An Indian researcher, studying at Georgetown University in the US, has been arrested by immigration officers and faces deportation, according to his lawyer. Badar Khan Suri, a post-doctoral fellow, was arrested by “masked agents” outside his home in Virginia, on Monday night, Politico reported.

The agents identified themselves as being with the Department of Homeland Security and told him the government had revoked his visa, the lawsuit says, reportedly.

Mr Suri has been accused of “spreading Hamas propaganda”. He is said to have “close connections to a known or suspected terrorist”.

“Suri was a foreign exchange student at Georgetown University actively spreading Hamas propaganda and promoting antisemitism on social media,” Tricia McLaughlin, Assistant Secretary Department of Homeland Security, wrote on X.

“Suri has close connections to a known or suspected terrorist, who is a senior advisor to Hamas. The Secretary of State issued a determination on March 15, 2025 that Suri’s activities and presence in the United States rendered him deportable under INA section 237(a)(4)(C)(i).”

Suri was a foreign exchange student at Georgetown University actively spreading Hamas propaganda and promoting antisemitism on social media.

Suri has close connections to a known or suspected terrorist, who is a senior advisor to Hamas. The Secretary of State issued a… https://t.co/gU02gLAlX1

— Tricia McLaughlin (@TriciaOhio) March 20, 2025

Mr Suri’s lawyer, Hassan Ahmad, argued in his petition that Mr Suri is being punished because of the Palestinian heritage of his wife, a US citizen, according to Politico. Mapheze Saleh from Gaza is a first-year student at the Center for Contemporary Arab Studies, Georgetown University. She earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism and information at the Islamic University of Gaza, Palestine and a master’s degree in conflict analysis and peacebuilding from the Nelson Mandela Centre for Peace and Conflict Resolution at Jamia Millia Islamia in New Delhi, India.

“Dr. Khan Suri is an Indian national who was duly granted a visa to enter the United States to continue his doctoral research on peacebuilding in Iraq and Afghanistan,” a Georgetown spokesperson said in a statement. “We are not aware of him engaging in any illegal activity, and we have not received a reason for his detention. We support our community members’ rights to free and open inquiry, deliberation and debate, even if the underlying ideas may be difficult, controversial or objectionable. We expect the legal system to adjudicate this case fairly.”

Who Is Badar Khan Suri

Dr Badar Khan Suri is a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding at the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University, Washington, DC. He has been teaching a class this semester on “Majoritarianism and Minority Rights in South Asia”

He completed his PhD in Peace and Conflict Studies from Nelson Mandela Center for Peace and Conflict Resolution, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi in 2020.

He is an interdisciplinary scholar whose areas of interest are religion, violence and peace; ethnic conflicts and peace processes in the Middle East and South Asia, according to the information available on Georgetown University’s website.

Indians In US Face Deportation

Ranjani Srinivasan, a 37-year-old Indian student, pursuing a doctoral degree in urban planning at Columbia University, self-deported last week, days after their student visa was revoked for participating in pro-Palestine protests. The US Department of State cancelled their visa on March 5, citing security concerns related to their involvement in alleged activities “supporting Hamas”.

“Ranjani Srinivasan was involved in activities supporting Hamas, a terrorist organisation. On March 5, 2025, the Department of State revoked her visa. The Department of Homeland Security has obtained video footage of her using the Customs and Border Protection (CPB) agency app to self-deport on March 11,” it said in a statement.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, in a post on X, called Srinivasan a “terrorist sympathiser”, saying that those who “advocate terrorism and violence” must not stay in the US.

Grabbing the breast of a victim and breaking her pyjama string would not constitute rape or attempt to rape, but aggravated sexual assault, the Allahabad High Court observed in an order.

Pawan and Akash were accused of grabbing the breasts of an 11-year-old victim, breaking her pyjama string and trying to drag her beneath a culvert in Uttar Pradesh’s Kasganj. The accused fled from the spot after interference by passers-by. The 2021 incident occurred when the accused offered a lift to the child and then the horrific events unfolded.

Pawan and Akash were initially to face trial under Section 376 of the Indian Penal Code for rape and Section 18 of the POCSO Act on direction of Kasganj trial court. However, a bench of Justice Ram Manohar Narayan Mishra of the Allahabad High Court directed that the accused be tried under Section 354-B IPC (assault or use of criminal force with intent to disrobe) along with Sections 9/10 of the POCSO Act (aggravated sexual assault).

“The allegations levelled against the accused Pawan and Akash and facts of the case hardly constitute an offence of attempt to rape in the case. In order to bring out a charge of attempt to rape the prosecution must establish that it had gone beyond the stage of preparation. The difference between preparation and actual attempt to commit an offence consists chiefly in the greater degree of determination,” the bench said.

Counsel for one of the respondents also argued that at the stage of framing charges, the trial court is not supposed to meticulously sift and weigh the evidence and material collected during the investigation. At that stage, only a prima facie case is to be found for putting the accused persons on trial.

“It is also not stated by witnesses that due to this act of the accused the victim got naked or got undressed. There is no allegation that accused tried to commit penetrative sexual assault against the victim,” the court said.

The judge concluded that no material on record inferred that the accused was determined to commit rape. “The specific allegation against Akash is that he tried to drag the victim beneath the culvert and broke the string of her pyjami. It is also not stated by witnesses that due to this act of the accused the victim got naked or got undressed. There is no allegation that accused tried to commit penetrative sexual assault against the victim,” the Court observed in its order.

The allegation against third accused Ashok, who is father of Pawan, is that when the complainant approached him after the incident, he abused and threatened her. Thus, Ashok has been summoned under Section 504 and 506 of the Indian Penal Code.

The United States has reiterated its stance on the protection of minority communities in Bangladesh, following comments by US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard to NDTV. Ms Gabbard’s remarks, which linked Bangladesh to aspirations of an “Islamist caliphate,” have sparked diplomatic tensions between the two nations.

In a recent press briefing, US Department of State Spokesperson Tammy Bruce addressed concerns regarding violence against minority groups in Bangladesh. Ms Bruce said the US condemns such acts and acknowledged efforts by Bangladesh’s interim government to address these issues.

“We condemn any instances of violence or intolerance directed toward members of minority communities in any country and have welcomed measures taken by Bangladesh’s interim government to ensure safety and security for all in Bangladesh. That’s what we’re watching. That’s what we expect. And that will be what continues,” Ms Bruce said. 

In an exclusive interview to NDTV, Ms Gabbard, while discussing the prosecution of minorities in Bangladesh, discussed the ideology of an “Islamic caliphate” and its influence on extremist elements globally. 

“The threat of Islamist terrorists and the global effort of different terror groups are rooted in the same ideology and objective-which is to rule or govern with an Islamist caliphate,” Ms Gabbard stated. 

The interim government of Bangladesh, led by Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus, expressed deep concern over Ms Gabbard’s statements, describing the comments as “misleading” and “damaging” to the country’s reputation.

“We note with deep concern and distress the remarks made by DNI Tulsi Gabbard, in which she alleged ‘persecution and killing’ of religious minorities in Bangladesh and that ‘the threat of Islamic terrorists’ in the country is ‘rooted’ in the ‘ideology and objective’ to ‘rule and govern with an Islamist caliphate,'” the interim government stated. 

“This statement is both misleading and damaging to the image and reputation of Bangladesh, a nation whose traditional practice of Islam has been famously inclusive and peaceful and that has made remarkable strides in its fight against extremism and terrorism,” the statement added. 

Since the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina last year, the new military-backed interim government led by Mohammed Yunus has faced criticism for failing to curb a spike in violence against minorities.