West Bengal Police have filed a case against two Bangladeshi nationals, Faisal Karim Masud and Alamgir Hossain, for illegal entry into India after their arrest in connection with the murder of Sharif Osman Hadi, convener of Inquilab Manch. The two were detained near Bongaon, close to the India-Bangladesh border, and were found without Indian identification documents. They have been remanded to 14 days of police custody following their court appearance.

A police officer told BBC Bangla that the decision to hand over the suspects to Bangladesh does not fall under the jurisdiction of the state police. The Bangladeshi Deputy High Commission in Kolkata has requested consular access to meet the detainees through the Indian government. The officer added that, given the sensitive and serious nature of the case, the process could be completed swiftly through administrative cooperation between the two countries.

Preliminary interrogation revealed that the suspects fled Bangladesh after Hadi’s killing and entered India illegally through the Meghalaya border. Police are investigating whether others were involved in the illegal entry.

India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar addressed the Rajya Sabha on Monday, outlining the country’s position on the ongoing Middle East conflict. He stated that India stands for peace and revealed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken with leaders of the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Jordan, and Israel. According to Jaishankar, these leaders assured the safety of Indian nationals residing in their respective countries.

Jaishankar added that several thousand Indians remain stranded in Iran, where communication with the country’s leadership is currently difficult. He noted that the closure of the Strait of Hormuz has raised public concern over potential fuel shortages in India, but urged citizens to remain calm. He emphasized that the government prioritizes public welfare and is maintaining diplomatic dialogue with the United States.

In a subsequent address to the Lok Sabha, Jaishankar said arrangements are being made to bring back Indians from Iran via Armenia, with assistance from the Indian embassy in Tehran and cooperation from Iranian authorities.

India successfully defended its T20 World Cup title by defeating New Zealand by 96 runs in the final held on March 8, 2026. With this victory, India became the first team to win the T20 World Cup three times and the first host nation to lift the trophy. New Zealand, meanwhile, suffered its second defeat in a T20 World Cup final.

Batting first, India posted a commanding total of 255 for 5 in 20 overs, led by Sanju Samson’s 89, Ishan Kishan’s 54, and Abhishek’s 52. In reply, New Zealand managed 159 in 19 overs, with Tim Seifert scoring 52 and Mitchell Santner adding 43. Jasprit Bumrah took four wickets for 15 runs, earning the Player of the Match award, while Samson was named Player of the Series.

The result reinforced India’s dominance in the T20 format and marked a historic milestone as the first team to win consecutive T20 World Cups and the first host to claim the title.

Indian police have arrested two Bangladeshi nationals, including Faisal Karim Masud, the main accused in the murder of former Inquilab Mancha convener Sharif Osman Hadi. The arrests were made by the Special Task Force of West Bengal Police from the Bongaon border area on Sunday, according to Indian news agency ANI. The detainees, identified as Faisal Karim Masud and Alomgir Hossain, were accused of illegal entry and residence in India.

Police said the two suspects fled Bangladesh after committing serious crimes, including extortion and murder, and had been hiding in India. They were captured during a late-night operation between March 7 and 8 based on specific intelligence. Preliminary interrogation indicated their direct involvement in Hadi’s killing, after which they entered India through the Meghalaya border and later gathered in Bongaon to return to Bangladesh.

A case has been filed against the two under specific legal provisions, and a local court has ordered them into police custody for further investigation.

Indian police have arrested Faisal Karim Masud, the prime suspect in the murder of Inqilab Monch spokesperson Sharif Osman Hadi, along with his associate Alamgir Hossain. The arrests were made on Sunday by the Special Task Force (STF) of West Bengal Police from the Bangaon border area. The Indian news agency ANI confirmed the arrests through a post on X, citing an STF press release.

According to the release, the detainees were identified as Rahul alias Faisal Karim Masud, aged 37, from Patuakhali, and Alamgir Hossain, aged 34, from Dhaka. During initial interrogation, both admitted to killing Bangladeshi political activist Osman Hadi and fleeing to India through the Meghalaya border. They reportedly moved across several Indian regions before settling in Bangaon.

Police stated that the suspects had been planning to re-enter Bangladesh illegally. A specific case has been filed, and a court has ordered them into police custody. The process of returning the accused to Bangladesh is underway.

Kolkata Police’s Special Task Force (STF) has arrested Faisal Karim Masud, the prime accused in the murder of Osman Hadi, spokesperson of the Inquilab Mancha and face of the July Movement, along with another suspect named Alamgir Hossain. Both were detained from Bongaon in North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal, near the Bangladesh border. They were produced before the Bidhannagar court on Sunday, which ordered a 14-day police remand.

Police sources said the two Bangladeshi nationals had illegally crossed the border into India and were hiding in Bongaon. They reportedly attempted to re-enter Bangladesh when apprehended. Masud, aged 37, is from Patuakhali, and Alamgir, aged 34, is from Dhaka. STF officials stated that both suspects confessed to their involvement in Hadi’s killing and had entered India through the Meghalaya border, moving across several locations before settling in Bongaon.

A case has been filed under specific legal provisions, and investigators plan to question the suspects further while they remain in police custody.

The West Bengal Police Special Task Force (STF) has arrested two main suspects in the murder of Sharif Osman Hadi, spokesperson of Inquilab Manch. The arrests took place early Sunday in Bongaon, North 24 Parganas, near the India-Bangladesh border. According to initial interrogation, the suspects, Faisal Karim Masud and his associate Alamgir Hossain, fled Bangladesh after killing Hadi and entered India illegally through the Meghalaya border.

The STF stated that the two Bangladeshi nationals were wanted for serious crimes including extortion and murder in their home country. Acting on confidential information, the STF conducted a late-night raid in Bongaon and detained them. A case has been filed, and both suspects were presented before court on Sunday and placed in police custody.

Hadi was shot on December 12 last year in Dhaka’s Paltan area by helmeted assailants on a motorcycle. Faisal Karim Masud had been identified as one of the attackers, and the interim government had announced a reward of 5 million taka for information leading to his arrest.

Indian police have arrested two Bangladeshi nationals, including Faisal Karim Masud, the main suspect in the murder of Osman Hadi, spokesperson of the Inquilab Mancha. The arrests took place near the Bongaon border area of West Bengal between March 7 and 8, 2026. According to the West Bengal Police’s Special Task Force (STF), the two men had illegally entered India after committing serious crimes in Bangladesh and were hiding near the border while planning to return.

The arrested individuals were identified as Rahul alias Faisal Karim Masud, aged 37 from Patuakhali, and Alamgir Hossain, aged 34 from Dhaka. Preliminary interrogation revealed that both were directly involved in the killing of political activist Osman Hadi in Dhaka. They reportedly entered India through the Meghalaya border and moved across several locations before being detained. A case has been filed against them under specific legal provisions, and a local court has ordered their police custody.

Osman Hadi was shot in Dhaka’s Bijoynagar area on December 12, 2025, and later died in Singapore on December 18 after being transferred for advanced treatment.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has said that India is not a major power in artificial intelligence (AI) technology and lacks sufficient production capacity in the tech sector. Speaking at a college in Kerala on Thursday, he claimed that India cannot manufacture much and that the recent India–US trade deal has handed over crucial national data to the United States.

Gandhi criticized India’s higher education system, alleging that many vice-chancellors are appointed based on political affiliations and that the influence of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is growing in education. He argued that a specific ideology is being imposed, which he described as harmful to the country. He also said that the global AI race is dominated by the United States and China, while India remains a minor player.

He warned that without control over its own data and stronger industrial production, India could face serious challenges. Gandhi also criticized major business groups like Reliance Industries and Adani Group for focusing mainly on selling foreign products and expressed concern over job losses linked to global AI expansion.

Trinamool Congress leader and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has intensified her campaign ahead of the upcoming state assembly elections. Speaking from a protest stage, she warned that if the central government and the BJP continue their actions, she would bring down the Delhi government. Banerjee demanded free and peaceful elections in West Bengal and condemned the alleged large-scale exclusion of names from the voter list.

On the second day of her sit-in protest at Dharmatala, which began on Friday, Banerjee declared that the movement would continue until the full bench of the Election Commission visits the state. She reportedly spent the previous night at the protest site. In a separate announcement, Banerjee said that beneficiaries of the state’s 'Yubasathi' (Yubashree) project would start receiving their 1,500-rupee allowance directly in their bank accounts from Saturday, March 7, instead of waiting until April 1.

She also called on the public to take to the streets on Sunday with kitchen utensils to protest the recent rise in cooking gas prices.

India has raised cooking gas prices as global energy markets reel from ongoing conflict in the Middle East. In Kolkata, the price of a 14-kilogram LPG cylinder rose from 879 to 939 rupees, while the 19-kilogram commercial cylinder increased by 114 rupees to 1,990 rupees. The new rates took effect on Saturday, March 7, across West Bengal, intensifying pressure on household budgets.

According to the LPG Distributors Association spokesperson Bijonbihari Biswas, supply to large customers has been temporarily restricted, and similar measures may soon apply to users of 19-kilogram cylinders. Distributors reportedly have only four to five days of gas stock left. Many residents have begun turning to wood-fired stoves as an alternative amid the price hike.

Stakeholders warn that if the conflict continues, gas prices could rise further. Local consumers expressed concern that the higher costs are straining family finances, with few affordable alternatives available.

India has granted permission for the Iranian warship IRIS Lavan to anchor at Kochi port in Kerala. The decision follows a request from Iran on February 28, citing technical problems aboard the vessel. India approved the request on March 1, allowing the ship to dock, and its 183 crew members are currently stationed in Kochi.

According to reports, IRIS Lavan had arrived in India to participate in the International Fleet Review 2026 in Visakhapatnam, similar to the Iranian warship IRIS Dena, which sank on March 4 after a reported torpedo attack from a U.S. submarine in the Indian Ocean. Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar stated that Iran had contacted India about the Lavan’s technical issues days before the Dena incident near southern Sri Lanka.

An Indian government source told The Indian Express that India had also invited the IRIS Dena to take refuge in its waters amid escalating conflict conditions in Iran, but Tehran did not respond to that invitation.

India has provided shelter to the Iranian warship IRIS Lavan and its 183 sailors after the vessel sent a distress signal on February 28 due to technical problems. The incident occurred on the same day that U.S. and Israeli military operations began. According to the Indian government, the ship requested permission to dock in Kochi on February 28, received approval on March 1, and has been stationed there since March 4. Officials confirmed that accommodation and food have been arranged for the crew in Kochi.

The development comes as India faces criticism this week following reports that another Iranian ship, IRIS Dena, was struck by a U.S. submarine torpedo, killing more than 80 sailors, rescuing 32, and leaving over a hundred missing. India has not yet commented directly on that attack. The government stated that its decision to host IRIS Lavan was based on humanitarian grounds and the safety of the sailors.

The situation underscores India's delicate position amid escalating U.S.-Israel-Iran tensions in the region.

The United States has granted India a temporary waiver allowing it to increase imports of Russian oil, reversing months of pressure on New Delhi. The license, issued late Thursday, permits transactions for Russian crude and petroleum products loaded before March 5, provided they are delivered to India and purchased by Indian firms. The waiver expires on April 4 at 12:01 a.m. Washington time. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the 30-day measure aims to keep oil flowing into global markets without providing significant financial benefit to Russia.

The decision comes as escalating conflict in the Persian Gulf disrupts energy flows, threatening supplies to major importers. The move offers immediate relief to India, one of the economies most affected by the turmoil, by allowing refiners to secure stranded Russian cargoes and stabilize operations. It also represents a policy shift by the Trump administration, which had previously imposed tariffs and sanctions to curb India’s Russian oil purchases.

Analysts noted that while the waiver is short-term, it could reshape Russian crude pricing and trade flows in the coming weeks as competition for supply intensifies.

An Iranian warship, IRIS Dena, sank in the Indian Ocean after being struck by a US submarine torpedo, triggering renewed regional tension and questions about India’s maritime security capacity. The vessel had departed from India’s Visakhapatnam port on February 26 after participating in the multinational naval exercise ‘Milan’ and was attacked in international waters about 44 nautical miles south of Sri Lanka on March 4. According to Al Jazeera, Sri Lanka’s navy recovered over 80 bodies and rescued 32 sailors, including the ship’s commander, while more than 100 remain missing.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that an American submarine torpedoed the Iranian vessel, calling it a “silent death.” Tehran condemned the attack as a serious crime, with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warning that the United States would one day pay a heavy price. Iran emphasized that the Dena had been an invited guest of the Indian Navy returning home after the exercise.

India’s delayed official response drew criticism, and analysts said the incident undermined India’s image as a regional maritime security provider, exposing limits to its influence near its own waters.