Exit Naxalism, Enter Progress
Sanjay Kumar Jha
May 26, 2025, 21:14 IST IST
An ex-top cop's view on anti-Naxal ops & what Basavaraj's killing means
Amit Shah's assertion that Naxalism would be eliminated before March 31, 2026, has seen consistent anti-Naxal operations that have breached red corridors.
The all-out offensive over the last few months has smashed Maoist leadership , the latest killing of CPI (Maoist) general secretary Basavaraj a turning point after the fall of Koragutta hills. Centre's message is clear: the fight against Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) was no longer about containment but about reclaiming lost ground and restoring peace to regions once under siege.
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Hindustan Times
39 minutes ago
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‘20 to 30 bullets fired': Utah ISKCON temple targeted in suspected hate crime
The ISKCON Sri Sri Radha Krishna Temple in Spanish Fork, Utah, renowned globally for hosting the annual Holi Festival, has come under attack in a suspected hate crime, with over two dozen bullets fired at the premises over several days, causing significant structural damage. Bullet mark on a part of the ISKCON Sri Sri Radha Krishna Temple in Spanish Fork, Utah.(X/ ISKCON) According to ISKCON, 20 to 30 bullets were fired at the temple building and surrounding property during night time hours while devotees and guests were inside. The incident resulted in thousands of dollars in damage, including to the temple's intricately hand-carved arches. Condemning the attack, the Consulate General of India in San Francisco expressed solidarity with the community and urged swift action. In a post on X, it stated, "We strongly condemn the recent firing incident at the ISKCON Sri Sri Radha Krishna temple in Spanish Fork, Utah. The Consulate extends full support to all the devotees and the community and urges the local authorities to take prompt action to bring the perpetrators to justice." A similar incident had occurred earlier this year when, on March 9, a Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) Hindu temple in Chino Hills, California, was found desecrated just days ahead of a so-called 'Khalistani referendum' in Los Angeles, according to temple authorities. The official page of BAPS for the United States shared the details of the March 9 desecration on the social media platform X and emphasised the community's resilience. "In the face of another Mandir desecration, this time in Chino Hills, CA, the Hindu community stands steadfast against hate... Our common humanity and faith will ensure that peace and compassion prevail," BAPS Public Affairs wrote. The Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA) also pointed to the incident on X, linking it to rising anti-Hindu sentiment and noting that the vandalism came shortly before the planned 'Khalistan referendum' in Los Angeles. "Another Hindu Temple vandalised, this time the iconic BAPS temple in Chino Hills, CA... Not surprisingly, this happens as the day for a so-called 'Khalistan referendum' in LA draws close," CoHNA posted, while listing other recent temple attacks since 2022 and calling for an investigation. Last year, acts of vandalism also targeted the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Sacramento, California, on the night of September 25. That incident followed closely after a similar attack on a BAPS temple in New York. Messages such as "Hindus go back" were found scrawled during those attacks, deeply alarming the local Hindu community. Despite repeated provocations, community leaders continue to affirm their unity and commitment to confronting hate.
Hans India
an hour ago
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MyVoice: Views of our readers 2nd July 2025
Sigachi blast exposes chinks in the armour The tragic incident at Sigachi Industries Ltd in the outskirts of Hyderabad, where 15 lives were lost and over 35 injured, is a heart-wrenching reminder of the glaring gaps in workplace safety (The Hans India July 1). The blast was so powerful that it brought down a three-storey building, leaving a trail of destruction and chaos. Witnesses were horrified seeing workers being tossed 100 meters into the air due to the reactor explosion. Despite having robust labour laws like the Factories Act and Industrial Safety Rules, non-implementation of the procedures, such as regular safety inspections, has led to this devastation. Regular safety audits are crucial in chemical and pharmaceutical companies, and regular inspection of boilers and reactors is mandatory. The reactor blast exposes the failure of the inspector of factories in preventing the tragedy. This incident underscores the urgent need for stricter enforcement of safety protocols and accountability to prevent such avoidable tragedies. Ganti Venkata Sudhir, Secunderabad MIM should stay away from Bihar elections The AIMIM has decided to form a third electoral front in Bihar to stop the Nitish Kumar-led NDA from coming to power. This move will only split the crucial anti-NDA votes of the minorities. The AIMIM is seen as a catalyst for NDA's successes in Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra. It is often dubbed as a covert 'B' team of the BJP. Considering that it is not really a major player in Bihar elections, it would be wise if it stays away from the polls and supports the opposition alliance to establish its own credentials. P R Ravinder, New Mirjalguda, Hyderabad Why so much heat over English? The Hans India editorial 'Mandating Hindi and secularism debate may boomerang on BJP' (June 30) is an apt message to the NDA government at the Centre. It could have desisted passing unwanted and unwarranted dialogues without any provocation from any corner of the country. Union Home Minister Amit Shah's ire at English has triggered a nationwide debate. Is he not aware that the British were driven out from our country, which, however, retained their language which is as good as a mother tongue to many? Teaching in the mother tongue is the first choice, but English must be mandated across educational institutions. Once can choose the third language, which generally is Hindi. The Centre has courted an unnecessary controversy over 'socialist' and 'secular' in the preamble. Dr NSR Murthy, Secunderabad Restrict the entry of pilgrims during festivities This refers to '3 killed, 50 hurt in Puri Rath Yatra stampede' (The Hans India, June 30). Sunday's tragedy near the Shree Gundicha temple in Puri is heartrending. Incidents of fatal stampedes are on the rise in the country. It is a herculean task to curb thousands of devotees and pilgrims from moving towards the deity on such auspicious occasions. Unfortunately, many people, especially pilgrims, are unmindful of their safety. They don't display common sense. Discipline and patience are a part and parcel of every walk of life. The authorities concerned should limit and restrict the footfall of devotees to avoid recurrence of such stampedes and tragedies. Zubair Khan, Tolichowki, Hyderabad Stop construction of houses in industrial areas Monday's major fire accident at Pashamylaram in Patancheru is heart-breaking and a wake-up call to streamline the licensing process for pharma and chemical companies and factories. Sigachi pharma supplies ammonia related chemicals to various pharma firms apart from manufacturing a drug called consistain microstalain. Reportedly, the cause of the fire was the failure to clean the blower on a regular basis. Pantancheru is an industrial area that has many residences and high-rise buildings in the surroundings. It is very dangerous to allow residential buildings in a location where chemicals are being processed. It is time the authorities put a stop to realtors constructing houses in industrial areas like Patancher. Moreover, regular safety audits must be mandated. Pratapa Reddy Yaramala, Tiruvuru (AP)
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