India summoned Bangladesh High Commissioner M Riaz Hamidullah to express its concerns about the activities of “extremist elements” ahead of a protest march to the Indian mission in Dhaka. The march, called by a group named the July Oikyo Mancho, demanded that former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina be extradited from India.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs said it “completely rejects the false narrative sought to be created by extremist elements regarding certain recent events in Bangladesh”.

India urged the interim government in Dhaka headed by Muhammad Yunus to ensure the safety of foreign missions and posts in Bangladesh.

On Sunday, Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs had summoned Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma to express its “serious concern” about alleged statements made by Hasina, who resigned as prime minister and fled to India in August 2024 after protests against her government. Read on.

The Union government told Parliament that 335 “Left-wing extremists” had been killed in 2025. Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai said that 2,167 others had surrendered 942 Left-wing extremists had been arrested this year.

Since 2014, it said, 1,841 such persons had been killed, over 16,000 had been arrested and 9,588 had surrendered.

The Union government has vowed to end Maoism by March 31, 2026.

In the course of the Centre’s anti-Maoist offensive this year, key Maoist leader Madvi Hidma was killed, while Vikas Nagpure alias Anant and Mallojula Venugopal Rao, alias Bhupathi had surrendered.

Civil liberties groups and Opposition parties have also questioned some of the killings of alleged Maoists, alleging that they constitute “fake encounters”. Read on.

The Delhi government announced a compensation of Rs 10,000 for construction workers who are out of work due to pollution-related curbs. The payment would be made only to workers registered with the government, said state Labour Minister Kapil Mishra.

The compensation scheme would exclude workers employed in hospitals, departments involved in pollution control, the fire department and other essential services.

Delhi has been under Stage 4 of the Graded Response Action Plan since Saturday, which mandates a complete halt on construction activities for both public and private projects. Read on.

Coastal cities may no longer offer escape from air pollution

Pakistan extended the closure of its airspace to Indian airlines and aircraft by another month, till January 23. The airspace was first closed to Indian airlines on April 24, two days after the April 22 attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam.

India responded on April 30 by closing its airspace to Pakistani airlines and aircraft. Since then, both countries have extended the restrictions periodically.

While Indian and Pakistani airlines are barred from using each other’s airspace, both airspaces remain open to overflights by airlines from other countries. Read on.

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