Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday launched a sharp attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party, alleging that hate has been “normalised” under its leadership, following the death of a 24-year-old student from Tripura who was attacked in Uttarakhand.

Anjel Chakma, a resident of Tripura, succumbed to his injuries on December 26 after being assaulted in Dehradun earlier this month. His death has triggered widespread outrage, particularly in Tripura and among student groups from the Northeast.

Calling the assault on Anjel and his brother Michael Chakma a “horrific hate crime”, Gandhi said such incidents do not happen in isolation but are the result of years of toxic narratives being pushed in society.

In a post on social media platform X, Gandhi said hate is being fed “daily – especially to our youth” and accused the ruling BJP of normalising such behaviour through irresponsible leadership. He added that India is built on unity and respect, not fear, and warned against becoming a society that ignores violence against fellow citizens.

Attack in Dehradun and police action

According to Uttarakhand Police, Anjel Chakma and his brother Michael were living near Nanda Chowki under the Premnagar police station area in Dehradun. The incident occurred on the evening of December 9 when the two had gone to Selaqui for some work.

Police said the brothers got into an argument with a group of local men and another individual from the Northeast, during which racial slurs were allegedly used. When Anjel and Michael objected, the situation escalated into a violent clash.

Michael Chakma was allegedly hit on the head, while Anjel was stabbed in the neck and abdomen with knives and blunt objects. Anjel remained hospitalised in critical condition before succumbing to his injuries days later.

Five people have been arrested so far in connection with the case. Two of them are minors and have been sent to a juvenile reform home. One accused, a Nepal national, is absconding, and police have announced a reward of Rs 25,000 for information leading to his arrest. A police team has also been sent to Nepal to trace him.

Political reactions and protests

Rahul Gandhi expressed solidarity with the Chakma family and people of Tripura and the Northeast, stating that they are an integral part of the Indian identity.

The killing has sparked strong protests in Tripura, with several student organisations demanding strict punishment for those responsible. These groups have also urged the Central Government to take concrete steps to address what they describe as the recurring issue of racial discrimination against youths from the Northeast in different parts of the country.

In Delhi, thousands of students under the banner of the Tipra Indigenous Students’ Federation organised a candlelight march, seeking justice for Anjel Chakma.

Reacting to the incident, BJP Tripura state general secretary Bipin Debbarma described the death as deeply saddening and said the Tripura Chief Minister has spoken to his Uttarakhand counterpart. He added that those involved in the incident would be brought to justice.

At least five houses belonging to a Hindu family were set on fire in Dumritala village of Bangladesh’s Pirojpur district, triggering fresh concerns over the safety of religious minorities in the country. The incident took place on December 28 in the Muslim-majority nation, where authorities suspect the attack may have been targeted.

Local officials said the exact cause of the fire is still under investigation. According to reports, attackers allegedly stuffed cloth into one of the rooms and set it ablaze, after which the flames spread rapidly to neighbouring houses.

Family members told police they were initially trapped inside their homes as the doors had been locked from outside when the fire broke out in the early hours. All eight members of the two affected families managed to escape by cutting through tin sheets and bamboo fencing. However, their houses and belongings were completely reduced to ashes. Several pets also died in the fire.

The village is located around 240 kilometres from the capital Dhaka.

Arrests made, probe underway

Police confirmed that five suspects have been arrested in connection with the incident, while efforts are ongoing to trace others involved. Mohammad Manzur Ahmed Siddiqui, Superintendent of Police of Pirojpur, visited the site and assured the affected families that the matter would be investigated promptly.

A video of the fire incident has circulated widely on social media, showing local residents attempting to douse the flames as they engulfed multiple houses.

The affected Saha family, currently staying in Dhaka, told media over the phone that they remain fearful and are unsure how the fire started. They declined to go on record, stating only that police are examining the cause.

Rising pattern of blasphemy-related violence

The incident comes amid a reported rise in violence linked to blasphemy allegations against Hindu minorities in Bangladesh. A report by the Human Rights Congress for Bangladesh Minorities (HRCBM) documented at least 71 such incidents between June and December this year.

According to the report, cases were recorded across more than 30 districts, including Chandpur, Chattogram, Dinajpur, Lalmonirhat, Sunamganj, Khulna, Comilla, Gazipur, Tangail and Sylhet. The rights group said the similarity and spread of these incidents indicate systemic vulnerability of minorities rather than isolated events.

The report noted that blasphemy allegations in Bangladesh often lead to police action, mob violence and forms of punishment outside legal processes.

Earlier this month, garment worker Dipu Chandra Das was lynched by a mob in Mymensingh district on December 18 over alleged blasphemy, with his body later set on fire. Around 12 people have been arrested in that case so far.

Another Hindu man, Amrit Mondal, also known as Samrat, was killed by a mob in Rajbari town on December 24. The Bangladesh government later said Mondal was facing multiple criminal charges, including murder and extortion, and maintained that the incident was not communal in nature.

Concerns amid political uncertainty

Bangladesh has been witnessing political uncertainty following the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. During this period, there have been reports of growing religious conservatism and sporadic violence against minorities.

Several anti-India statements have emerged from political platforms in the country, including remarks related to India’s northeast, which were triggered by comments made by Muhammad Yunus. Rights groups have warned that radical elements may be using the prevailing sentiment to justify attacks on minorities.

With the country heading towards elections under the interim administration, recent incidents have raised concerns among rights organisations and minority communities about their safety.

More than two years after a high-profile political split, the Ajit Pawar-led and Sharad Pawar-led factions of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) have decided to come together for the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation elections.

Addressing an election rally, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said the two factions had united specifically for the civic polls. Referring to their election symbols, he stated that the ‘clock’ and the ‘tutari’ had come together, signalling a reunion of the Pawar family for the local body elections.

The ‘clock’ symbol is used by Ajit Pawar’s faction, which has been recognised by the Election Commission as the original NCP, while Sharad Pawar’s group contests elections under the ‘tutari’ or curved trumpet symbol.

How the NCP split unfolded

The NCP was founded by Sharad Pawar in 1999 and remained a major force in Maharashtra politics for over two decades. Ajit Pawar, his nephew, emerged as one of the party’s most influential leaders and served multiple terms as Deputy Chief Minister.

The party split in 2023 when Ajit Pawar, along with several senior leaders, broke away to join the BJP-Shiv Sena-led ruling coalition in Maharashtra. At the time, Ajit Pawar questioned Sharad Pawar’s continuation as party chief, citing the need for generational change within leadership.

Following the split, Ajit Pawar was sworn in as Deputy Chief Minister, aligning his faction with the ruling alliance, while Sharad Pawar’s faction chose to remain in the opposition.

Reasons cited for the breakaway

Explaining his decision during an NCP conclave in Nagpur, Ajit Pawar said he had separated from the undivided party to ensure political stability and development in the state, even if it strained personal and family relationships. He maintained that his move was not driven by power or position.

Ajit Pawar also publicly criticised Sharad Pawar’s age at the time, questioning when leadership responsibilities would be passed on. In response, Sharad Pawar asserted that age did not diminish his effectiveness and said he remained active regardless of whether he was in his eighties or nineties.

Two factions, two paths

After the split, the Election Commission recognised Ajit Pawar’s faction as the official NCP, allowing it to retain the ‘clock’ symbol. Sharad Pawar’s faction continued independently as NCP (SP), adopting the ‘tutari’ symbol.

Both groups contested subsequent elections separately. After the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Ajit Pawar acknowledged that distancing himself from family members had been a mistake, setting the stage for the current reconciliation ahead of the Pimpri-Chinchwad civic polls.