India has expressed strong concern over a series of violent incidents targeting members of minority communities in Bangladesh, following the lynching of two Hindu men in separate incidents. The Ministry of External Affairs said such attacks are “worrisome” and cannot be ignored, stressing that those responsible must be held accountable.

Speaking on Friday, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said New Delhi has taken serious note of the developments across the border and is closely monitoring the law and order situation. He underlined that continued violence against minorities, including Hindus, Christians and Buddhists, remains a matter of grave concern for India.

“The unremitting hostility against minorities in Bangladesh at the hands of extremists is deeply troubling,” Jaiswal said, while condemning the recent killing of a Hindu youth in Mymensingh. He added that incidents of violence cannot be dismissed as exaggeration and expressed hope that perpetrators would be identified and punished.

According to the ministry, over 2,900 incidents of violence against minorities — including killings, arson and land-related crimes — have been documented by independent sources during the tenure of Bangladesh’s interim government. These developments, India said, cannot be brushed aside.

Rajbari killing under investigation

The latest incident took place on Wednesday in Pangsha upazila of Rajbari district, around 145 km west of Dhaka. As per police accounts quoted by media, the victim, identified as Amrit Mondal, was beaten to death by local residents following allegations of extortion.

Police said Mondal was suspected of leading a criminal gang and had allegedly attempted to extort money from a local resident along with his associates. Locals confronted the group and assaulted Mondal, leaving him critically injured. He was later taken to a hospital, where doctors declared him dead in the early hours of the morning.

Mondal’s body was sent to Rajbari Sadar Hospital for post-mortem examination. While most of his alleged associates fled, police said one person was arrested and firearms were recovered. Investigators also noted that Mondal had multiple criminal cases registered against him, including a murder case.

Lynching in Mymensingh sparks outrage

The Rajbari incident came days after another Hindu man was lynched in Mymensingh, triggering widespread outrage. The victim, identified as Dipu Das, also referred to as Dipu Chandra Das, was a factory worker in the city, located about 112 km north of Dhaka.

According to police and local reports, Das was attacked by a mob over allegations of blasphemy. He was first beaten outside a factory and later hanged from a tree. After the killing, his body was left along the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway and set on fire, leading to traffic disruption. Videos of the incident circulated widely on social media, fuelling anger and concern.

Interim government responds

Bangladesh’s interim government, led by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, condemned the killing and said it does not support illegal activities, mob violence or mass beatings. At the same time, it maintained that the Rajbari incident was not communal in nature, describing it as a violent episode linked to alleged extortion and criminal activities. The administration said legal action would be taken against all those directly or indirectly involved.

India, however, reiterated that violence against minorities is a serious issue and called for effective action to ensure justice and safety for vulnerable communities.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday paid tribute to the Sahibzades on the occasion of Veer Bal Diwas, remembering their sacrifice and courage. He said the day stands as a reminder of courage, conviction and righteousness, values that continue to inspire generations.

In a message shared on social media, the Prime Minister said Veer Bal Diwas is dedicated to remembering the sacrifice of the brave Sahibzades. He recalled the unwavering faith of Mata Gujri Ji and the immortal teachings of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji, describing them as ideals that motivate people even today.

According to the Prime Minister’s Office, the Prime Minister will participate in the national programme marking Veer Bal Diwas at Bharat Mandapam in the national capital. He is also scheduled to address the gathering during the event.

Nationwide programmes to mark Veer Bal Diwas

To commemorate Veer Bal Diwas, the Government of India is organising participative programmes across the country. The objective is to inform and educate citizens about the extraordinary courage and supreme sacrifice of the Sahibzades, and to honour the valour of the young heroes of India’s history.

These activities include storytelling sessions, recitations, poster-making and essay-writing competitions. The programmes will be conducted in schools, Child Care Institutions, Anganwadi centres and other educational platforms, along with online activities through the MyGov and MyBharat portals.

Veer Bal Diwas is observed on December 26 to commemorate the martyrdom of Sahibzadas Baba Zorawar Singh Ji and Baba Fateh Singh Ji, the sons of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji. The Prime Minister had announced the observance on the occasion of the Prakash Purab of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji in January 2022.

Awardees of the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar will also be present at the programme.

Delhi witnessed a marginal improvement in air quality on Friday, with the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) slipping into the ‘poor’ category. Official data showed the city’s average AQI at 292, offering limited relief after pollution levels had touched the ‘severe’ mark earlier this week.

The improvement comes days after Delhi recorded an AQI of 412 on December 23, placing air quality firmly in the ‘severe’ category. Over the last two days, pollution levels have shown a gradual decline across multiple monitoring stations in the national capital.

Some stations record moderate air quality

According to data from the Central Pollution Control Board’s Sameer mobile application, three locations reported ‘moderate’ air quality as of early morning. Lodhi Road-IITM recorded an AQI of 160, Lodhi Road-IMD stood at 194, while Najafgarh reported 188.

Several other parts of the city remained in the ‘poor’ category. Areas including Aya Nagar, CRRI Mathura Road, Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range, Dwarka Sector 8, IGI Airport Terminal 3, IIT Delhi, Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium and Mandir Marg recorded AQI values ranging between the low 200s and high 200s.

Very poor air persists in pollution hotspots

Despite the overall improvement, many parts of Delhi continued to struggle with ‘very poor’ air quality. Anand Vihar, Bawana, Jahangirpuri, Narela, Nehru Nagar, Sonia Vihar and Vivek Vihar reported some of the highest AQI readings, with values crossing 350 at several locations.

In view of the easing pollution levels, the Commission for Air Quality Management lifted Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) Stage-IV restrictions across the Delhi-National Capital Region on December 24. Officials indicated that further relaxations could be considered if the downward trend in pollution continues.

Mixed air quality across NCR

Air quality in neighbouring NCR regions showed mixed trends. In Haryana, Bahadurgarh recorded a ‘very poor’ AQI of 301, while Gurugram’s overall AQI stood at 270, falling in the ‘poor’ category. One monitoring station in Gurugram’s Sector 51 reported ‘very poor’ air quality with an AQI of 375. Dharuhera also remained in the ‘poor’ range.

In Uttar Pradesh, pollution levels stayed elevated. Ghaziabad recorded an overall AQI of 344, with all monitoring stations reporting ‘very poor’ air quality. Greater Noida’s AQI stood at 362, while Knowledge Park-V and Knowledge Park-III recorded AQI levels of 386 and 337 respectively. Noida also remained in the ‘very poor’ category with an AQI of 334.

Authorities have restricted the entry of non-BS 6 vehicles into Delhi, a move that has blocked around 1.2 million older vehicles registered outside the city. Vehicular emissions remain a key contributor to winter pollution, with experts estimating that vehicles account for up to 40 per cent of particulate matter pollution in the NCR.