Morning Digest: Protests against CEC persist as Rahul calls for joint ‘resistance’; Indian, Pakistani diplomats summoned over BSF killing two ‘infiltrators’, and more

As protests against CEC continue, Rahul launches ‘Satyagraha’ digital platformAs Opposition leaders, civil society activists and youth organisations continued their protests, seeking the removal of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi launched the ‘Satyagraha’ digital platform to map resistance movements across the country. For the second day, the Delhi Police detained around 150 protesters, including All India Students’ Association national president Neha Bora, civil society activists Yogendra Yadav and Anjali Bharadwaj, and Supreme Court advocate Prashant Bhushan, as they marched from Patel Chowk towards Jantar Mantar to demand the removal of the CEC.Indian and Pakistani diplomats summoned over BSF killing two ‘infiltrators’India and Pakistan summoned each other’s diplomats and traded charges over the killing of two Pakistani men who the Border Security Force said had attempted to infiltrate through the International Border along Punjab’s Tarn Taran district. Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) summoned the Indian Charge d’Affaires (CdA) in Islamabad on Saturday (October 3, 2026) to protest the killings of men they said were “unarmed civilians”. Late in the evening, India also summoned the Pakistan Charge d’Affaires to reject the Pakistani statement and protested “the continued facilitation of illegal cross-border infiltration from Pakistan”.Sheikh Hasina’s extradition possible via ‘well-structured’ process: India’s High Commissioner to BangladeshExtradition of Bangladesh’s deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina could take place via a “well-structured process” that involved “legality”, and that a legal process was “in place”, India’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi said. Speaking of Ms. Hasina’s presence in India at the Bay of Bengal Conversation, an annual conclave organised by the Dhaka-based Centre for Governance Studies, Mr. Trivedi indicated that Ms. Hasina had sought refuge in India based on consultation among those governing Bangladesh in July-August 2024, and that, “India had hardly any choice.”Hardened narco-trafficking kingpin Navpreet Singh deported from Türkiye: Amit ShahUnion Home Minister Amit Shah said that hardened narco-trafficking kingpin Navpreet Singh has been deported from Türkiye. Mr. Shah said that Mr. Singh was deported to India on Saturday in connection with cases involving drug trafficking and other crimes.MRFA deal likely by end of FY27, says IAF chief; annual requirement of 36-40 fightersIndia expects to finalise the much-awaited Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) deal by the end of the current financial year, provided the ongoing process progresses as planned, Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh said. The proposed acquisition of 114 fighter aircraft is at the price negotiation stage, with discussions also underway on other critical aspects of the programme. Once concluded, the deal would be the Indian Air Force’s largest fighter aircraft acquisition.‘I’m a team player, will work as full-back’: New Punjab Congress chief Pargat SinghDownplaying factionalism in the Punjab Congress, newly appointed State chief Pargat Singh said the team was a good one and all decisions would be taken unanimously, keeping the interests of the State in mind. Mr. Singh, a former hockey player and India captain, said he had always played as a "full-back," a position centred on supporting the team from behind, and would continue to play the same role in the party by giving prominence to other senior members.Opposition will step up agitation and demand fresh elections using ballot paper: KhargeCongress president and Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, said that the Opposition will step up agitation against the Election Commission of India and demand fresh elections using ballot papers in States where elections were held post SIR process. Mr. Kharge described the Narendra Modi-led Union government as an “illegal government” and demanded that it go, alleging that the democratic and constitutional rights of people were being undermined.CJP stresses non-violence and urges citizens to join October 10 Delhi protestThe Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) stressed that its proposed October 10 protest in Delhi would be peaceful and urged every citizen seeking free and fair elections to join the agitation if Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar does not resign. The CJP has been demanding Mr. Kumar’s resignation, citing alleged irregularities in the electoral processes and the conduct of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise.Mumbai police question IIT Bombay professor Doolla for 10 hours over student Sahil Wakode’s deathThe Mumbai police questioned Suryanarayana Doolla, a professor at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT-B), for nearly 10 hours in connection with the death of 22-year-old student Sahil Wakode, an official said. Professor Doolla, who faces allegations of harassment and caste-based discrimination from Mr. Wakode's parents, denied all charges during questioning on Thursday (October 1, 2026), the official said, adding that his statement had been officially recorded.Delhi Police registers three FIRs over anti-CEC protests, none namedDelhi Police registered at least three FIRs in connection with Friday (October 2) protests by student organisations, political parties and civil society activists who attempted to gather at Jantar Mantar, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Two FIRs were registered at Parliament Street police station and one at Connaught Place police station, invoking Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for alleged disobedience of an order duly promulgated by a public servant, a senior police officer said.TVK to file complaint with ECI against M.K. Stalin’s remarks against its candidate in Dharapuram: MinisterThe Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) will file a complaint with the Election Commission of India (ECI) against the alleged body-shaming remarks made by Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) president M.K. Stalin about the TVK’s Dharapuram candidate, during his campaign, said Minister C.T.R. Nirmal Kumar. Accusing Mr. Stalin of making derogatory remarks against the TVK candidate, P. Sathyabama, Mr. Nirmal Kumar told reporters in Coimbatore that it was condemnable that Mr. Stalin could say this about a Scheduled Caste woman who was fighting the polls in Dharapuram.Mumbai airport, airlines clash over Navi Mumbai shiftA dispute is brewing between Adani-run Mumbai International Airport Ltd. (MIAL) and airlines over a proposed operational reshuffle during the phased redevelopment of Terminal 1 (T1). The plan involves moving domestic traffic from T1 to Terminal 2 (T2), while shifting some international services to the more distant Navi Mumbai International Airport.Delhi Police personnel were removing identity badges before detaining protesters: CPI MP to Amit ShahCPI MP P. Sandosh Kumar alleged that Delhi Police personnel have been removing or concealing their identity badges before detaining or using force against protesters and urged Union Home Minister Amit Shah to order a time-bound inquiry into the practice. In a letter to the Union Home Minister, Mr. Kumar sought his intervention into repeated use of violence, arbitrary detentions, manhandling and other unlawful practices by the Delhi Police while dealing with democratic protests.NHRC seeks probe into alleged use of minors at CJP’s Mumbai protestThe National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) took cognisance of allegations that minors were involved in a Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)-led protest in Mumbai and that their images were circulated online. Based on complaints from Sewa Nyaya Utthan Foundation and another organisation, the commission directed the Mumbai Police to investigate the matter and submit an Action Taken Report (ATR) within one week.Bank robbery videos, Army insiders and arms dealers: Bolarum theft probe reveals wider plotWeeks before stealing firearms from the Army premises at Bolarum in Secunderabad Cantonment, former Havaldar Upputholla Mallesh allegedly shared bank robbery videos with his cousin and an associate, asking them to study how such heists were carried out. Investigators now say he had built a network comprising serving Army personnel, prospective robbers and alleged arms dealers before the theft on August 30, 2026.Suvendu claims Mamata faked her leg injury in 2021, promises probeWest Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari alleged that former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee faked her leg injury while campaigning in Nandigram in 2021. Citing medical reports from a government facility, Mr. Adhikari claimed that it showed she did not have any signs of a fracture. “Mamata Banerjee faked her leg injury while campaigning in Nandigram in 2021. This is the report of the Department of Radio Diagnosis of Bangur Institute of Neurosciences, dated March 11, 2021. There is no evidence of a fracture,” Mr. Adhikari said while addressing the press at the State Secretariat. CBI files charge sheet against RCom, others in ₹3,750 crore LIC fraud caseThe Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed a charge sheet against Reliance Communications Limited (RCom), two former executives of the Reliance (Anil Ambani) Group, and others in the LIC investment fraud case that caused an alleged loss of ₹3,750 crore. The agency identified the former executives as Amitabh Jhunjhunwala, the group managing director, and Vishwas Joshi, senior vice-president of Reliance Capital Limited. P. Venugopal, the then chief investment officer of LIC, has also been named.SIR exercise: Nine lakh names dropped from Uttarakhand’s poll roll; State now has 71.59 lakh votersAround nine lakh names have been removed from Uttarakhand’s electoral roll through the special intensive revision (SIR). The final electoral roll was published on Saturday (October 3, 2026) carrying 71.59 lakh electors in the State. Speaking to the media, Uttarakhand Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) B.V.R.C. Purushottam said the final roll includes 1,29,872 newly enrolled voters.Commander of U.S. Pacific Command to visit India from October 3Commander of the U.S. Pacific Command Admiral Samuel J. Paparo will visit India from Saturday (October 3, 2026) to Thursday (October 8, 2026) to advance the U.S.-India major defence partnership and deepen military-to-military cooperation between the two countries. According to the U.S. Embassy in India, during his visit, Admiral Paparo is scheduled to engage with his Indian counterparts on a range of shared security priorities, including digital transformation and emerging technologies, regional strategic stability, defence, energy resilience and the challenges posed by an increasingly competitive technology landscape.Brazil tame India in 4-0 friendly win Samuel Lino scored his first two goals for ​Brazil as India’s frantic effort to hold off ‌the five-time world champions faded after a ​spirited start, allowing the visitors to ⁠cruise to a 4-0 win in a friendly. Chelsea winger Estevao scored Brazil’s first goal and ‌assisted Pedro before Lino netted a second-half brace, helping Carlo Ancelotti’s side ‌conclude their tour of Australia and India ‌with ⁠two wins and a draw.