KOLKATA: India is considering releasing snakes and crocodiles along its frontier with Bangladesh, the Border Security Force said Wednesday, as New Delhi seeks to stave off unauthorised crossings. Bangladesh is almost entirely encircled by India and the border stretches for more than 4,000 kilometres (2,485 miles), large parts of which are unfenced across delta regions where Himalayan rivers wind toward the sea. Senior Border Security Force officer Manoj Barnwal told AFP that &quot;the use of reptiles&quot; was discussed in a February meeting with the Home Ministry. &quot;We have been asked to explore the feasibility of deploying reptiles such as snakes or crocodiles in vulnerable riverine gaps,&quot; said Barnwal, deputy inspector general of the paramilitary force based in Kolkata, near the border with Bangladesh. &quot;The plan revolves around leveraging natural deterrents like crocodiles and snakes in flood-prone zones, along the unfenced area where traditional fencings are either ineffective or not possible,&quot; he added. The border between India and Bangladesh cuts through the Sundarbans, the world&#39;s largest mangrove forest. &quot;It&#39;s an innovative move, but there are several challenges and it raises safety concerns,&quot; Barnawl said. &quot;How do we procure the reptiles? What impact might it have on the people in the villages sitting along the riverine border?&quot; &quot;We have asked our field units to study the feasibility of the approach and send the report as soon as possible,&quot; he added. Relations between New Delhi and Dhaka soured after a 2024 revolution in Dhaka ended the autocratic rule of the then-prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India. Bangladesh&#39;s Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman is in New Delhi on Wednesday -- the most senior envoy from Dhaka to visit since the 2024 uprising -- in a bid to rebuild frosty diplomatic relations. India has constructed border fencing stretching hundreds of kilometres (miles), and arrested scores of Bangladeshis attempting to cross the frontier in the wake of Hasina&#39;s overthrow. The Hindu nationalist government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has long taken a hardline stance on immigration, particularly from neighbouring Muslim-majority Bangladesh. Top Indian officials have referred to migrants as &quot;termites&quot; and &quot;infiltrators&quot;. Rights groups have accused India of also pushing hundreds of Bengali-speaking Muslims into Bangladesh without due process.

Bangladesh

India

India is considering using snakes and crocodiles as natural deterrents along unfenced border stretches with Bangladesh, a proposal that highlights worsening ties, migration tensions and serious safety concerns for nearby communities.

India mulls reptile river guards on Bangladesh border

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: A blast at Manipur University and protests over a planned census have renewed focus on instability in Manipur, where displacement, ethnic tensions and insecurity continue despite official claims of normalcy. A bomb explosion at Manipur University on Sunday evening was a fresh sign that the conflict-hit state is still far from normal, despite repeated official claims of stability, the Times of India reported. According to local media reports, the blast took place near staff quarters on the Canchipur campus, damaging property and causing panic. No casualties were reported, but university officials described it as an attack on &ldquo;education, peace, and harmony.&rdquo; The blast came as opposition grows to the government&rsquo;s plan to go ahead with the national census. Thousands of internally displaced persons and the Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee have urged authorities to delay the exercise until people forced from their homes by the violence are properly resettled. Critics say a census held now would distort population data and affect future political representation and development planning. The dispute points to the deeper crisis in Manipur. As The Economist recently noted, &quot;the state is still shaped by the ethnic violence that broke out in May 2023&quot; between the largely Hindu Meiteis and the mainly Christian Kukis. The conflict is rooted in long-running tensions over identity, rights and resources, and it has left hundreds dead and thousands of homes destroyed. Those figures broadly match international reporting. When New Delhi imposed President&rsquo;s Rule in February 2025, Reuters reported that at least 250 people had been killed and around 60,000 displaced. Yet even after such large-scale loss and displacement, both the state and central governments have continued to project an image of recovery and communal harmony. For residents of Manipur, the issue is no longer only the violence that erupted in 2023, but the unresolved fallout that continues to shape daily life. The blast at Manipur University and the objections to holding a census before rehabilitation show that security, displacement and political trust remain deeply contested.

A blast at Manipur University and protests over a planned census have renewed focus on instability in Manipur, where displacement, ethnic tensions and insecurity continue despite official claims of normalcy

Manipur University blast puts focus back on India’s festering crisis

ISLAMABAD: Congress&rsquo; National spokesperson Dr Shama Mohamed renewed scrutiny of alleged RSS backing for propaganda-style films in an X post, on Thursday.&nbsp;Dr. Shama said producer Vipul Amrutlal Shah had &ldquo;openly admitted&rdquo; that the RSS supported &ldquo;Kerala Story 2&rdquo; and arguing that this showed the organisation had backed a film meant to defame Kerala. Her post brought fresh attention to a wider debate over how the BJP and the RSS ecosystem support politically aligned cinema through ideological links, endorsements, tax breaks and promotion.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2039579655645348127&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Flogin%2F&sessionId=c92d3faf5176e582d37f5cad3e26fa7ac3e0dbe2&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 672px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div></div>At least ten films have been produced or directed by individuals linked to the BJP, the RSS, or affiliated Hindutva organisations, an Indian news outlet, The Quint, reported on Friday. The films named in the report include The Kerala Story, The Kerala Story 2 Goes Beyond, Bastar: The Naxal Story, Razakar, Swatantra Veer Savarkar, PM Narendra Modi, Accident or Conspiracy: Godhra, Bengal 1947, The Accidental Prime Minister, and Jahangir National University.&nbsp;One of the most striking claims in that report concerns producer Vipul Amrutlal Shah. The Quint said Shah acknowledged at the 2023 World Hindu Congress that The Kerala Story could not have been made without RSS &ldquo;guidance and support.&rdquo; The report said he described the RSS as the film&rsquo;s &ldquo;guardian angels.&rdquo;&nbsp;Political endorsement has also come from the top. Reuters reported that Indian PM Narendra Modi publicly praised The Kashmir Files in 2022. BJP-ruled states then moved to make the film tax-free, helping widen its reach.&nbsp;A similar pattern was seen with The Kerala Story and Article 370. NDTV reported that BJP governments in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh made The Kerala Story tax-free. NDTV also reported that the BJP government in Chhattisgarh made Article 370 tax-free.&nbsp; Taken together, the reporting suggests these films are not just cultural products. They are increasingly part of a political ecosystem where cinema, ideology, and state patronage intersect.

The BJP and the wider RSS ecosystem are backing a string of ultra-nationalist and propaganda-style films in India; the support is not always visible as direct funding but through political links, public endorsements, tax breaks, and coordinated promotion by party leaders and allied networks. 

Scrutiny grows over BJP-RSS backing of propaganda films

ISLAMABAD: A sessions court in Varanasi has denied bail to 14 Muslim men who were arrested after having iftari -- a meal to break the fast during Ramadan -- on a boat on the Ganges River. Critics of civil liberties are expressing concern that the case is becoming a significant example of communalized prosecution and pre-trial punishment. According to a report by the Indian Express on Thursday, the men were accused after videos of the March 15 gathering circulated online; they were arrested days later, remanded to judicial custody, denied bail by a magistrate on March 23, and denied bail again by the sessions court on April 1.&nbsp;The original allegation was that the group ate chicken biryani during iftar on the river and threw bones or food waste into the Ganges, hurting Hindu religious sentiments and disturbing communal harmony. <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 2;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2039345830126334102&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Fmedia-library%2F&sessionId=ad6099de673681cafc55cfa6b48b11e690357ac6&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 825px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>The complaint was filed by Rajat Jaiswal, a local BJP youth-wing leader, and the case quickly escalated from a local dispute into a broader communal controversy. Prosecutors invoked a wide range of charges, including promoting enmity, public nuisance, insulting religious feelings, and other provisions linked to public order and alleged pollution. While refusing bail, the Sessions Court said that the posting of the event on social media, prima facie, suggested an intention to affect social harmony, particularly in a sensitive religious atmosphere. The miscarriage-of-justice concern arises from the contested nature of the evidence and the overtly religious framing of the case from the beginning. The Wire reported that the complainant&rsquo;s version shifted over time on whether bones were actually thrown into the river, while an independent review cited in that report said the viral videos did not clearly show waste being dumped. <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 2;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2039586123614494956&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Fmedia-library%2F&sessionId=ad6099de673681cafc55cfa6b48b11e690357ac6&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 737px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div> The same report said defense lawyers argued that the accused were falsely implicated, that the complainant was not an eyewitness, and that no chicken or bones were recovered from the site. Taken together, the case has come to symbolize how an iftar gathering by Muslim youths can be rapidly recast as a criminal and communal provocation, with severe charges and prolonged incarceration preceding any final adjudication of guilt. Whether the prosecution ultimately proves its case or not, the controversy has already raised serious questions about selective enforcement, evidentiary standards, and the role of religion in policing public space in contemporary India.

Fourteen Muslim men remain jailed in Varanasi after a fast-breaking meal along the Ganges was criminalized, raising concerns over weak evidence, communal framing, selective enforcement, and religion-based targeting in India.

Jailed for breaking fast on Ganges: 14 Muslim men denied bail in India

ISLAMABAD: A mosque in India&rsquo;s Uttar Pradesh Sitapur district was demolished in a pre-dawn operation on March 30 over alleged encroachment, with rights group Hindutva Watch highlighting the incident on Wednesday. The demolished structure was identified in local reporting as the Syed Hazrat Umar Farooq mosque in Laharpur. Local authorities alleged that the structure stood on government land recorded as a pond and cemetery. District officials said the action followed legal procedure. According to local reports, the administration said notices had been issued and that the demolition was carried out under provisions of the Uttar Pradesh Revenue Code after a tehsil court order. The Sitapur case comes amid a series of similar actions involving Muslim religious structures in Uttar Pradesh. In Sambhal, another mosque was demolished in 2025 after authorities said it had been built on government pond land, with reports describing it as the second mosque demolition in the district within four months. A separate case in Uttarakhand drew national attention in February 2024. In Haldwani, authorities moved to demolish a mosque and seminary they said were built on government land, triggering unrest in which at least five people were killed, according to the Associated Press. Rights groups and opposition voices have said such demolitions reflect a broader pattern in which anti-encroachment drives and punitive demolitions disproportionately affect Muslims.&nbsp; Amnesty International described demolitions of Muslim properties in India as discriminatory and unlawful in a 2024 statement cited in international reporting. The issue has also reached India&rsquo;s Supreme Court. In November 2024, the court condemned arbitrary demolitions, laid down due-process safeguards, and responded to petitions arguing that such actions had disproportionately affected Muslim communities. The Sitapur demolition is likely to add to that debate. While authorities maintain the action was a land-recovery measure, critics say repeated demolitions of mosques and other Muslim properties are increasing scrutiny of how India&rsquo;s secular and constitutional commitments are being applied on the ground.

The demolition has renewed scrutiny of similar actions against Muslim religious structures in India, with rights groups and courts raising concerns over selective enforcement and due process.

Demolition of India’s Sitapur Mosque sparks wider concern over pattern

ISLAMABAD: Concerns over the growing role of Hindutva-linked organisations in India&rsquo;s military education system, Sainik Schools, sharpened on Monday after the Indian American Muslim Council highlighted reports that a majority of newly approved schools have been allocated to institutions linked to the RSS, BJP leaders, and allied Hindu groups. The controversy centers on the Union government&rsquo;s expansion of the Sainik School system through a public-private partnership model launched in 2021.&nbsp; Under the scheme, private entities, NGOs and trusts can partner with the state to run new Sainik Schools, which are meant to prepare students for entry into the National Defence Academy and other military institutions.&nbsp; Critics say the model has opened the door to ideological influence in a system historically associated with secular, state-run military preparation. A report cited by The New Indian Express said that 62% of the first 40 approved schools were allotted to organizations linked to the Sangh Parivar, BJP politicians, their associates and Hindu religious bodies. The findings, based on government press releases and RTI (right to information) responses, have fuelled allegations that the scheme is being used not simply to widen access to military education system, but to reshape it along ideological lines. National Herald argued that the development represents a deeper institutional shift with possible long-term consequences for the armed forces. The original Sainik Schools, run by the Sainik Schools Society under the defense ministry, have traditionally been seen as feeder institutions for the military.&nbsp; Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh has said these schools have produced more than 7,000 officers for the armed forces. The concern is not only about who runs the schools, but about what values may be embedded in them.&nbsp; Among the institutions identified in the reporting were schools linked to Sadhvi Ritambhara, Bhonsala Military School in Nagpur, and entities associated with BJP leaders in several states. Retired military officers warned that ideological capture of military education system could erode the constitutional and secular character of the armed forces.&nbsp; Former deputy army chief Lt Gen Zameeruddin Shah said the government appeared to be trying to create an &ldquo;indoctrinated&rdquo; intake for the Army, while others described the trend as dangerous and unconstitutional. Together, the reports have triggered a wider debate over whether the expansion of Sainik Schools is becoming a vehicle for political influence over India&rsquo;s defense culture.

Most newly approved government-backed military preparatory schools in India were allotted to Hindu nationalist-linked groups, raising concerns about ideological influence over institutions tied to future armed forces recruitment.

Concern grows over Hindutva influence in India’s military schools

MORBI, India: Blazing-hot kilns in India&#39;s $6.5 billion ceramics manufacturing hub employing hundreds of thousands of people have gone cold, shut down in an energy crunch caused by the US-Israel war on Iran. At a cavernous facility in Morbi, in India&#39;s western Gujarat state, a 200-meter-long propane-powered kiln that normally fires clay nonstop is silent. It is one of hundreds of plants supplying homeware tiles across the world that have been forced to suspend operations.<figure class="fr-media"><img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/uploads/5d904ce8-a54e-43b7-9a43-1c4eb79346d5-AFP__20260329__A4TV6EZ__v1__MidRes__IndiaWarIranUsIsraelEnergy.jpg" alt="AFP__20260329__A4TV6EZ__v1__MidRes__IndiaWarIranUsIsraelEnergy.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width: 1000px;"><figcaption class="caption-cover-image text-sm text-gray-600 italic">Morbi, India: A man walks out the Eden Ceramic City mall housing outlets of ceramic tile manufacturers and distributors, as it remains deserted amid propane gas supply constraints and global energy crisis, on March 26, 2026. (Photo: AFP)</figcaption></figure> Thick layers of dust smother giant grinding and pressing machines, while only a tiny crew of workers transfer the last batch made three weeks ago off snaking assembly lines and into trucks. &quot;We are suffering a lot,&quot; said Kishor Dulera, a tile unit proprietor who closed this factory and two others in early March, sending hundreds of workers home. India depends on imports for 60% of its&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/fuel-panic-deepens-indias-economic-strain" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">liquefied petroleum gas</a>&nbsp;(LPG) demand. The overwhelming majority comes through the Strait of Hormuz waterway, which has been effectively blocked by Iran after US-Israeli strikes on the Islamic republic late last month sparked a broader regional conflict, disrupting global energy supplies. New Delhi has prioritized supply for households, shielding Indians who use it to cook food. That has squeezed the amount available for industrial use. Factories in sectors including stainless steel and plastic have cut back on production as a result. &#39;Disaster&#39;&nbsp;&quot;If the main raw material is disturbed, the whole industry is disturbed,&quot; Dulera told AFP. The ceramics hub at Morbi makes up 90% of India&#39;s total production and is one of the world&#39;s largest ceramic manufacturing centers, exporting tiles to countries such as the United States and Thailand. The industry at Morbi provides direct and indirect employment to nearly a million people, according to government statistics. More than 400 plants have closed after the gas supply chain was &quot;broken&quot;, said Manoj Arvadiya, head of the local manufacturing industry association. Keeping the kilns hot means plants operate around-the-clock -- and emergency shutdowns can damage machinery. &quot;It is a continuous process,&quot; said Arvadiya. &quot;You can&#39;t run it for two days and then switch it off for one day. It doesn&#39;t work like that.&quot; Hitesh Detroja said his now-shut Lexus Granito plant had produced 30,000 tiles per day, calling the closure a &quot;disaster&quot;. He said he has no income to pay his fixed costs and interest on loans of $74,000 each month. &quot;This crisis is horrible,&quot; Detroja said.&nbsp;&#39;Worried&#39;&nbsp;The ripple effects of the energy crisis have been felt throughout the Morbi ecosystem. &quot;Everyone is worried,&quot; said 29-year-old labourer Bunty Goswami, a migrant worker at a shut plant. &quot;We are confused about what to do -- whether we should go home, or not.&quot; India&#39;s government has boosted domestic LPG production, negotiated the passage of a handful of tankers and purchased new cargoes from Australia and Russia. That should, in time, ease supply constraints. Jitendra Aghara of Simpolo Tiles, one of Morbi&#39;s biggest manufacturers, has kept operating by buying propane at more than double the price it was before the war to ensure he fulfills customer orders. &quot;If now we suffer a loss for two to three months, in the future we will get it back,&quot; he said. The tile industry developed in Gujarat due to the availability of clay and good transport connections, but it relies on overseas energy to fire. Aghara said the previous abundance of LPG and natural gas meant that there had been few moves to fully develop and adopt electric or hydrogen-powered kilns. Indian corporate giants like Reliance Industries have big green hydrogen production plans, which could remove Morbi&#39;s import dependencies. But first, development is needed to ensure hybrid kilns can produce tiles of the quality that Morbi is known for. Aghara noted alternative fuels can&#39;t replace gas &quot;100% just yet&quot;.

India depends on imports for 60% of its liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) demand; the overwhelming majority comes through the Strait of Hormuz waterway, which has been effectively blocked.

Indian tile makers hit by energy crunch from US-Israel war on Iran

ISLAMABAD: Criticism of Gujarat&rsquo;s new Uniform Civil Code (UCC) has been mounting since the bill was passed this week, with opposition parties and Muslim representatives arguing that the measure hits the state&rsquo;s Muslim minority hardest while being presented as a neutral reform. India Today and Livemint reported after Tuesday&rsquo;s vote that Congress called the law &ldquo;anti-Muslim,&rdquo; while The Indian Express said the lone Muslim Congress MLA in the Assembly argued it would push Muslims away from Shariat-based personal law.&nbsp; The Gujarat Assembly passed the UCC Bill on March 25 after more than seven hours of debate, making Gujarat the second BJP-ruled state after Uttarakhand to adopt such a code.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2036709824415879430&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Fmedia-library%2F&sessionId=740a9b38c14d0d39a71d741fee71624ba2b7d9b1&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 849px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>The law creates a common framework for marriage, divorce, succession, and adoption across communities, but opposition lawmakers said the government was using the language of equality to override minority personal-law protections.&nbsp;Times of India said the code standardises family-law rules across religions but exempts Scheduled Tribes. That tribal exemption has become one of the sharpest lines of criticism.&nbsp;Opponents say a law marketed as &ldquo;uniform&rdquo; cannot credibly claim equal treatment while carving out one group but overriding the personal laws of others.&nbsp;Critics argue that, in practice, this makes the burden of legal change fall most heavily on Muslims, because Muslim personal law has been at the centre of the BJP&rsquo;s UCC politics.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2036693316675215476&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Fmedia-library%2F&sessionId=740a9b38c14d0d39a71d741fee71624ba2b7d9b1&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 761px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>The Quint, Indian Express, and Times of India all highlighted the contradiction between the bill&rsquo;s universal branding and its selective reach.&nbsp; The broader political context also explains why many Muslims see Gujarat&rsquo;s UCC as targeted rather than neutral. Gujarat&rsquo;s UCC is being challenged not simply as a civil-law reform, but as a majoritarian project dressed up as uniformity; its structure, exemptions and political framing show that minorities, especially Muslims, are the real target.

Gujarat’s Uniform Civil Code has drawn opposition for overriding Muslim personal law while exempting other groups, intensifying accusations that the BJP is using legal reform in ways that disproportionately burden minorities.

Indian Gujarat’s Uniform Civil Code sparks minority rights concerns

ISLAMABAD: A sexual-abuse case in India, involving the 20-year-old son of a BJP councillor in Goa, has triggered public outrage and political scrutiny after police arrested the man and shifted the investigation to the state Crime Branch.&nbsp;&nbsp;According to media reports carried by The Print, Soham Sushant Naik is accused of circulating sexually explicit videos, including those of minor girls, and blackmailing victims.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Economic Times reported that the allegations span roughly three years and may involve 25 to 30 minor girls, though that figure remains part of an ongoing investigation.&nbsp;The political sensitivity arises from Naik&rsquo;s family ties. Several outlets have identified him as the son of a BJP-linked councillor in South Goa.&nbsp; In a post on this issue on X, Congress said, &quot;<span style='color: rgb(15, 20, 25); font-family: TwitterChirp, -apple-system, "system-ui", "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; display: inline !important; float: none;' id="isPasted">Soham Sushant Nayak, son of BJP councillor Sushant Nayak in Goa, gang-raped and sexually assaulted approximately 20-30 minor girls&quot;.&nbsp; <span style='color: rgb(15, 20, 25); font-family: TwitterChirp, -apple-system, "system-ui", "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; display: inline !important; float: none;'>The post added, &quot;He then made videos of them and circulated them.He was doing this work continuously for the last 3 years, but the BJP government was silent&quot;.&nbsp; <span style='color: rgb(15, 20, 25); font-family: TwitterChirp, -apple-system, "system-ui", "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; display: inline !important; float: none;'>It also highlighted that, &quot;The local police, government, and Chief Minister claimed they were unaware of the incident. A case was registered only after people took to the streets in solidarity with the victim&#39;s family&quot;.&nbsp;&nbsp;<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-2" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-2&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2037062525683179619&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2Fnew%2F&sessionId=28c3122c7356918d167c3372c4e331288e97b585&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 702px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" data-tweet-id="2037062525683179619"></iframe></div></div>The arrest came after large protests outside the police station in Curchorem, increasing criticism that the authorities did not respond quickly enough.&nbsp;&nbsp;Public outrage intensified, along with allegations that the accused may have been protected due to his political connections.&nbsp;<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-3" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-3&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2036733674474144157&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2Fnew%2F&sessionId=28c3122c7356918d167c3372c4e331288e97b585&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 883px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" data-tweet-id="2036733674474144157"></iframe></div></div>The case has also revived opposition claims that politically connected abuse cases are mishandled under BJP governments.&nbsp;&nbsp;In the Ankita Bhandari murder case, renewed allegations surfaced in late 2025 naming BJP national general secretary Dushyant Kumar Gautam and former BJP MLA Suresh Rathore in connection with the still-contested, unknown &ldquo;VIP&rdquo; angle.&nbsp;With the Crime Branch now in charge, the focus is on victim statements, the scope of the alleged abuse, and whether investigators uncover evidence that others helped shield the accused or suppress complaints.

Goa police have widened a sexual-abuse probe against a son of a BJP councillor after protests forced action, reviving scrutiny of whether politically connected abuse cases are mishandled under the BJP.

Indian BJP councillor’s son arrested in sexual abuse case involving minors

<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700; color: rgb(65, 65, 65); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;" id="isPasted">ISLAMABAD: Maharashtra&rsquo;s proposed Freedom of Religion Bill has drawn criticism from civil society groups, minority organizations, and church bodies, which say the measure could deepen pressure on Muslims and other minorities by expanding state and police scrutiny over religious conversion and interfaith relationships. According to The Times of India, the bill proposes prison terms of up to seven years and fines for what the state describes as &ldquo;unlawful religious conversions&rdquo;, including those linked to coercion, fraud or marriage.&nbsp; The report said offences under the proposed law would be cognizable and non-bailable. The Economic Times reported that the bill defines unlawful conversion broadly, including conversion through allurement, deceit, force, misrepresentation, threat, undue influence or fraud, and said such conversions would be treated as null and void. &#39;Anti-love jihad&#39; lawA separate report by The Times of India said the bill requires prior notice before conversion, allows objections to be raised, and places the burden of proof on the accused to show that a conversion was voluntary.&nbsp; The report added that relatives and other persons could lodge complaints, triggering police action. The political language surrounding the bill has added to the concern.&nbsp; The New Indian Express reported that the measure explicitly covers conversions through marriage and provides for tougher penalties in certain cases.&nbsp; Further causing alarm, Maharashtra minister Nitesh Rane described it publicly as an &ldquo;anti-love jihad&rdquo; law.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2033063620129730987&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2Fnew%2F&sessionId=c464e5de9888d09f58d326e7e3d235c5a3269724&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 780px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>That claim itself has been disputed at the national level.&nbsp; In a written reply to the Parliament in 2020, India&rsquo;s home ministry said the term &ldquo;love jihad&rdquo; is not defined under existing laws and that no such case had been reported by central agencies. Opposition has also come from outside party politics.&nbsp; A joint press note carried by Indian Currents said civil society groups had called for wider consultation and warned that such legislation could criminalize personal choice and weaken constitutional freedoms. Critics quoted by various Indian media outlets say the concern is that the bill may be used less to prevent coercion and more to reinforce a wider Hindutva-driven climate in which interfaith relationships involving Muslims are increasingly treated with suspicion, complaint, and legal risk.

Maharashtra’s proposed Freedom of Religion Bill has triggered concern among minority and civil society groups, who say it could widen scrutiny of conversions and interfaith ties, especially involving Muslims.

Articles tagged with "BJP"