Violence Escalates in Bangladesh and India: Key Incidents Reported
Shooting of Student Leader in Bangladesh
Muhammad Motaleb Shikder, a prominent figure in Bangladesh's National Citizen Party, was hospitalized following a shooting incident in Khulna district. He serves as a central leader in the party's labor wing, known as Jatiya Sramik Shakti.
This violent act occurred amidst a surge of unrest in the nation, ignited by the recent death of student leader Sharif Osman Bin Hadi in Dhaka. Hadi succumbed to his injuries in Singapore on December 18, just six days after being shot.
The assassination of Hadi, a key figure in the student-led opposition against the Sheikh Hasina administration in 2024, has led to widespread protests, vandalism, and clashes across various regions in Bangladesh.
In a statement, Hasina attributed the violence to the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus, cautioning that the worsening law and order situation could negatively impact relations with India.
Lynching of Migrant Worker in Kerala
The Kerala government has claimed that a migrant worker from Chhattisgarh, Ramnarayan Baghel, who was lynched in Palakkad on December 17, fell victim to the hate politics of the Sangh Parivar. Local Self Government Minister MB Rajesh stated that Baghel was targeted after being labeled as Bangladeshi.
Baghel, originally from Champa district in Chhattisgarh, was attacked in Attappallam village after being accused of theft. A video of the incident shows the attackers questioning him: “Are you a Bangladeshi?”
Rajesh, a member of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), alleged that some of the assailants were affiliated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and had prior criminal charges against them.
On Thursday, Kerala Police apprehended five individuals in connection with the murder and charged them with homicide.
Life Sentences for Gangrape Convicts in Uttar Pradesh
A court in Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh, has sentenced five men to life imprisonment for their involvement in a gangrape case from 2016. The accused had held a family hostage at gunpoint, robbing them of cash and jewelry, and raped two individuals, including a 13-year-old girl.
The convicted individuals—Juber alias Sunil, Sajid, Dharamvir alias Jitender, Naresh alias Sandip Baheliya, and Sunil Kumar alias Sagar—were found guilty on Saturday.
This case of gangrape and robbery had previously incited significant public outrage.
The Allahabad High Court had transferred the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation, which filed a chargesheet in November 2016 against three suspects and a supplementary chargesheet in April 2018 against six others. One of the accused died while in judicial custody during the trial.
Supreme Court's Intervention on Forest Land Grabbing in Uttarakhand
The Supreme Court has questioned the Uttarakhand government regarding its inaction amid widespread allegations of forest land encroachment, initiating a suo moto case. The court has instructed state authorities to form a fact-finding committee.
This committee will assess the situation and report back to the court, providing insights into the extent of the alleged land grabbing and the response from state officials.
Additionally, the court has mandated an immediate halt to all construction activities on forest land and directed the Forest Department to reclaim all unoccupied land, except for areas with existing residential structures.