infrastructure projects such as the Mongla port expansion, Lalmonirhat airbase, and Pekua submarine base. The committee also noted that previously banned Jamaat-e-Islami has regained registration to contest elections, while the interim government has barred the Awami League, raising concerns about electoral inclusivity.

Among its recommendations, the panel called for strict monitoring to prevent any foreign military base in Bangladesh and urged India to offer preferential access in connectivity and port development. Analysts view the report as a signal for recalibrating India’s neighborhood policy amid intensifying regional competition.

A youth organization affiliated with the Tipra Motha party, the Youth Tipra Federation, staged a protest on Friday outside the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission in Agartala, Tripura. Local police had increased security around the diplomatic office ahead of the demonstration, deploying officers under the supervision of Superintendent of Police Namit Pathak.

The protest followed controversial remarks by leaders of Bangladesh’s National Citizens Party (NCP), including Hasnat Abdullah, who allegedly threatened to encourage separatism in India’s northeastern region. The youth group condemned the statements as provocative and harmful to India-Bangladesh relations and to regional peace. Meanwhile, security measures were also visibly tightened around the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata in response to recent developments in Bangladesh.

Authorities in Agartala remain cautious, recalling that the same diplomatic office was attacked by Hindu nationalist groups last year. Officials emphasized that maintaining calm and protecting diplomatic premises are top priorities as cross-border political tensions rise.

India is fast-tracking a series of free trade agreements (FTAs) as it faces mounting pressure from the United States’ steep import tariffs and growing global trade instability. The move follows Washington’s decision in August to impose a 50% import duty on Indian textiles, auto parts, metals, and labor-intensive goods—measures that have significantly weakened India’s export competitiveness.

Trade analysts say New Delhi is using FTAs as a strategic tool to offset the long-term effects of unpredictable US tariffs. India currently has 15 active FTAs, six under priority negotiation, and more than 50 new deals under discussion with partners including the European Union, New Zealand, Chile, and Oman. Analysts note that once completed, India will have trade agreements with nearly all major economies except China.

However, experts caution that India’s rapid pivot toward multiple trade alliances could expose its diplomatic imbalance and erode its traditional defensive trade posture, potentially creating vulnerabilities for its future economic interests.