In Maharashtra’s Kalyan region, three Muslim students were humiliated by Hindu extremists after performing prayers inside a classroom at Ideal College. Members of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal filmed the students praying and circulated the video online, accusing them of hurting Hindu sentiments. The extremists then forced the students to apologize and bow before a statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj while police officers reportedly stood by without intervening. Eyewitnesses said the students were surrounded and threatened with chants of 'Jai Shri Ram,' a slogan often used to intimidate Muslims. Local Muslim organizations condemned the incident as part of a growing pattern of anti-Muslim harassment across BJP-ruled states, citing police inaction and rising intolerance. Social activists in Mumbai warned that such incidents are deepening fear among Muslim families and students. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s foreign ministry condemned rising Islamophobia in India and urged the international community to take notice.

Tensions between India and China have resurfaced after an Indian woman from Arunachal Pradesh was allegedly detained and harassed for 18 hours at Shanghai Pudong Airport. The woman, Prema Wangjam Thongdok, was traveling from the UK to Japan when Chinese authorities questioned the validity of her Indian passport, claiming Arunachal Pradesh is part of China’s ‘South Tibet’. She was reportedly pressured to buy a new ticket and suffered financial losses before being released with help from the Indian consulate. China denied any wrongdoing, asserting it acted within its laws, while India reiterated that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of its territory and accused China of violating international transit norms. The incident has reignited long-standing disputes over the McMahon Line and territorial claims dating back to colonial times. Analysts believe the episode may not severely impact bilateral relations, which had shown signs of stabilization since the 2020 Galwan clash, but mutual distrust remains entrenched.

The Assam government has introduced the 'Assam Prohibition of Polygamy Bill, 2025' in the state assembly, aiming to outlaw polygamy across the state except in Sixth Schedule areas. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma presented the bill, which classifies polygamy as a criminal offense. Under the proposed law, individuals marrying again while their spouse is alive could face up to seven years in prison, while concealing a previous marriage could result in up to ten years of imprisonment and fines. The legislation also holds accountable anyone involved in facilitating such marriages, including priests, qazis, and guardians. Victims of polygamy would be entitled to compensation, and repeat offenders would face double penalties. Convicted individuals would be barred from government jobs, welfare schemes, and contesting local elections. The bill excludes Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes as defined under Article 342 of the Indian Constitution. The move follows the Assam government’s ongoing efforts to reform personal laws and ensure gender justice.

Pakistan has issued a strong warning to the international community about what it describes as growing Islamophobia and deliberate destruction of Islamic heritage in India. In a statement released on Tuesday, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry expressed deep concern over the recent flag-hoisting ceremony at the newly built Ram Temple in Ayodhya, constructed on the site of the demolished Babri Mosque. Ministry spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi said the event reflects a broader trend of pressure on religious minorities under a majoritarian Hindutva ideology. He alleged that several historic mosques in India face threats of desecration or demolition, while Indian Muslims are increasingly marginalized socially, economically, and politically. Pakistan urged the United Nations and other international bodies to play a constructive role in safeguarding Islamic heritage and protecting the religious and cultural rights of all minorities. Islamabad also called on New Delhi to uphold its international human rights obligations and ensure the safety of all religious communities and their places of worship.

United Nations human rights experts have voiced serious concern over alleged abuses by Indian authorities in Jammu and Kashmir following a militant attack in Pahalgam in April. The experts criticized India's sweeping security operations, arbitrary detentions, torture, property demolitions, and communication restrictions imposed after the attack. They reported that around 2,800 people, including journalists and human rights defenders, were detained under the Public Safety Act and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, which allow prolonged detention without trial. The experts described these laws as overly broad and vague. Reports also indicated instances of torture, incommunicado detention, and discriminatory treatment of Kashmiri Muslims. The UN experts condemned punitive demolitions and forced evictions carried out without court orders, calling them a form of collective punishment that violates India’s Supreme Court ruling of 2024, which deemed such actions unconstitutional. They urged India to ensure compliance with international human rights law even while addressing security threats.

In Maharashtra’s Kalyan region, three Muslim students were publicly humiliated by Hindu extremists who forced them to bow before a statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The incident occurred after a video showing the students offering prayers in an empty classroom went viral online. Members of the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal reportedly stormed Ideal College, demanding the students apologize and perform the act of obeisance while chanting religious slogans. Witnesses said police officers present at the scene did not intervene. Local Muslim residents and parents of the victims condemned the incident, accusing the college administration of yielding to mob pressure and preparing disciplinary action against the victims instead of the perpetrators. Rights groups and community leaders said the event reflects a growing pattern of harassment and intimidation of Muslims in BJP-ruled states, where extremist groups allegedly act with impunity and law enforcement fails to protect minorities.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has officially released the full schedule and group details for the 10th edition of the T20 World Cup, set to take place in India and Sri Lanka during February and March. Bangladesh has been placed in Group C alongside two-time champions England and West Indies, as well as associate members Nepal and Italy. The top two teams from each group will advance to the quarterfinals. The tournament will open on February 7 with a match between Pakistan and the Netherlands, while Bangladesh will face the West Indies on the same day in Kolkata. Bangladesh’s subsequent matches are scheduled against Italy on February 9, England on February 14, and Nepal on February 17. Other groups include India, Pakistan, and the United States in Group A; Australia and Sri Lanka in Group B; and South Africa and New Zealand in Group D.

A Bangladeshi student named Shahriar was found dead, hanging from a ceiling fan in a rented apartment in Greater Noida’s Beta-2 area, part of India’s National Capital Region. The discovery was made after the landlord, unable to contact him for over a day, entered the room and alerted police. Shahriar had been living with a woman named Rupa, a resident of Bihar, who claimed to be his wife. The couple had rented the room for 8,000 rupees on November 17. Police reported that Rupa was last seen leaving the residence on November 21. No suicide note was recovered from the scene, and the body has been sent for post-mortem examination. Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of death, with officials stating that further details will be known after the autopsy report is released.

A new controversy has erupted in India after the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) removed the title 'Great' from the names of Mughal emperor Akbar and Mysore ruler Tipu Sultan in newly printed school textbooks. The Congress party accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of rewriting history to align with its ideological narrative and diminishing the contributions of Muslim rulers. BJP and its ideological ally, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), defended the move, calling it a long-overdue correction. Congress leaders, including Imran Masood, K. Muraleedharan, and Harish Rawat, criticized the decision as politically motivated and warned of further historical distortions ahead of the 2029 national elections. RSS leader Sunil Ambekar stated that the leaders were not removed from textbooks but that students should also learn about their alleged misdeeds. The updated NCERT books have already been distributed to over 24,000 CBSE schools across India, fueling a broader debate over historical interpretation and political influence in education.

A low-pressure system formed over the Andaman Sea and the Malacca Strait is intensifying and is expected to develop into Cyclone 'Seniyar' within the next 48 hours, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). Early warnings have been issued for the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry. The cyclone, named 'Seniyar' meaning 'lion'—a name given by the United Arab Emirates—is projected to move west-northwest, but its landfall location remains uncertain. The IMD forecasts that the system will become a deep depression over the southeast Bay of Bengal by Monday and may strengthen further. Meanwhile, Bangladesh’s Meteorological Department has indicated the possible formation of another low-pressure area over the southern Andaman Sea, which could also intensify. Both Indian and Bangladeshi forecasts suggest stable weather in most regions, except for light rain in northern Bengal’s hilly areas. No major temperature changes are expected across Bangladesh and West Bengal in the coming days.

India faces the prospect of a humiliating home series defeat after South Africa’s commanding performance in the second Test in Guwahati. Following a crushing loss in the first Test at Eden Gardens, India again struggled against the Proteas’ pace and spin attack. South Africa posted a formidable 489 in their first innings, led by Senuran Muthusamy’s 109 and Marco Jansen’s 93. In reply, India collapsed for 201, with Yashasvi Jaiswal scoring 58 and Washington Sundar adding 48. Jansen starred with the ball, taking 6 wickets for 48, while Simon Harmer claimed 3 for 64. South Africa opted to bat again instead of enforcing the follow-on, reaching 26 without loss at stumps on Day 3, extending their lead to 314 runs. With India trailing heavily, captain Rishabh Pant’s side now faces an uphill battle to avoid a series whitewash at home.

Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has suggested that the country’s borders could change in the future, hinting that Pakistan’s Sindh province might one day become part of India again. Speaking at an event for the Indian diaspora in Morocco, Singh said that although Sindh is currently part of Pakistan, it remains culturally tied to India. He referred to the sentiments of Sindhi Hindus, including the generation of veteran leader L.K. Advani, who never accepted the separation of Sindh during the 1947 Partition. Singh emphasized the spiritual significance of the Indus River to Hindus and noted that even many Muslims in Sindh considered its waters sacred. His remarks, linking cultural unity with potential territorial change, have drawn attention amid sensitive India-Pakistan relations and ongoing debates over historical and cultural identity.

At least six people were killed and 28 others injured in a head-on collision between two buses in Tamil Nadu’s Tenkasi district on Monday, according to NDTV. Police said one bus was traveling from Madurai to Sengottai, while the other was heading toward Kovilpatti when the collision occurred. The impact left both vehicles severely damaged. Several of the injured passengers were taken to a local hospital, with officials reporting that some remain in critical condition. Preliminary investigations suggest that the Madurai–Sengottai-bound bus, operated by Kesar, was speeding and driving recklessly, which likely caused the crash. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin expressed condolences to the victims’ families and directed local authorities to ensure proper medical care for the injured. Police have launched an investigation and are reviewing CCTV footage to determine the exact cause of the accident.

Bollywood actress Kriti Sanon expressed deep concern over Delhi’s alarming air pollution levels while promoting her upcoming film 'Tere Ishq Mein'. Speaking at the event, she noted that the city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) had exceeded 430, posing severe health risks. Sanon said the toxic air quality has become a serious issue that demands immediate attention. The worsening pollution has already disrupted several film shoots in Delhi, including the postponement of her film 'Cocktail 2', which also stars Shahid Kapoor and Rashmika Mandanna. The actress urged authorities and citizens to take collective responsibility and implement effective measures before the situation deteriorates further. Kriti Sanon will next appear opposite South Indian actor Dhanush in director Aanand L. Rai’s 'Tere Ishq Mein'.

A new Hindi film titled ‘The Taj Story’, starring veteran actor Paresh Rawal, claims to reveal the ‘truth’ behind the Taj Mahal, alleging it was once a Hindu temple named Tejo Mahalaya. This theory, first proposed by revisionist writer P.N. Oak in the 1980s, has been repeatedly discredited by historians and India’s Archaeological Survey. Despite lacking evidence, the narrative has resurfaced under the influence of Hindutva politics, which seeks to reinterpret India’s Islamic heritage as foreign and glorify a continuous Hindu past. The film’s release aligns with broader political efforts by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to reshape historical narratives, including textbook revisions and renaming cities with Islamic origins. Critics argue that such cultural projects deepen communal divisions and legitimize exclusionary nationalism. The Taj Mahal controversy, therefore, symbolizes a larger ideological struggle over India’s pluralistic history and identity.