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Bangladesh: Interim Govt Targets Awami League Figures; Shariful Islam Arrested, Top Cops Booked

By
The Commune
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In the ongoing crackdown on Awami League leaders under the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government in Bangladesh, police have taken another party member, Shariful Islam, into custody on charges linked to last year’s July demonstrations.

The City Cyber Division of the Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) Unit of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) arrested the Awami League leader during a raid in the Wari police station area in the capital on 18 August evening, local media reported. According to the police, Shariful has been accused in connection with multiple cases related to last year’s July protests, and legal action against him is underway.

Islam previously served as Secretary of Science and Technology Affairs for Dhaka South City Awami League and was also the Organising Secretary of Wari Thana Awami League, Bangladesh’s leading Bengali daily Jugantor, reported. On the other hand, the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) on Monday issued arrest warrants against former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mohammad Javed Patwary and four other senior police officials in connection with the alleged 2016 murder of seven people in the Patartek area of Gazipur district. The order was passed by a three-member bench of the tribunal, following a petition submitted by the prosecution seeking the warrants. Among the accused are Monirul Islam, former chief of the Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, and former Superintendent of Police (SP) and Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) of Bogura district.

However, the authorities did not disclose the names of the other accused, reportedly to facilitate their arrest. Analysts reckon the developments as a major political vendetta being pursued by the Yunus regime, as several cases were filed against the former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, her party members and the working officials during her tenure on frivolous grounds immediately following her ouster in August 2024. The unceremonious exit of Hasina last August was globally seen as a major setback to the democratic set-up in the country. The interim government has also received massive criticism for providing shelter to radical and extremist Islamic outfits.

-IANS

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PM Modi Unveils Bold Vision For ‘Viksit Bharat’ With Reforms In Energy, Jobs & Exploration Missions

By
The Commune
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pm modi opposition sco summit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 19 August highlighted the government’s landmark initiatives, such as the National Critical Minerals Mission, Mission Sudarshan Chakra, Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana and National Deep Water Exploration, which are driving India as the fastest-growing economy towards ‘Viksit Bharat’.

The Prime Minister’s statement on X social media platform came in response to an article written by Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri, elaborating how the major reforms undertaken by the PM Modi have accelerated India’s growth on the path to achieve the ‘Viksit Bharat’ goal.

The minister said, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s unprecedented 12th Independence Day speech was remarkable for its sweep and scope. The speech which unleashed a Brahmastra – aimed at accelerating India’s path to Visit Bharat reminded us, the world is watching an ancient civilisation transform into a modern power – not by abandoning its roots but by drawing strength from them.”

Puri, in an article titled the ‘Red Fort Charter’, stated that “from energy security to employment, PM Modi laid out a blueprint for wide-ranging reform. The speech was remarkable not merely for its sweep but for its scope — next-generation reforms that are bold, and capable of reshaping the destiny of 1.4 billion people — with a clarity of vision that the nation has never witnessed before.”

He further stated that India’s clear assertion of sovereignty over critical technologies, announcement of National Critical Minerals Mission, focus on nuclear energy, unveiling of Mission Sudarshan Chakra, bold tax and legal reforms, PM Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana and National Deep Water Exploration Mission with other far-reaching reforms and measures will triple India’s domestic hydrocarbons production to 85 million tonnes by 2032.

The Petroleum Minister further pointed out that energy security had long been the Achilles’ heel of India’s growth. For decades, hesitation and “no-go” classifications throttled exploration and deepened import dependence. Under PM Modi, India has reduced “no-go” areas for Exclusive Economic Zones by almost 99 per cent, freeing 10 lakh sq km for exploration and production (E&P).

“Coupled with Open Acreage Licensing Policy (OALP), this has opened a vast canvas to Indian champions and global majors alike — our hydrocarbon basins will no longer lie dormant but be harnessed for national progress,” the minister wrote.

The National Deepwater Exploration Mission, announced from the ramparts of the Red Fort, sets an ambitious frontier agenda in the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea. It aims to unlock 600-1,200 million metric tonnes of oil and gas reserves through the drilling of nearly 40 wildcat wells. For the first time, India will systematically open up its complex offshore frontiers from the Bay of Bengal to the Arabian Sea with a framework that de-risks investment by allowing recovery of up to 80 per cent of costs in the case of dry wells, and 40 per cent upon commercial discovery, he added.

-IANS

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BharatNet Powers Rural Connectivity: 2.14 Lakh Panchayats Ready, 21,748 Mobile Towers Commissioned

By
The Commune
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In a bid to improve digital infrastructure in rural areas, 2,14,325 gram panchayats (GPs) have been made service-ready under the BharatNet project in the country, the Parliament was informed on 19 August 2025. Till June, 21,748 mobile towers have been commissioned in the country under various government-funded mobile projects, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said in a written reply in the Lok Sabha.

The project for saturation of 4G mobile services for providing 4G mobile services in uncovered villages in remote and difficult areas of the country is also under implementation at a total cost of Rs 26,316 crore, he added. For providing high-bandwidth capacity internet/broadband connectivity and mobile services to remote and rural villages and islands in the country that currently lack coverage, a number of steps and projects have been taken up by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT).

Various optical fibre cable projects are in the works, such as commissioning of submarine optical fibre cable between Chennai and Andaman and Nicobar Islands (2,312 km), commissioning of Submarine OFC connectivity between Mainland (Kochi) and Lakshadweep Islands (1,869 km), and creation of 225 Km OFC network in Lakshadweep Islands, which have facilitated faster roll out of fixed line broadband/internet services, mobile services (4G/5G) and other high-speed data services in the islands.

“The infrastructure created under the BharatNet project is a national asset, accessible on a non-discriminatory basis to the Service Providers, and the same can be utilised to provide broadband services, such as Fibre to the Home (FTTH) connections, leased lines, dark fibre, backhaul to mobile towers, etc,” the minister informed. For the provision of high-speed internet/data and mobile services in uncovered remote and rural areas of the country, various targeted schemes/projects have been implemented. These are Comprehensive Telecom Development Plan (CTDP) for mobile connectivity in the North Eastern Region, Comprehensive Telecom Development Plan for Islands (Andaman and Nicobar and Lakshadweep Islands), the scheme for providing mobile services in Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected areas, schemes for providing mobile services in Aspirational Districts, the scheme for providing mobile services in the border villages and other priority areas, 4G Saturation scheme to provide mobile coverage in all uncovered villages, etc.

-IANS

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Punjab Police Busts Pro-Khalistani Militant Group BKI Orchestrated From Abroad; Grenades, Weapons Seized

By
The Commune
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Punjab Police’s Counter Intelligence of Jalandhar recovered one hand grenade following the arrest of two operatives of the pro-Khalistan militant organisation Babbar Khalsa International from Rajasthan a few days back, Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav said on 19 August 2025.

One of the two operatives was identified as Ritik Naroliya, and the other was a juvenile The accused’s disclosures led to the arrest of their aides, Vishavjit from Kolkata, while he was trying to abscond to Malaysia and Jackson from the state’s Nakodar town, which led to the recovery of the hand 86P grenade.

All accused were acting on the directions of Canada-based BKI masterminds Zeeshan Akhtar and Ajay Gill, said the DGP. Accused Vishavjit and Jackson retrieved two hand grenades from Beas through their associates in the last week of July, from which one grenade was exploded in a liquor shop in SBS Nagar 10 days back by other members of this module. A first information report (FIR) has been registered in Amritsar.

On the eve of Independence Day, Counter Intelligence of Ferozepur foiled a major terror plot being orchestrated by Pakistan’s ISI-backed terrorist Harwinder Rinda with the arrest of two operatives of BKI. Those arrested have been identified as Harpreet Singh, alias Preet, a resident of Tarn Taran, and Gulshan Singh, a resident of Amritsar. Police teams had also recovered two 86P hand grenades and one 9MM pistol along with five live cartridges from their possession. The development came two days after Punjab Police busted a BKI terror module with the arrest of five operatives, including three juveniles, from Tonk and Jaipur districts of Rajasthan and recovered one 86P hand-grenade and one .30 bore pistol from their possession.

DGP Yadav had said preliminary investigations have revealed that the arrested accused persons were working under the directions of their foreign-based handlers sitting in Britain, the US and Europe. Probe has also revealed that the arrested accused were actively conspiring to target government buildings and police establishments using grenades to disturb the peace and harmony of the border state.

-IANS

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Erode: Elder Brother Noor Kills Younger Stepbrother Faizan Over Obsession With Wife, Enlists Brother-in-Law Subhan’s Help, Dump Body In Canal

By
The Commune
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erode noor faizan

Police in Erode district have arrested two men after the body of a 22-year-old was found stuffed in a sack and dumped in an irrigation canal near Chithode in Attayampalayam. The incident has created tension in the area.

Police said the deceased, identified as Mohammed Faizan from Uttar Pradesh, had been working in a local cotton mill along with his stepbrother Mohammed Noor, 25, and Noor’s brother-in-law, Subhan, 18. Investigators revealed that Noor and Subhan allegedly killed Faizan after he repeatedly harassed Noor’s wife and attempted to initiate an inappropriate relationship with her despite warnings.

The case came to light when residents noticed a foul smell from a sack floating in the canal and alerted authorities. Police who recovered the decomposed body confirmed foul play as the remains had been bound with multiple sacks and clothes.

During inquiry, police initially suspected the victim was a migrant worker after identifying his features. Enquiries at nearby factories led officers to Noor, who had falsely told his employer that his brother had returned to their native village in Uttar Pradesh. CCTV footage later showed Noor, Faizan and Subhan walking near the canal on the night of the murder.

Investigators said Noor confessed that his brother’s persistent harassment of his wife led him and Subhan to lure Faizan to the canal, where they bludgeoned him with stones before dumping the body. Items from the cotton mill were used to conceal the remains.

Both Noor and Subhan have been remanded in judicial custody and lodged at Coimbatore Central Prison. Police said Subhan had previously posted a video on Instagram portraying himself as a criminal who had secured bail in another case, and they are probing his background further.

 

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Authorities confirmed that a murder case has been registered and that investigations are continuing.

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Dravidian Model Governance: Greater Chennai Corporation Fakes Civic Fix With AI Image, Leaves Resident’s Complaint Unresolved

By
The Commune
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gcc ai image complaint

The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) is facing sharp criticism after it allegedly manipulated images using artificial intelligence to falsely claim that civic issues raised by residents had been resolved, instead of actually addressing them.

The controversy erupted when a resident from Pallikaranai posted a complaint on X, highlighting exposed electric cables along Sunnambu Kolathur Road, which posed a serious safety risk to school children. In response, GCC officials closed the complaint on their portal by uploading an altered photograph of the location. The image, edited with a basic AI eraser tool commonly found on smartphones and computers, appeared to show the issue as resolved.

However, the manipulated photo retained the original electric wires the very subject of the complaint while unrelated elements such as vehicles were digitally removed. The poorly edited image also included visible shadows and smudges, common indicators of AI tampering.

P. Kannadasan, the complainant, expressed his disappointment, stating that the corporation was closing grievances without taking any real action. In the past, GCC’s portal allowed residents to escalate unresolved complaints to the regional deputy commissioner, but that option was missing in this instance.

Manoharan, the Assistant Executive Engineer (AEE) for the Perungudi zone, claimed he was unaware of the complaint. He explained that the road falls under the Highways Department and said he had referred the issue accordingly. “I didn’t use any AI tools. The corporation will handle the cable removal on its own,” he added.

Perungudi Zonal Chairman S. V. Ravichandran responded by emphasizing that the government is committed to resolving public grievances. “Any isolated incidents like this will be investigated, and officials responsible will face consequences,” he assured.

Despite these statements, civic activists pointed out that this is not an isolated case. According to Jayaram Venkatesan, convenor of Arappor Iyakkam, GCC handles around 100 complaints daily across multiple platforms, and there have been recurring instances of complaints being closed without resolution. “The corporation must not make it seem like filing complaints is a waste of time,” he warned.

(With inputs from Times of  India)

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Sultanpur, UP: Five Held For Attempting To Convert Villagers To Christianity

By
The Commune
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Proselytisation haryana madhya pradesh children attempting to convert christianity sultanpur forced conversion missionary

Sultanpur police on Monday arrested five people, including four women, on allegations of attempting to convert villagers to Christianity in Nurpur village of Dhammaur area.

Police identified the arrested persons as Ram Keval Bharti, Kunta Devi, Nirmala Bharti, Janki Kori, and Shyam Kali Kori. Officials said they were found conducting a prayer meeting where a black LED screen and a pen drive containing Christian sermons were being used. They were also accused of distributing Bibles and other religious material.

According to reports, members of a Hindu organisation allegedly linked to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) intervened in the meeting, leading to an argument. The group later informed police, after which Manoj Kumar Singh, a local RSS functionary from Dhammaur, lodged a complaint.

Based on the complaint, police registered a case under the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Religious Conversion of Religion Act along with other relevant sections, said Dhammaur station officer Anju Mishra.

The incident comes amid a series of recent cases filed under the anti-conversion law in Uttar Pradesh, where police have been instructed to act strictly on complaints of forced or fraudulent religious conversions.

(With inputs from Times of India)

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Dravidian Model: After Kidney Racket, Fresh Allegations Of Liver Sale Surface In Namakkal

By
The Commune
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kidney liver namakkal

The dust around the Namakkal kidney trafficking scandal is yet to settle and allegations of liver trafficking have begun to be heard in the same district of Tamil Nadu.

In another disturbing case linked to alleged illegal organ transplantation, the Directorate of Medical and Rural Health Services (DMS) has directed health authorities in Namakkal district to investigate an alleged incident involving the sale of a liver by a 37-year-old woman from Pallipalayam. The woman reportedly underwent the procedure at a private hospital in Chennai, allegedly to clear her mounting debts.

According to officials, the case came to light through media coverage. While no formal complaint has been received so far, the DMS has taken the reports seriously and initiated a preliminary inquiry.

Media reports suggest that the woman was taken to Chennai by middlemen who initially promised her ₹8 lakh in exchange for donating a kidney. However, after being deemed unfit for kidney donation, she was reportedly persuaded to donate a portion of her liver instead, for ₹4.5 lakh.

The woman further alleged that her gall bladder was also removed during the procedure without her knowledge or consent. She had agreed to sell her organ in a desperate attempt to repay a high-interest loan. Having separated from her husband, she was the sole caregiver for her children at the time of the incident.

Speaking to the media on 18 August 2025, Health Minister Ma Subramanian confirmed his awareness of the case. He stated that two agents had already been booked in connection with a separate kidney trafficking case. The minister also emphasized that any additional hospitals found to be involved in organ trading would face strict action.

This case follows the recent exposure of an organ trafficking network in Namakkal district, which specifically targeted handloom workers, coaxing them into selling their kidneys. In response, the health department established a committee led by S. Vineeth, Project Director of the Tamil Nadu Health System Reform Programme, to investigate the matter.

Based on the findings of this committee, kidney transplant licenses of two hospitals, Cethar Hospital in Tiruchy and Dhanalakshmi Srinivasan Hospital in Perambalur, have been suspended due to their alleged involvement. Authorities have confirmed that further investigations are underway to uncover the full extent of the racket in the district.

(With inputs from The New Indian Express)

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Sun Pictures Claim 400+ Crores Collected But Screens Showing Coolie Are Empty On 4th Day Itself

By
The Commune
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As anticipated, Rajinikanth’s latest dud offering Coolie saw a noticeable drop in box office performance by its fifth day, 18 August 2025 (Monday). According to Sacnilk reports, the film has grossed ₹385 crore worldwide, slightly less than the ₹400+ crore figure claimed by producer Sun Pictures. Signs of a downturn were already evident by Sunday, and the trend continued into Monday, with poor theater occupancy and lukewarm ticket sales on platforms like BookMyShow.

On Monday, Coolie, which also features major stars like Nagarjuna, Aamir Khan, Upendra, and Shruti Haasan, managed to sell only 62,000 tickets on BookMyShow between 6 AM and 3 PM. This translates to roughly 16,000 tickets per hour, or about 118 tickets per minute a notable slowdown for a superstar-led film.

Day 5 Occupancy: Heavy Drop

On its fifth day, the film recorded an overall morning occupancy of just 23.5% for the Tamil version, nearly halving from Sunday’s 45.4%. The drop was even more significant for the Hindi version, titled Coolie: The Powerhouse, which reported only 6.3% occupancy a staggering 64% drop from the previous day.

Morning Show Occupancy (Tamil Version):

  • Day 1 (Thursday): 81.95%
  • Day 2 (Friday): 63.8%
  • Day 3 (Saturday): 46.5%
  • Day 4 (Sunday): 45.47%
  • Day 5 (Monday): 23.5%

Morning Show Occupancy (Hindi Version):

  • Day 1 (Thursday): 25.3%
  • Day 2 (Friday): 30.2%
  • Day 3 (Saturday): 17.2%
  • Day 4 (Sunday): 17.7%
  • Day 5 (Monday): 6.3%

In terms of ticket sales, Coolie sold only 62,000 tickets on its first Monday just about 30% of what Amaran achieved on the same day. For comparison, Leo sold 480,000 tickets and Jailer topped the charts with 638,000 tickets on their respective first Mondays.

Box Office Trend: Steep Drop Over the Weekend

Coolie‘s box office momentum began to falter by Sunday, with estimated collections between ₹35-36 crore on Day 4, a significant drop from the ₹65 crore it raked in on opening day. A 65% fall in collections over just four days is rare for a film headlined by a major star like Rajinikanth, especially with minimal competition, War 2, being the only notable release and receiving mixed reviews.

On Sunday, the Tamil version of Coolie saw 64% occupancy, while the Hindi version managed only 42.6%.

Is ‘Coolie’ Headed Towards a Hit Status?

Made on a reported budget of ₹350 crore, Coolie has already recovered around 55% of its cost within three days. However, to be considered a true hit, it would need to reach ₹700 crore in net domestic collections an increasingly unlikely goal given its current pace and declining public interest.

Hindi Version: Underwhelming Numbers So Far

The Hindi version of Coolie has had a slow run at the box office so far. Its four-day net total stands at ₹19.70 crore, translating to around ₹23.24 crore gross. The film is struggling in the Hindi belt, with competition from War 2 eating into its screen count.

Coolie Hindi Version Daily Box Office (Net):

  • Day 1: ₹4.5 crore
  • Day 2: ₹6.3 crore
  • Day 3: ₹4.25 crore
  • Day 4: ₹4.65 crore
  • Total (Net): ₹19.70 crore
  • Total (Gross): ₹23.24 crore

Despite its stellar cast and hype, Coolie is facing challenges at the box office, with mixed word-of-mouth and a sharp drop in audience turnout raising concerns about its long-term performance.

(With inputs from Koimoi)

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Rahul Gandhi’s Propaganda Of EVM Rigging Falls Flat As Lokniti-CSDS Co-Director Accepts Putting Wrong Data About Decrease Of Voters In Maharashtra Elections

By
The Commune
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Rahul Gandhi's Propaganda Of EVM Rigging Falls Flat As Lokniti-CSDS Co-Director Accepts Putting Wrong Data About Decrease Of Voters In Maharashtra Elections

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has been making dramatic accusations after accusations of voter fraud and “vote theft/vote chori” against the Election Commission of India (ECI). All those claims fell apart within a few hours as multiple claims he presented were challenged by verified information and on-ground investigations.

In such a situation, Lokniti-CSDS Co-director Sanjay Kumar has apologised after posting erroneous data regarding the Maharashtra Lok Sabha and Assembly elections on social media, two days after his tweets sparked controversy.

On 17 August 2025, Sanjay Kumar posted explosive figures suggesting a 38% drop in voters in Maharashtra’s Ramtek and Devlali constituencies between the 2024 Lok Sabha and Assembly elections.

  • Ramtek (AC 59): Alleged decrease of 1,79,272 voters (-38.45%)
  • Devlali (AC 126): Alleged decrease of 1,67,931 voters (-36.82%)

The tweets drew attention as opposition parties, particularly the I.N.D.I. Alliance, have been alleging large-scale voter discrepancies in Maharashtra. Social media users accused Kumar of furthering these claims with unverified numbers.

Following fact-checks that disproved the figures, Kumar deleted the posts and issued an apology on 19 August 2025. In a statement on his X handle, he wrote: “I sincerely apologize for the tweets posted regarding Maharashtra elections. Error occurred while comparing data of 2024 LS and 2024 AS. The data in row was misread by our Data team. The tweet has since been removed. I had no intention of dispersing any form of misinformation.”

Critics online alleged that the episode was part of a larger attempt to undermine the Election Commission by circulating unverified data. Some pointed to Kumar’s past election analyses, accusing him of bias against the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Kumar has been associated with Lokniti-CSDS for several years and is considered close to psephologist Yogendra Yadav.

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