JNUSU President demands transparency on casualties in Operation Sindoor
slams government’s war rhetoric
New Delhi: JNU Students' Union President Nitish Kumar has demanded that the government release official data on the number of personnel casualties suffered by the Indian armed forces during the recently launched Operation Sindoor and the Pahalgam terror attack. Expressing concern over the lack of transparency, he stated that while the country continues to witness the arrival of soldiers’ mortal remains from various regions, no clear figures have been made public.
In an exclusive interview with IANS, Kumar criticised the government’s post-attack handling of the situation, questioning whether the response was more performative than strategic. “The people of India have a right to know the true cost of this conflict,” he said, calling for the release of verified data on martyred soldiers.
While strongly condemning the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Kumar questioned the government's swift military retaliation against Pakistan, suggesting that it appeared “pre-planned” and lacked accountability, especially in light of what he termed "serious internal security failures."
Highlighting the risks of escalation between two nuclear-armed neighbours, Kumar urged the government to pursue diplomacy and international pressure rather than war rhetoric. He advocated for isolating Pakistan on the global stage for its alleged role in harbouring terrorists, stating that “full-scale military retaliation is not a sustainable solution.”
Kumar also raised concerns over rising communal tensions following the attack, particularly targeting Muslim communities. He accused the government of allowing hate to spread and failing to prevent polarisation. “These attacks are not just about external enemies but also raise the possibility of conspiracies aimed at disturbing India’s internal peace,” he said.
He challenged the government to answer whether the military objectives had been achieved—whether the Pahalgam attackers had been neutralised and whether the situation in Kashmir had improved, especially regarding safety and tourism.
Taking aim at some media outlets, Kumar criticised the propagation of unverified claims, including supposed attacks on Karachi and Islamabad, labelling such coverage as "jingoistic theatrics" by sections of the “Godi Media.” He emphasised that “the nation needs truth, not theatrics.”
Kumar concluded by reiterating his demand for official confirmation of the number of casualties among Indian forces. “We are seeing bodies return home, but we are yet to receive a clear statement from the Army. The people deserve transparency,” he said.
Calling for a strategic, non-militaristic approach to national security, Kumar warned that misinformation and communal violence only serve to divide the country and undermine its long-term safety.
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South African police arrest suspect in mass shooting that killed 12, including 3 children
Johannesburg (AP): A 32-year-old suspect has been arrested in connection with a mass shooting which claimed the lives of 12 people including three children at an unlicensed pub earlier this month, South African police said on Monday.
The man is suspected of being one of the three people who opened fire on patrons in a pub at Saulsville township, west of South Africa's capital Pretoria, killing 12 people including three children aged 3, 12 and 16.
At least 13 people were also injured during the attack, whose motive remains unknown.
According to the police, the suspect was arrested on Sunday while traveling to Botlokwa in Limpopo province, more than 340 km from where the mass shooting took place on Dec 6.
An unlicensed firearm believed to have been used during the attack was recovered from the suspect's vehicle.
“The 32-year-old suspect was intercepted by Limpopo Tracking Team on the R101 Road in Westenburg precinct. During the arrest, the team recovered an unlicensed firearm, a hand gun, believed to have been used in the commission of the multiple murders. The firearm will be taken to the Forensic Science Laboratory for ballistic analysis,” police said in statement.
The suspect was arrested on the same day that another mass shooting at a pub took place in the Bekkersdal township, west of Johannesburg, in which nine people were killed and 10 wounded when unknown gunmen opened fire on patrons.
Police have since launched a search for the suspects.
South Africa has one of the highest homicide rates in the world and recorded more than 26,000 homicides in 2024 — an average of more than 70 a day. Firearms are by far the leading cause of death in homicides.
The country of 62 million people has relatively strict gun ownership laws, but many killings are committed with illegal guns, according to authorities.
According to police, mass shootings at unlicensed bars are becoming a serious problem. Police shut down more than 11,000 illegal taverns between April and September this year and arrested more than 18,000 people for involvement in illegal liquor sales.
