The Bengaluru stampede has once again exposed how crowd frenzy can rapidly descend into a human tragedy in this country. What makes this particular tragedy even worse is how and why did the celebrations continue even as reports of death were streaming in. The local administration and the event organisations have much to answer. Were they really prepared to handle this crowd surge? And if they were not, what mattered more, a public spectacle with netas associating themselves with cricketers or crowd safety?
There is a Congress government in Karnataka, so the BJP is calling for political resignations and accountability. A few months ago, during the Kumbh Mela, it was a BJP government in Uttar Pradesh that was in the dock. This is not a time for the usual whataboutery, but to ensure that those responsible for gross negligence are taken to task...
During the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Donald Trump held a meeting and joint press conference with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani on the sidelines of the summit. The interaction between the president and the mayor, whom Trump had previously referred to as a communist lunatic, prompted widespread reactions and discussions across social media platform X as users reacted to their unexpected rapport.
Islamabad is preparing for major street protests amid ongoing legal and human rights concerns surrounding the detention of former Prime Minister Imran Khan. International bodies, including the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention and Amnesty International, have raised issues regarding fair trial standards and prison conditions. Ahead of planned demonstrations, nearly 1,000 commercial shipping containers have reportedly been seized by authorities, drawing allegations from transporters and drivers regarding confiscated vehicles, cargo safety, and missing documents. The situation reflects escalating tensions within Pakistan's political landscape, marked by systematic crackdowns on political leaders, past security actions at D-Chowk, and heightened friction between political factions and the military establishment.
Tensions escalated at IIT Bombay following the death by suicide of 20-year-old student Sahil Wakode, leading to campus protests and counter-protests. Sahil's parents, accompanied by their legal counsel, demanded the immediate arrest of invigilator Professor Surya Narayan Dula, alleging caste-based discrimination and harassment. Mumbai Police registered an FIR under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act. Meanwhile, IIT Bombay faculty members, backed by faculty forums from IIT Delhi and IIT Madras, defended Professor Dula, stating that established protocol was followed after detecting exam malpractices, with faculty forum head Professor Rajkumar Pant stating the invigilator was executing his academic duties. A panel debate featuring Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi president Prakash Ambedkar and IIT Kharagpur alumnus Rajat Sethi examined caste discrimination, academic stress, and institutional support systems. Additionally, the bulletin covers a police encounter in Jamui, Bihar involving molestation accused, alongside legal arguments by Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Harish Salve regarding Tata Sons board powers, shareholder rights, and affirmative trust voting.
