In a recent social media post, renowned filmmaker Anurag Kashyap issued an apology for remarks perceived as offensive toward the Brahmin community. His comments triggered a significant backlash, resulting in threats of violence directed at his family, including his daughter, and colleagues.

The controversy erupted after Kashyap questioned the uproar surrounding his upcoming film, “Phule,” a biopic about the influential social reformer Jyotirao Phule. Engaging with critics in the comments section, he made a particularly inflammatory comment suggesting he would “pee on Brahmin,” which quickly ignited outrage and led to a police complaint against him in Mumbai.

“This is my apology, not for my overall post but specifically for that one line taken out of context, and for the hatred it has stirred,” Kashyap wrote. “No action or speech justifies your daughter, family, friends, and colleagues receiving rape and death threats from those who claim to uphold tradition.” He provided a more emotional continuation in Hindi, reflecting on the impact of the situation on his loved ones.

Kashyap has previously spoken out about how his candid opinions, particularly on social media, have exposed his family to threats, a situation he has been vocal about, especially concerning his daughter, Aliyah Kashyap.

The film “Phule,” directed by Ananth Mahadevan, was initially set to release on April 11 but faced delays due to protests from various Brahmin groups. The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has since requested several modifications, including the removal of references to caste.

After these changes, the film is now scheduled for release on April 25. Mahadevan has stated that caste and gender discrimination remain pressing issues that require attention and dialogue.

India on Saturday expressed strong condemnation over the murder of Bhabesh Chandra Roy, a notable leader of the Hindu community in Bangladesh.

Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), stated that Roy’s killing is part of a broader pattern of systematic persecution faced by Hindu minorities in Bangladesh under the interim government.

“We are disturbed by the abduction and brutal murder of Shri Bhabesh Chandra Roy, a leader of the Hindu minority in Bangladesh. This incident is consistent with a troubling trend of systematic oppression of Hindu minorities by the interim government, while those responsible for previous attacks operate with impunity,” Jaiswal wrote on the platform X.

“We condemn this act and once again urge the interim government to fulfil its duty to safeguard the rights of all minorities, including Hindus, without offering excuses or making distinctions,” he added.

According to local media reports, Bhabesh Chandra Roy, a 58-year-old Hindu leader, was allegedly kidnapped from his residence and subsequently beaten to death in the Dinajpur district of northern Bangladesh. His body was recovered on Thursday night, as reported by The Daily Star, citing police and family sources. His wife, Shantana, mentioned that he received a phone call around 4:30 PM, which she suspects was from the abductors confirming his location.

“About half an hour later, four men arrived on two motorcycles and reportedly abducted Bhabesh from their home,” the report indicated, noting that Roy was taken to Narabari village, where he suffered severe abuse.

After being returned home in an unconscious state, his family hurried him to a hospital in Dinajpur, but he was declared dead upon arrival.

Roy held the position of vice president of the Biral unit of the Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad and was a significant figure within the local Hindu community.

On Friday, India dismissed statements from Bangladeshi officials regarding violence in West Bengal, urging Dhaka to prioritise the protection of minority rights rather than engaging in “virtue signalling.”

In a tragic incident in Delhi’s Mustafabad, a four-storey building collapsed in the early hours of Saturday, claiming at least four lives and leaving several people trapped under the debris. The collapse occurred around 3 am, prompting an immediate response from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Delhi Fire Services, and the Delhi Police.

According to senior police officer Sandeep Lamba, fourteen individuals have been rescued from the rubble so far, while an estimated 8 to 10 people are still believed to be trapped. The injured victims have been shifted to GTB Hospital for treatment.

Divisional Fire Officer Rajendra Atwal confirmed that emergency services were alerted about the incident around 2:50 am. “Upon reaching the location, we discovered the entire structure had collapsed with people trapped inside. Our teams, along with NDRF units, are working diligently to rescue them,” he said.

The reason behind the collapse is yet to be determined. Mr. Lamba stated that the authorities will conduct an investigation to establish the cause of the incident.

This building collapse comes shortly after parts of Delhi experienced heavy rainfall, gusty winds, and thunderstorms on Friday night. Weather-related structural failures have been reported recently, including a wall collapse near Madhu Vihar last week, which killed one person and injured two others.

In another weather-related tragedy reported the same day, five members of a family lost their lives in Uttar Pradesh’s Meerut after their house caved in during a storm.