India has stated that the installation of barbed wire fencing along the Bangladesh border aims to prevent cross-border crimes. According to a statement titled Fencing on the India-Bangladesh Border, the total border length between the two countries is 4,096.7 kilometers, of which 3,232 kilometers have been fenced. The construction adheres to all protocols and agreements, and India expects continued cooperation from the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB). However, 864 kilometers remain unfenced due to issues like wetlands and land acquisition, with 174 kilometers deemed impossible to fence for these reasons. Additionally, BGB has raised strong objections to fencing in certain areas. These details were disclosed by India’s Minister of State for Home Affairs in response to a question in the Lok Sabha.

According to a report by German news outlet Deutsche Welle, Indonesia is in final discussions to purchase BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles from India in a deal worth $450 million. If finalized, Indonesia would become the second ASEAN country after the Philippines to acquire the missile. Last month, during his visit to India for Republic Day celebrations, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto met with the CEO of BrahMos in the presence of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Additionally, the Chief of the Indonesian Navy, along with a high-level delegation, inspected the missile. The BrahMos missile is jointly developed by India and Russia. Analysts suggest that amid rising tensions with China, Indonesia is seeking to modernize its naval and military forces, making this purchase a strategic move.

Social media posts in India falsely labeled footage of student clashes in Bangladesh as a ‘Hindu killing’. AFP fact-checking revealed no evidence of Hindu students’ deaths in the violence. The clashes, involving students from Dhaka’s colleges, were unrelated to religious tensions. The incident stemmed from a protest after the death of a student due to hospital negligence. Authorities confirmed that the violence was not religiously motivated, and no Hindu students were targeted or injured in the conflict.

Rahul Gandhi, leader of India’s opposition, criticized Prime Minister Modi’s ‘Make in India’ initiative as a failure, stating that China is at least 10 years ahead of India in various sectors. Gandhi also raised concerns over Modi’s contradictory statements on Chinese aggression in Ladakh. Additionally, he criticized Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal over pollution, challenging him to drink polluted Yamuna water and fulfill his promises of cleaning the river. Gandhi emphasized India’s failure in increasing production capacity, benefiting China instead.

Fears of a global trade war emerged after Donald Trump imposed tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China, causing the rupee to drop by 67 paise to 87.29. As investors sought safe-haven assets, the US dollar strengthened, weakening Asian currencies. Last week, India’s foreign exchange reserves faced a slight crisis, declining by $1.888 billion to $623.983 billion. The Indian stock market also saw a downturn, with the Sensex losing 575 points and the Nifty falling by 206 points.

India’s special security forces have confirmed the deaths of eight Maoist rebels during an operation in central India. The clash occurred early Saturday morning in the forests of Chhattisgarh. Over the past decade, the insurgency has claimed 10,000 lives, including 287 deaths this year alone. Maoist rebels claim to be fighting for marginalized indigenous communities. Last year, Indian Home Minister Amit Shah declared that the insurgency would be completely crushed by 2026.

Indian news outlet Zee 24 Ghanta misrepresented Bangladesh’s poverty by using an image actually taken in India. The photo, showing children standing in line with plates, was from New Delhi in 2020, where slum children waited for free food during the COVID-19 lockdown. A reverse image search confirmed its prior use by CNBC and Getty Images. Despite this, the misleading image was intentionally used to depict Bangladesh’s poverty, raising concerns about journalistic integrity in Indian media.

In Kochi, Kerala, 27 Bangladeshis were arrested for illegal residency following an overnight operation by Kerala Police and India’s Anti-Terrorism Squad. The suspects, found with Bangladeshi national IDs and passports, could not provide valid Indian residency documents. A total of 54 individuals were arrested in the operation. This action is part of a broader crackdown on Bangladeshis living unlawfully in various parts of India. Earlier, two Bangladeshis were arrested in Versova, Maharashtra.

Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan shared his experience of facing religious discrimination when trying to buy a house in Juhu, Mumbai. Despite searching for homes in the area, he was informed that due to his different community, he wouldn’t be able to purchase a property there. Saif, who has married non-Muslims, expressed that while he has never faced religious intolerance abroad, his own country questioned his religion, leaving him deeply insulted by the experience.

A stampede at the Maha Kumbh Mela in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India, left 15 people dead and many injured during the ‘holy bath’ ritual. The incident occurred early on January 29 amid massive crowds. Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussed the situation with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and urged immediate relief efforts. This year’s Kumbh Mela, marked by a rare celestial alignment, has already seen 148 million attendees. Hindus believe bathing in the sacred rivers cleanses sins and grants liberation from rebirth.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah declared that if BJP wins the Delhi Assembly elections, they will remove illegal Bangladeshi and Rohingya immigrants from the city within two years. Speaking at election rallies, Shah accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) of relying on votes from illegal immigrants and labeled it the “Party of Illegal Imports.” He criticized Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for corruption, spreading lies, and neglecting basic amenities like water, schools, and hospitals. Elections will be held on February 5, with results on February 8.

Doubts surround Shariful Islam’s arrest as Saif Ali Khan’s attacker after Mumbai police revealed that none of the 19 fingerprints from Saif’s house matched Shariful’s. While police claim they have evidence implicating Shariful, CCTV footage shows someone with long hair, unlike Shariful, who has always kept short hair. Shariful’s father also insists the attacker in the footage does not resemble his son. These revelations raise questions about whether the actual attacker is someone else, shifting the investigation into a new direction.

Summary: An explosion at an arms factory in Maharashtra, India, killed at least eight people and injured several others. The incident occurred in the Bhandara district on January 24. The explosion caused a roof collapse, trapping workers beneath the debris. Rescue teams reached the site quickly, recovering eight bodies and rescuing others in critical condition. The factory had at least 14 workers inside, and the cause of the explosion remains under investigation.

A fire rumor in the Lucknow-Mumbai Pushpak Express triggered panic among passengers, who jumped off the train in fear. The chaotic situation led to 12 deaths when passengers were hit by the passing Karnataka Express. The incident occurred on January 22 near Jalgaon, Maharashtra, after a “hot axle” or “brake jam” caused sparks. Emergency relief teams were sent, and medical aid was provided to the injured. Maharashtra’s Chief Minister expressed condolences, with efforts underway to assist the affected families.

In the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, 12 Indians have been killed while fighting for the Russian army, with 16 more Indians reported missing, confirmed by India’s Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson, Randhir Jaswal. Efforts are underway to repatriate the deceased and the missing. The embassy is working with Russian authorities to bring back the body of Vineel Babu, who died in combat, and to repatriate another injured Indian, Zain Tike, after his treatment in Moscow.