The Observer Post

Two Muslim cattle traders, Abid Qureshi and Hasan Qureshi, were allegedly dragged out of their pickup truck and beaten with sticks and bats by a mob in Damoh, Madhya Pradesh. According to the victims, the attackers accused them of being cattle thieves and cow killers, tied them with ropes and forced them to make statements on camera while being assaulted. The victims have accused Bajrang Dal workers of orchestrating the attack. Both men were reportedly critically injured and taken to hospital, where they were allegedly made to lie on the floor.

Veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah has criticised the union government over the ongoing protests at Jamia Millia Islamia, describing himself as a “dimagi naxal” in a video shared on Facebook. He accused the government of undermining educational institutions, weakening democracy and trying to break the spirit of young people. Referring to protests at Jawaharlal Nehru University, the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute and Jamia, Shah said the treatment of students would not be forgotten. He also criticised the BJP IT Cell and rejected labels such as “anti-national” and “tukde-tukde gang” used against government critics. The remarks come amid student protests demanding the restoration of Jamia’s students’ union.

Students at Jamia Millia Islamia have been protesting for 16 days, demanding the restoration of the university’s students’ union, which was dissolved in 2006. Police deployment, sealed gates and restrictions on entry and exit have marked the agitation, while authorities have invoked prohibitory measures under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). The university administration has reportedly agreed to hold elections within 15 days of approval of the union’s constitution. However, protesting students say there is no fixed timeline for approving the constitution and are demanding a definite election schedule, along with the resignations of the university’s proctor and security adviser.

BJP leader Nazia Elahi Khan has said she plans to formally adopt Sanatan Dharma in 2027, adding that the ceremony will take place with the prescribed rituals. The statement comes after a video of her performing tarpan and pinddaan rituals for her ancestors at Ramghat in Ujjain on October 10 surfaced online. Khan also visited the Bhojshala complex in Indore, where she reportedly recited the Hanuman Chalisa and participated in an aarti. She praised Hindu activist Gopal Sharma and spoke in support of reclaiming Hindu temples through legal means. It remains unclear whether she has completed any formal religious conversion process.

A Muslim youth was allegedly assaulted in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, after being stopped by a group that noticed his beard and cap. According to reports, the youth was beaten and forced to chant “Jai Shri Ram” slogans. Rinku Yadav alleged that he was also assaulted when he tried to intervene and stop the group.

A Muslim delivery worker named Khalid reportedly faced a verbal confrontation at a Hindu woman’s residence after the Azan notification on his phone went off. According to the account shared online, Khalid repeatedly apologised, but the argument continued, with the woman allegedly accusing him of religious dominance.

Tensions escalated at Jamia Millia Islamia on the 15th day of the students’ hunger strike, as protesters moved towards different campus gates and attempted to force them open amid loud sloganeering. Heavy police deployment was reported across the campus, with personnel recording videos of protesters and drones hovering outside the gates. The developments come amid the ongoing agitation demanding a democratically elected students’ union and a clear election schedule. Protesters have also rejected the university administration’s latest notification.

Protesting students at Jamia Millia Islamia have rejected the latest notification issued by the university administration and demanded a clear schedule for students’ union elections. In a statement issued on Monday, the students said they would continue their indefinite protest until their demands were addressed. The agitation seeks the restoration of a democratically elected Jamia Students’ Union. Students have stressed the need for a definite timeline for the electoral process.

Students from boys’ hostels at Jamia Millia Islamia gathered at Gate No. 7 and sang the National Anthem in a show of unity amid the ongoing protest for a democratically elected students’ union. The gathering highlighted students’ solidarity as they continued to demand a representative student body on campus. Protesters have stressed the importance of democratic elections and student participation in university affairs. The demonstration comes amid a wider agitation seeking the restoration of the Jamia Students’ Union.

Jamia Millia Islamia has withdrawn suspension and show-cause notices issued to students during the ongoing protest and said student union elections must be held within 15 days of approval of the union’s constitution. The decisions were announced in an official order issued by Registrar Md Mahtab Alam Rizvi on Monday, as the students’ hunger strike entered its 15th day. The university will also form a committee to investigate the conduct of security personnel during the agitation. According to the order, protesting students have agreed to issue a public apology at a press conference and remove social media posts deemed defamatory towards the administration.

Stand-up comedian Masoom Rajwani and several others were detained by Mumbai Police during a candlelight march at Dadar’s Chaityabhoomi in solidarity with Sahil Wakode, a Dalit student who died by suicide at IIT Bombay amid allegations of caste discrimination. The march sought justice for Wakode and was held in his memory. Ali Bhojani, who shared the account, alleged that police detained citizens brutally and questioned whose interests the police were serving.

Stand-up comedian Masoom Rajwani (@Masoom_Rajwani ) and several others were detained by Mumbai Police while participating in a candlelight vigil seeking justice for Sahil Wakode, a Dalit student who died by suicide at IIT Bombay. The vigil was held in his memory amid allegations of caste discrimination. The gathering took a turn when police detained protesters who had assembled for the candlelight march.

The Madhya Pradesh Congress alleged that voter ID cards belonging to people from Indore were found in large numbers in Maheshwar, raising questions over how the cards reached the area. In a post on X, the party questioned who had dumped the cards and why. It alleged a possible attempt at voter fraud and accused the BJP of involvement in vote theft, without providing evidence in the post. The Congress also questioned whether the Election Commission would order an impartial investigation into the matter.

Jamia Millia Islamia students reportedly caught an unidentified man inside the university campus, raising questions over campus security. Students questioned how the man entered wearing an ITBP uniform and carrying an ITBP identity card, while students with valid ID cards were allegedly being denied entry. The man's identity, purpose of visit and the circumstances of his entry remain unclear. The incident comes amid ongoing student protests and restrictions on campus access.

Every textbook is a quiet promise made to a child: that what lies between its covers is the truth about where they come from. Nabiha Omar writes Read : theobserverpost.com/ncert-re…

The Jamia Millia Islamia unit of Disha Students’ Organization alleged that Delhi Police detained female students at Gate No. 7 of the university. In a statement, the group said the students were trying to enter their own campus when they were detained. The organization described the detentions as brutal. The allegation comes amid ongoing student protests at Jamia over the demand to restore the students’ union.

Maulana Mohammad Haroon, imam of Delhi’s Race Course Mosque, said the Delhi Waqf Board has initiated steps to protect the mosque and restore its basic facilities. He expressed hope that water and electricity supplies would be restored soon. Haroon also appealed to the media and others to cooperate while maintaining law and order. He urged everyone to act with civility as the matter continues to develop.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami shared a video showing police personnel removing loudspeakers from mosques, saying sound pollution is harmful to everyone. “It is our responsibility to make every possible effort for its effective control,” Dhami wrote in his post. The video shows policemen taking down loudspeakers from mosque premises.