South Asia

Uttar Pradesh has ordered a complete scrutiny of voter additions, deletions and corrections after SIR, following confirmed irregularities in Pilibhit, close election margins, opposition complaints and disputed entries raise questions about whether an internal review can restore public confidence before 2027 polls; while investigative organisations like Reporters Collective and even opposition political parties had been flagging issues for over eight weeks, it took sustained public exposure for the poll body to act

An analysis of the figures supplied alleges that SIR exclusions, combined with an estimated shortfall in the opening (base count) of the country’s electorate coupled with what seems like a deliberate failure to account adequately for new (first-time) voters, take the figure of nationwide exclusions to approximately 16 crore electors

Three Christian families in Paschim Medinipur allege three days of violence, threats and religious coercion by people identified as Bajrang Dal members; 13 people have been named in an FIR, but no arrests have been reported

120 tribal students also detained at Shivaji Park amid demands for accountability over alleged deaths in residential schools

After 14 days of agitation, the university has promised polls 15 days after the approval of a union constitution, but offers no deadline for that approval and demands a public apology from protesters

RTI records reveal why Cabinet Secretariat declined action on two Election Commissioners’ complaints against a senior officer amid objections over centralised voter database control, changes in oversight and an electoral roll officer’s departure during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision exercise

Justice Subramonium Prasad upholds preventive proceedings over Bora’s October 16 protest, but directs the Special Executive Magistrate to follow due process and independently decide whether an interim bond is necessary