A viral video from India’s Himachal Pradesh has sparked widespread outrage after showing a doctor allegedly assaulting a patient at Shimla’s Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital (IGMC). The incident reportedly occurred during a dispute over medical treatment when the patient, Arjun Panwar, who was suffering from breathing difficulties, was physically attacked by the attending physician.

According to reports, Panwar had undergone a bronchoscopy and sought oxygen support when the doctor questioned his right to occupy a hospital bed. The confrontation escalated, leading to the alleged assault, which was captured on video and circulated widely on social media. The footage, showing the doctor repeatedly striking the patient, has prompted strong criticism of hospital authorities and renewed debate over patient safety and medical ethics.

Hospital officials have announced an internal investigation, though no formal disciplinary action has been confirmed. The incident has intensified calls for stricter enforcement of professional conduct standards and better oversight of public healthcare institutions in India.

Police in Kolkata used batons to disperse Hindu nationalist demonstrators who gathered outside the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission on Tuesday. The protest was organized by several Hindutva-affiliated groups demanding justice for the killing of Dipu Chandra Das in Bangladesh’s Mymensingh district, who was beaten to death and his body set on fire following allegations of blasphemy.

According to local reports, the demonstration began around 11 a.m., with participants chanting slogans against alleged persecution of minorities in Bangladesh. Police had erected three layers of barricades about 200 meters from the mission. Tensions escalated when protesters broke through the first barrier and advanced toward the second, prompting police to use batons to push them back. The crowd was eventually contained roughly 100 meters from the diplomatic premises.

Authorities have not reported any serious injuries. The incident underscores the sensitivity of cross-border religious issues and the potential for domestic political groups in India to mobilize around events in neighboring Bangladesh.

A large protest erupted outside the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi on December 23, led by members of the Hindu nationalist groups Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal. Demonstrators broke through security barricades and attempted to enter the diplomatic compound, prompting a strong response from Indian security forces. The protest was reportedly triggered by the killing of a Hindu youth, Dipu Chandra Das, in Mymensingh, Bangladesh, and broader allegations of minority persecution.

Authorities established a three-tier security perimeter around the High Commission, deploying police and paramilitary personnel to prevent escalation. India’s Ministry of External Affairs earlier described a smaller protest on December 20 as non-threatening, but Bangladesh has rejected that account, citing serious security lapses. Bangladesh Foreign Affairs Adviser Touhid Hossain questioned how members of extremist groups could approach such a sensitive diplomatic zone without prior authorization.

The incident risks straining bilateral relations between India and Bangladesh, with Dhaka expected to raise the issue formally through diplomatic channels. Both governments are under pressure to ensure the safety of diplomatic missions and prevent further unrest.

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.