India Archive

Last week, the security forces finally completely destroyed the deadly Naxal terror group ‘Permili Dalam’ of the Peoples’ Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) in the Gadchiroli area of Maharashtra. This group, long recognized as the logistical backbone for the Naxalite headquarters in Abujhmarh, met its end after decades of persistence and resistance. For 39 years, paramilitary and state police personnel engaged tirelessly in anti-Naxal operations before they could successfully dismantle this formidable group. The conclusion of this terror outfit represents the culmination of numerous sacrifices made by soldiers and officials dedicated to this cause.

In a distressing series of events on the night of May 17th, unidentified individuals caused severe damage to four Hindu temples in Kholai gram, Dhupguri, located in the Jalpaiguri district of West Bengal. This violent act affected two temples dedicated to Goddess Kali, one to Lord Shiv, and one to Lord Shani, suggesting a coordinated attack.

On the 15th of May, a significant milestone was reached in the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) as the first batch of citizenship certificates was issued. A total of 14 individuals from persecuted non-Muslim migrant communities in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh were granted Indian citizenship.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has made a bold assertion during his latest pitch for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's third term. Sarma emphasized the achievements of the BJP government, stating, "when the BJP got 300 seats, it built the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya" and projected further ambitious plans. He claimed that once the BJP secures 400 seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, significant developments are expected at religious sites and in national territorial claims. Specifically, he mentioned the construction of temples at the Krishna Janmabhoomi site in Mathura and the site of the Gyanvapi Mosque in Varanasi.

In a bold critique of Western media's portrayal of Indian electoral processes, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar highlighted the irony in criticisms coming from nations that have historically resolved election disputes in courtrooms. Addressing an audience in Kolkata during the launch of the Bangla edition of his book 'Why Bharat Matters', Jaishankar pointed out that these countries, which often find themselves entangled in legal battles to determine election outcomes, are the same ones offering unsolicited advice—or “gyan”—on how India should manage its elections.

The Indian national who was killed while travelling in a vehicle to a hospital in the Khan Younis area from the Rafah region has been identified as former army man Anil Vaibhav Kale. The identity of Kale was revealed by Farhan Haq, the deputy spokesperson of the United Nations Secretary-General, in a statement on Monday night.

Four years after a Bangladeshi Hindu girl named Tithy Sarkar was accused of insulting Prophet Muhammad and committing ‘blasphemy’ on social media, a court in Dhaka sentenced her to 5 years in prison. This harsh sentence has raised serious concerns about the state of religious freedom and minority rights in Bangladesh.

In a startling turn of events, Madhavi Latha, the BJP candidate from Hyderabad, experienced a direct threat to her safety. An attack on her convoy near Victoria Hotel in the heart of the city has ignited tensions and raised questions about the political climate in Hyderabad. According to reports, the attackers were identified as supporters of the AIMIM, reflecting a potentially volatile reaction to the ongoing electoral competition.

Kushinagar: In the quiet village of Baghparna, under the jurisdiction of Nebova Naurangia police station in Kushinagar district, a heated discussion about the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections escalated into a tragic event last Friday night. The debate, centered around various political issues, unexpectedly spiraled into a deadly controversy.

On May 8th, Lieutenant Colonel Shrikant Prasad Purohit, who was accused of an alleged role in the 2008 Malegaon blast under the UPA government, disclosed to an NIA court about the severe treatment he received while in custody. Lt Col Purohit claimed that officers from the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) illegally coerced him. He was pressed to implicate leading figures from the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), including the current Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Yogi Adityanath.