Tensions escalated in southern Nepal after a mosque was vandalised in Dhanusha district, sparking violent protests in Parsa and Dhanusha Dham districts near the Indian border.

Demonstrations turn violent

Protests initially began in Parsa following the circulation of a video with alleged religious content on social media. The demonstrations soon turned violent, prompting authorities to intervene. Police in Birgunj town, a key area in Parsa district adjoining Raxaul in India, resorted to firing tear gas shells to control the crowd.

Border restrictions

Amid the escalating unrest, India has completely sealed its borders with Nepal in the affected region, restricting cross-border movements except for emergency services. A high-security alert has been issued across the districts to prevent further incidents.

Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely as communal tensions remain high in the region.

A 40-year-old Hindu man was killed in Bangladesh late Monday night, marking the second such killing reported within 24 hours and intensifying concerns over the safety of minorities in the country.

The victim, identified as Sarat Mani Chakraborty, owned a grocery store in the Narsingdi district. According to local information, he was attacked with sharp weapons around 10 pm on Monday and later succumbed to his injuries.

Second killing reported within hours

Just hours before Chakraborty’s death, Rana Pratap, a 45-year-old factory owner, was shot dead in the Jashore district. Pratap, who also served as the acting editor of a newspaper, was allegedly called out of his ice factory in Kopalia Bazar by a group of men on Monday evening.

He was taken to a nearby alley, where he was shot in the head. His throat was also slit. Police recovered seven bullet casings from the spot. A police officer said Pratap was shot three times in the head, adding that an investigation is underway to identify those involved.

Local residents said the attackers arrived on a motorcycle, argued briefly with Pratap, fired multiple rounds and fled the scene. Sources claimed that Pratap had several cases filed against him.

Series of attacks on minorities

Monday’s killings come amid a series of violent incidents targeting minorities in Bangladesh, particularly Hindus, who make up about 7 per cent of the population.

On Saturday, a Hindu woman in Jhenaidah district was allegedly raped by two men who also demanded money from her. She was reportedly tied to a tree, her hair cut off, and videos of the assault were circulated on social media. She later lost consciousness and was taken to a hospital by local residents.

Earlier, Khokon Chandra Das, 50, was attacked and set on fire while returning home after closing his shop in a village about 150 km from Dhaka. He managed to jump into a pond, which prevented fatal burns to his head and face, but later died in hospital on January 3.

Other recent incidents include the killing of Bajendra Biswas, 40, who was shot dead at a garment factory in Mymensingh on December 29, and the lynching of Amrit Mondal, 29, in Rajbari on December 24 over alleged extortion.

On December 18, Dipu Chandra Das, 29, was lynched and his body set on fire in Mymensingh over alleged blasphemy, an incident that drew international attention.

India expresses concern

India has voiced strong concern over what it described as continued hostility against minorities in Bangladesh.

External affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said last month that violence against minorities, including Hindus, Christians and Buddhists, remained a matter of grave concern. He added that over 2,900 incidents, including killings, arson and land seizures, have been documented by independent sources during the tenure of the interim government.

According to the ministry, such incidents cannot be dismissed as exaggeration or isolated political violence.

US President Donald Trump has issued a fresh warning to India, saying Washington could raise tariffs on Indian goods if New Delhi continues importing crude oil from Russia, even as he praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and described him as a “very good man”.

Speaking to reporters on board Air Force One on Sunday, Trump said the option of increasing tariffs remains open if India does not cooperate on the issue of Russian oil imports.

“We could raise tariffs on India if they don’t help on the Russian oil issue,” he said.

At the same time, Trump claimed that India has already reduced its purchases of Russian oil, suggesting that the message had been conveyed to New Delhi at the highest level.

“They wanted to make me happy, basically. PM Modi’s a very good man. He’s a good guy. He knew I was not happy. It was important to make me happy. They do trade, and we can raise tariffs on them very quickly,” Trump added.

Trade talks and diplomatic context

Trump’s remarks come at a sensitive moment, as Indian and US officials have launched a fresh round of negotiations aimed at resolving a long-standing trade dispute between the two countries.

The renewed talks follow earlier discussions that were disrupted after the US imposed steep tariffs on certain Indian imports, with duties reaching up to 50 per cent. Despite these tensions, both sides have continued engagement to prevent a broader trade fallout.

The warning also follows a recent phone conversation between Trump and Prime Minister Modi, during which the two leaders underlined the importance of sustaining momentum in bilateral trade relations.

In recent weeks, the US Embassy in India also highlighted Trump’s positive remarks about the Indian leader amid prolonged trade negotiations. In a social media post, Trump described India as “an amazing country” and referred to Modi as a close partner, calling him “a great friend”.

Oil imports under scrutiny

India has consistently defended its purchase of Russian oil, maintaining that energy imports are guided by domestic requirements and national energy security considerations.

However, the issue has gained renewed attention in Washington, especially after recent US military action in Venezuela brought global oil supplies back into geopolitical focus.

Venezuela holds the world’s largest proven oil reserves, estimated at over 300 billion barrels, but production has fallen sharply to around one million barrels per day due to sanctions and underinvestment. The shifting dynamics in global oil markets have added pressure on major energy-importing nations, including India.

As negotiations continue, Trump’s comments highlight the delicate balance between diplomatic engagement and economic pressure shaping India-US trade ties.