Caught between the Sangh Parivar which has communalised an essentially secular concern for a uniform civil code and the orthodox Muslim leadership resistent to any change, the women's movement and other secular-democratic forces seem to have been gripped by - an intellectual paralysis. Unless these organisations de-communalise the demand and shift the focus of the debate to gender justice - not just Muslim, but all personal laws in India are loaded against women - the uniform civil code issue may prove to be a lethal weapon
Tensions in Kotwa Village, Varanasi district, escalated after a viral video showed Muslim minors involved in stone-pelting street lights, while Hindu families of village expressed concerns following past incidents; ongoing Ramzan and upcoming Holi festivities redouble concerns as nine minors have been arrested
Five out of 11 accused arrested, associated with a cow protection group (Gau Raksha Dal, Haryana) hailing from Gurugram on suspicion of cow smuggling, attacked the truck driver and conductor using lathis, swords, and hammers, resulting in multiple fractures and stab injuries. A week-long search operation led to the discovery of conductor Sandeep's body, a resident of Ganganagar in Rajasthan, approximately 15 kilometres from where it was dumped by the accused