INDIA

A 28-year-old Muslim man, Yusuf, was brutally beaten to death by a mob in Palwal, Haryana, on suspicion of cow smuggling. His companion, who was also attacked, remains in critical condition. According to reports, the two were transporting a cow and its calf when a group of self-proclaimed cow vigilantes intercepted them, accusing them of smuggling the animals for slaughter. The mob launched a violent assault, and Yusuf succumbed to his injuries after being rushed to Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi. The incident has sparked outrage, with activists and community leaders condemning the attack and highlighting the growing trend of mob violence under the pretext of cow protection. Haryana’s stringent Cow Protection and Cow Promotion Bill has been criticized for fueling such tensions, w...

The Supreme Court has ruled that domicile-based reservations for postgraduate (PG) medical courses under the State Quota are unconstitutional, declaring that such provisions violate the right to equality enshrined in Article 14 of the Indian Constitution. The verdict was delivered in the case Tanvi Behl v. Shreya Goyal by a Bench comprising Justices Hrishikesh Roy, Sudhanshu Dhulia, and SVN Bhatti. The Court emphasized that admissions to PG medical courses should be based solely on merit. "We are all domiciled in India, and there is no concept of provincial domicile. The right to pursue trade or profession across the country must be upheld. While limited domicile-based reservations may apply to MBBS admissions, extending them to postgraduate courses contravenes Article 14," the judgm...

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) achieved a major milestone with the successful launch of its 100th mission. The GSLV-F15 rocket carrying the NVS-02 satellite lifted off at 6:23 AM from Sriharikota, marking a historic moment for India's space program. This launch is part of ISRO's ongoing efforts to enhance its capabilities in satellite deployment. The GSLV-F15, which is the 17th mission of India's Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) series, also carries the 11th flight of the indigenous Cryogenic stage. This marks the 8th operational mission utilizing this technology. The rocket's payload fairing, measuring 3.4 meters in diameter, is a metallic version designed to protect the satellite during its journey. The NVS-02 satellite will be placed into a Geosy...

The death toll has risen to seven in a stampede at the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, India, while at least 10 others have been injured, officials confirmed on Wednesday. The tragic incident occurred in the early hours of January 29 as tens of millions of devotees gathered for a holy dip at the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati rivers on what is considered the most auspicious day of the six-week Hindu festival. Drone footage captured the massive crowds moving shoulder to shoulder in the predawn darkness, while images from the aftermath showed bodies being carried away on stretchers, distressed devotees sitting on the ground, and personal belongings scattered across the area. A Reuters witness reported seeing several deceased individuals as ambulances rushe...

The Reporters’ Collective, a non-profit organization known for its investigative journalism in India, has announced that tax authorities have revoked its non-profit status, arguing that journalism does not serve a public purpose. The move, the organization says, severely hampers its ability to function and raises concerns over the state of independent journalism in India. The Reporters’ Collective, which has been operating as a registered non-profit trust since July 2021, has carried out investigative reporting in multiple formats and languages, along with journalist training and research. “We began as an informal group bootstrapping from our meagre resources,” the Collective stated in a press release. “Since July 2021, we have existed as a formal registered non-profit trust funde...

A stampede-like situation at the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj early Wednesday has left multiple people feared dead and several injured, according to PTI. The chaos erupted at the Sangam Ghat during the Amrit Snan on Mauni Amavasya, a sacred bathing ritual that drew millions of pilgrims. The incident occurred around 2 AM as a massive crowd gathered along the 12-km-long riverbank. Sirens from ambulances and police vehicles echoed through the site as rescue efforts began. Akanksha Rana, Officer on Special Duty at the Mela, confirmed that a barrier broke, causing injuries, though the exact number remains unclear. Officials cited poor crowd management, with barricading issues forcing devotees to walk longer distances, creating choke points. Mounted police had previously intervened d...

In December 2019, a 40-year-old woman from Srinagar, Kashmir, found herself embarking on what seemed like a new chapter of love, Indian Express reported. She met a 31-year-old man while on a business trip to New Delhi. The two quickly formed a bond, and by January 2020, they were married in a modest ceremony at an Arya Samaj temple in Delhi. The woman, already a mother of two daughters, brought her children into this new relationship, hoping for a fresh start. However, what seemed like a promising new life soon spiraled into a nightmare that would haunt her for years to come. In June 2021, the woman had to make a brief trip to Srinagar. Her husband, citing responsibilities at home, decided to stay behind with her daughters. "Upon her return, she noticed that her older daught...

Sharjeel Imam, a PhD scholar at Jawaharlal Nehru University and a prominent Muslim activist, has completed five years in detention as of January 28, 2025. His arrest in January 2020 stemmed from his participation in protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC), which many viewed as discriminatory towards Muslims. Imam was charged with sedition and booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for his speeches during the protests. Known as a key figure in organizing the Shaheen Bagh sit-in, a historic 100-day protest against the CAA, Imam also faced FIRs in five states for advocating road blockades as a form of civil disobedience. Despite securing bail in several cases, he remains detained under UAPA provisions i...

India experienced a sharp rise in communal riots in 2024, with incidents escalating by 84% compared to 2023, according to a report by the Centre for Study of Society and Secularism. The report, titled Hegemony and Demolitions: The Tale of Communal Riots in India in 2024, reveals that 59 communal riots occurred this year, up from 32 in 2023. Authored by human rights activists Irfan Engineer, Neha Dabhade, and Mithila Raut, the study uses data from Mumbai editions of five newspapers, including The Hindu, The Times of India, The Indian Express, Sahafat, and The Inquilab. The most significant number of riots were reported in Maharashtra, with 12 incidents, followed by Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, each witnessing seven. These riots resulted in the deaths of 13 individuals—10 Muslims and th...

The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) has approved the Waqf Amendment Bill after deliberating on numerous amendments. A total of 66 amendments were proposed, including 23 from the ruling BJP and 44 from opposition members. JPC Chairman Jagdambika Pal, a BJP MP, confirmed that the committee’s final meeting resulted in the approval of 14 amendments. Pal emphasized that the process had involved thorough discussions over the past six months, with all proposed amendments being put to vote. BJP MP and JPC member Aparajita Sarangi added that the deliberations were conducted in a democratic and transparent manner, ensuring that every member was given sufficient time to present their views. Despite some accusations of bias and procedural haste from the Opposition, which criticized the...