Bhopal: A Dalit youth was brutally beaten and dragged by his hair just 500 meters from the police station; police took action after the video went viral.
He was beaten with sticks and rods on the road 500 meters from the police station, and his friend who came to his rescue was also attacked; one accused was taken into custody after the video went viral. Bhopal/Narmadapuram: A recent case challenging law and order has emerged in Narmadapuram district, Madhya Pradesh. Five youths brutally beat a Dalit youth at the Makhannagar High School grounds. Shockingly, the scene of the incident is just 500 meters from the police station. The accused committed this crime in broad daylight, creating an atmosphere of terror in the area. On Wednesday, a video of the incident surfaced on social media, causing panic within the police administration. The video clearly shows the accused dragging the young man by his hair and repeatedly assaulting him with sticks and rods. When the victim’s friend tried to rescue him, the accused did not spare him and attacked him as well. What is the whole matter? According to the police complaint, the complainant, Pawan Sharma, and his friend, Pradeep Ahirwar, went to Makhannagar on Monday, November 17th. They had gone there to visit local temples. At around 3 p.m., while returning after having tea near the Tehsil Ground, two local youths present there stopped them. The accused began abusing Pradeep without any reason. When Pradeep and Pawan protested, the situation escalated. Three more youths arrived shortly afterward. The five then attacked Pradeep, brutally beating him with sticks. Referred to hospital in critical condition Seeing the street brawl, passersby intervened and rescued the young men. Seeing a crowd gathering, the accused fled the scene, threatening to kill them. Pradeep suffered serious injuries to his head, back, and arms and legs in the attack. Immediately after the incident, Pawan brought his injured friend to the police station. From there, police sent Pradeep to the local government hospital for first aid, but due to his critical condition, he was referred to Narmadapuram District Hospital. Police Action Given the seriousness of the matter, Makhannagar police have registered a case under the SC/ST Act and other sections of the assault. Acting swiftly, the police have detained one of the accused involved in the incident, while the search for others is ongoing. The remaining accused are being identified based on the video. Rajan Chaudhary Courtesy: Hindi News
16% Dalit population but zero net worth! Baba Saheb’s SC-Buddhist Bank will now bring the dream of self-reliance to life.
Ambedkar emphasized that over ₹5,000 crore of Dalit funds are deposited in the Brahminical system (such as Saraswat Bank, HDFC, SBI), but we are unable to reach such people. Mumbai – The harsh truth of caste inequality in India’s economic structure has come to light. Rajratna Ambedkar, great-grandson of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and National President of the Buddhist Society of India, revealed that according to the 2011 census, the Scheduled Caste (SC) community, which constitutes 16.6% of the population, has zero net worth in the cooperative sector. Meanwhile, smaller communities like Brahmins, Sikhs, and Parsis have net worths in the thousands of crores compared to other communities. To address economic inequality, Rajratna Ambedkar launched the ‘Dr. Established the Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar Multistate Cooperative Credit Society Limited (AMSC), the country’s first Scheduled Caste and Buddhist cooperative credit platform. Branches are operational in Nagpur and Thane. The goal is to transform it into a cooperative bank within the next two years, and move towards becoming a fully nationalized bank within five years. This initiative not only symbolizes economic empowerment but also attempts to realize Dr. Ambedkar’s vision of a self-reliant economy. Rajratna Ambedkar said, “The net worth of 16.6 percent of our population is zero because our money is lying in other people’s banks.” Citing 2011 census data, Ambedkar presented a comparative analysis of the population of different communities and the net worth of their cooperative banks, which are as follows: Muslim population: 14.2 percent (approximately 172 million). Christian population: 2.3 percent. Jain population: 0.4 percent. Parsi population: Exactly 0.006 percent. Their cooperative net worth was estimated to be around ₹10,000 crore. Scheduled Caste (SC) population: 16.6 percent (approximately 200 million), but the net worth in the cooperative sector is zero. Ambedkar clarified that the recently established ‘Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar Bank’ (2024-25) has been considered zero due to the unavailability of its audit report. Brahmin population: Estimated 4 Percent, whose Saraswat Bank has a net worth of over Rs 59,000 crore. Sikh population: 1.7 percent. Khalsa Credit Society has a net worth of $75.7 million (approximately Rs 6,300 crore). Ambedkar stressed that funds worth over Rs 5,000 crore belonging to the Dalit community are deposited in the Brahminical system (like Saraswat Bank, HDFC, SBI), but are not being utilized due to lack of access. “How will an 80-year-old person leave the house? So, I am hiring missionaries who go to his house and fill his shareholder form and fill his FD, RD, current account forms, savings account forms. We need missionaries who will go door to door and fill out forms.” Missionary Recruitment: Not a Job, a Call to Mission Ambedkar stated clearly that he was looking for missionaries, not employees. “This is not a 10-to-5 job, but a 24×7 mission. Like Kanshi Ram ji, we need to go from village to village on a bicycle and build an independent economy. Just as Honorable Kanshi Ram ji formed his government four times in this country and elected his own Chief Minister by traveling on a bicycle, we need similar people who will go to villages and create their own independent economy.” Applications for recruitment are due by November 21st at jobs.amsc.co.in. Interviews will be held at the headquarters, where dedication to the mission will be assessed. Currently, the customer base at the two branches is growing rapidly, necessitating a staff increase. Geetha Sunil Pillai Courtesy: Hindi News
First the BJP, and now this… Congress leader angered by the letter against Rahul Gandhi, asking this question
Criticizing the letter against Rahul Gandhi, Congress leader Pawan Khera questioned what was wrong with asking questions. The Congress leader said that democracy is not strengthened by keeping one’s eyes, ears, or mouths shut. Khera said that asking questions does not mean attacking; this mentality has been instilled in this country by the Prime Minister. New Delhi: Congress leader Pawan Khera on Thursday criticized a letter written by former bureaucrats and judges condemning Rahul Gandhi’s repeated allegations against the Election Commission and other state bodies. In a letter, more than 272 respected citizens, including 16 judges, 123 retired bureaucrats, 14 ambassadors, and 133 retired armed forces officers, condemned the repeated attacks on national constitutional authorities by Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha. Speaking to news agency ANI, Kheda said that first the BJP and then retired officials came to the defense of the current Chief Election Commissioner, Gyanesh Kumar. Criticizing this move, he said that questions strengthen democracy. The Congress leader said, “We saw their signatures. The issue is that if the functioning of the Election Commission is being questioned, and the entire opposition is doing so, first the BJP comes to the defense of a serving Election Commissioner, and then retired officials come to the defense.” Taking aim at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Kheda said that the Prime Minister is promoting a mentality where asking questions is tantamount to attacking someone. Aren’t questions necessary to keep democracy alive? Do these people want to see democracy die in their lifetime? Asking questions doesn’t mean attacking; this mentality has been instilled in this country by the Prime Minister… Questions strengthen democracy. He said, “Closing eyes, closing ears, or keeping quiet doesn’t strengthen democracy.” The letter stated that instead of presenting real policy options, Congress leaders are resorting to baseless allegations. Condemning the alleged repeated attacks on institutions, such as questioning the valor of the armed forces and the impartiality of the judiciary, the letter states that this time the Election Commission is facing systematic and conspiratorial attacks on its integrity and reputation. Curated by: Pankaj Singh About the Author Pankaj Singh is an Assistant Editor at Navbharat Times Digital. He has been associated with journalism for over 18 years. He has extensive experience in current affairs, politics, and ground reporting. During this time, he has covered political news, including the Delhi Assembly elections, the Railways elections, and the Lok Sabha elections. Courtesy: Hindi News
Power tussle intensifies in Karnataka, 10 DK-supporting MLAs camp in Delhi, Siddaramaiah cancels visit
Siddaramaiah vs DK Shivakumar: After the Congress’s humiliating performance in the Bihar elections, its effects are being felt in Karnataka. With the Congress government completing half its term, demands for a leadership change in the state have intensified. The question arises: will Siddaramaiah lose his position? MLAs supporting DK Shivakumar have become vocal in demanding his appointment as CM in Karnataka. Bengaluru: The power struggle among Congress party leaders has intensified in Karnataka. After DK Shivakumar hinted at resigning as state president, 10 party MLAs have demanded his appointment as CM from the central leadership. Congress MLAs loyal to DK Shivakumar will meet party leaders in Delhi today and demand the fulfillment of the promise of power sharing in 2023. Consequently, the Siddaramaiah vs DK battle in Karnataka has reached Delhi. The Siddaramaiah-led Congress government in Karnataka is completing 2.5 years in office. 10 DK Pro-DK MLAs Arrive in Delhi More than 10 MLAs, including a minister from the Shivakumar camp, arrived in Delhi on Thursday. Several more are expected to arrive on Friday. The MLAs are planning to meet Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and General Secretary KC Venugopal to press their demand for the party to implement the internal power-sharing arrangement agreed upon in 2023. The MLAs’ arrival in Delhi coincides with Congress National President Kharge’s arrival from Bengaluru. Siddaramaiah Cancels His Tour Amid the rapidly evolving situation in the state, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah abruptly canceled his two-day tour of Mysore and Chamarajanagar scheduled for Friday and Saturday and is returning to Bengaluru. Among those arriving in Delhi on Thursday are Minister N Chaluvarayaswami and MLAs Kabal Hussain, HC Balakrishna, and SR Srinivas. Earlier on Tuesday, MLAs Ravi Ganiga, Gubbi Vasu, Dinesh Gooligowda, and other MLAs had already reached Delhi to raise the issue with the party leadership. Sources said that MLAs Anekal Shivanna, Nelamangala Srinivas, Kunigal Ranganath, Sivaganga Basavaraju, and Balakrishna are also expected to reach the capital on Friday. This move by Shivakumar loyalists comes a day after Chief Minister Siddaramaiah completed two and a half years in office. Curated by: Achalendra Katiyar About the Author Achalendra Kumar Katiyar works for Navbharat Times Online. He began his career with DLA newspaper in 2008. During his 17-year career, he has worked for iNext, Aaj Samaj, and Dainik Hindustan. He keeps an eye on every development in western states, including Gujarat and Maharashtra. He has a strong understanding of politics. Courtesy: Hindi News
Why Dalits love Mahatma Macaulay
Robert Clive defeated India and didn’t question caste. Mahatma Macaulay envisioned India as a free nation and critiqued caste. That explains why Indians hate one more than the other. For some years now, I have been hosting a Lord Macaulay party at my home for fellow Dalit activists, writers, and intellectuals. Noted scholar D Shyam Babu even gave him the moniker Mahatma Macaulay. Now, this would obviously rile up many Indians who support the decolonisation project India has embarked upon in recent years. PM Narendra Modi said this week that he wants to uproot Lord Macaulay’s influence from Indian education and reverse the colonial mindset. To the British colonialists, the Battle of Plassey may have been a cakewalk, but ruling the colony called India was not. The caste phenomenon turned out to be their biggest headache in ruling this newfound territory. If you study the disruptive force that Macaulay unleashed upon Indian society, you will understand why Dalits want to call him a Mahatma. Before coming to India, Mahatma Macaulay had some idea of caste. In his 10 July 1833 speech in the House of Commons, he was worried: “The worst of all systems was surely that of having a mild code for the Brahmins who sprang from the head of the Creator, while there was a severe code for the Sudras, who sprang from his feet. India has suffered enough already from the distinction of castes.” However unintended it may have been, the colonialists saw caste-based prejudices and discrimination as inappropriate to the civilised world. The campaign that Mahatma Macaulay unleashed on caste was sustained by future British administrators. The colonialist empathy to the Dalit cause that was on display during the Round Table Conferences in the early 1930s was the outcome of what he had sown. BR Ambedkar’s inclusion in Viceroy’s Council as a labour minister mirrored that civilising project of the colonial masters that Lord Mahatma Macaulay had begun. Lord Macaulay’s efforts of seeding sciences and European morals for India bore fruits with Charles Woods’ despatch in 1854. Macaulay’s English education was finally implemented in India, but the monster of caste kept nagging the rulers. “The low castes are still far behind the main body of Hindus in the matter of education…there was formerly a deep-seated prejudice against the admission of low caste children in public schools,” notes Progress of Education in India. The British rulers encountered yet another mutiny-like situation by the caste-ridden Indian society in the form of a violent resistance to the entry of Dalit children into the newly evolving English education system. Still ruled by the East India Company, the education department issued a circular on 20 May 1857 stating that no boy should be refused admission to a government college or school merely on the ground of caste. The Hunter Commission noted that the insistence on the inclusion of low caste children was repeated by the Secretary of State in 1860. After Wood’s Despatch, a battle unfolded between caste and colonialists. In the Kairana district of the Bombay Presidency, six Dalits villages were burned down. Elsewhere, Dalits’ crops were attacked, and children chased away. Fearing social pollution, many schools were shut as privileged caste-children withdrew from schools. The Hunter Commission, set up in 1982, asked the British administration this: “Establishment of special schools or classes for children of low castes be liberally encouraged.” In his report, WW Hunter expressed his government’s inability to enforce the inclusion of depressed class children. That’s when the idea of separate schools came. The Commission had already identified the existence of separate 16 schools in Bombay Presidency and four in Central Provinces. Much against the wishes of the upper caste-nationalists, the British colonialists established separate schools for Dalits all over India. A school was set up in my native village in Azamgarh in Uttar Pradesh too. I am a product of the same school, although this Harjan Bal Vidyalaya admitted students from all castes. Today, the English education that the British introduced in India is unfairly treated as just a language project. It wasn’t. Mahatma Macaulay’s Minutes on Education (1935) is a living testimony of all that he advocated—focus on sciences and Western philosophy. India is the greatest beneficiary of that colonial project. Think of Indians’ superiority in IT and excellence in sciences without Mahatma Macaulay’s Minutes on Education. Think of India’s legal ecosystem without IPC, CrPC, district courts, collectorates, educational institutions, railways, and communication connectivity. Macaulay imagined a free India After my JNU, I have often wondered why Indians hate Mahatma Macaulay more than they hate Lord Clive. After all, Lord Clive sported wartime headgear, held a sword in one hand, gun in the other. There was guile in his eyes. He stared at Indians, fired at them; won an empire for England in the battle of Plassey in the year 1757. Lord Macaulay on the other hand, came to India with two fountain pens and an ink pot. He dressed like royals, sported a gentleman’s hat, and walked in grace. Did Mahatma Macaulay have contempt for India? Look at what he said in his Government of India speech in the House of Commons on 10 July 1833: It would be, on the most selfish view of the case, far better for us that the people of India were well governed and independent of us, than ill governed and subject to us; that they were ruled by their own kings, but wearing our broadcloth, and working with our cutlery, than that they were performing their salams to English collectors and English magistrates, but were too ignorant to value, or too poor to buy, English manufactures. To trade with civilised men is infinitely more profitable than to govern savages. “I allude to that wise, that benevolent, that noble clause which enacts that no native of our Indian empire shall, by reason of his colour, his descent, or his religion, be incapable of holding office,” he said elsewhere in the speech. Did the Lord demean India with
Dalit student dies 10 days after suicide attempt following alleged casteist assault in Villupuram
Family alleges police inaction; case filed under SC/ST Act against unidentified trio VILLUPURAM: Ten days after he attempted to die by suicide over alleged caste discrimination, an 18-year-old Dalit boy from Vikravandi in Villupuram succumbed to injuries on Tuesday. The deceased, S Gajini of Vadakuchipalayam, was a first-year History student at Government Arignar Anna Arts College. According to sources, Gajini was returning home from a hotel on November 6 when three men from Vanniyar community, riding triples on a bike in an inebriated state, rammed his two-wheeler. A scuffle broke out and upon learning that Gajini was from a Dalit locality, the three men allegedly hurled caste slurs and physically assaulted him. The trio fled the spot when the boy’s father intervened, sources said. Three days later, Gajini attempted to die by suicide at his home. His family rescued him and admitted him to the Government Medical College and Hospital in Mundiyambakkam, where he remained in the intensive critical care unit for 10 days before succumbing to injuries in the early hours of Tuesday. Based on a complaint, the Villupuram taluk police have registered a case under the SC/ST Act against three unidentified men. Police sources said the boy could not confirm their identities, making it difficult to trace the suspects, but the family insisted he had identified at least one of the assailants. “How difficult it is to track mobile tower signals at the spot of the incident? The police are not investigating properly because my son is already dead. We want justice,” Gajini’s father, P Semmaneri, told TNIE. He also sought safety for Dalit residents using the route to reach the bus stop. Meanwhile, the district Adi Dravidar welfare department has sanctioned `6 lakh compensation to the bereaved family. (Assistance for those having suicidal thoughts is available on Tamil Nadu’s health helpline 104 and Sneha’s suicide prevention helpline 044-24640050) Krithika Srinivasan Courtesy : TNIE Note: This news is originally published on https:/thenewindianexpress.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
What can Rahul Gandhi do alone? The public will have to take to the streets. Ashok Gehlot launches a major attack on the Election Commission.
Ashok Gehlot News: Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has leveled serious allegations against the Election Commission over the SIR controversy. Gehlot also questioned what Rahul Gandhi can do alone. Read what else Gehlot said here… Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has leveled serious allegations against the Election Commission over the SIR controversy. Gehlot also questioned what Rahul Gandhi can do alone. Jaipur: Former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has criticized the Election Commission over the growing controversy across the country regarding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR). Speaking to the media after paying tribute to Indira Gandhi at the state Congress headquarters on her birth anniversary, Gehlot said that the Election Commission is solely responsible for the situation surrounding the SIR. ‘Controversies have arisen due to the Election Commission’s stupidity’ Gehlot alleged that controversies are arising across the country regarding the SIR process and this is due to the Commission’s “serious negligence.” He said the Commission implemented this process in a hurry, without taking political parties into confidence. Gehlot said, “If the Commission had called all parties and stated that the voter list would be prepared in a transparent manner, that no fake names would be added, and that no genuine voter’s name would be removed, this situation would not have arisen.” He said that initiating the process just before the Bihar elections was itself a step that raised doubts. “What can Rahul Gandhi do alone? The public will have to come forward.” During the conversation, Gehlot stated that a democratic fight cannot be fought solely by political leaders. He said, “Rahul Gandhi is the leader of the opposition; he is playing his role. But the public will also have to come forward. Our path is non-violence, while these people believe in violence. Such a fight can only be fought with the support of the public.” Referring to the Bihar elections, he said that money power was openly used there, and ₹10,000 each was deposited into women’s accounts mid-election, but the Election Commission took no action. Authored by: Sambrat Chaturvedi About the Author Sambrat Chaturvedi is an Assistant News Editor at Navbharat Times Digital. He has over 20 years of experience in journalism. He covers politics, crime, education, arts, and culture in Rajasthan. He has been with NBT (Digital) for the past five years. Courtesy: Hindi News
How Congress has been shrinking state after state! Every move by Rahul Gandhi failed, all political experiments failed, why?
Rahul Gandhi: The Grand Alliance suffered a crushing defeat in the Bihar Assembly elections. Similarly, if we look at the history of other states, Congress has been steadily declining. Bihar, Maharashtra, Haryana, and Gujarat. In these states, Congress’s position has been shrinking. What is the reason for Congress’s continued electoral defeat? Let’s examine the reasons. Congress defeat in four states Patna: In the Bihar Assembly elections, the ruling NDA returned to power by winning 202 out of 243 seats, while the opposition Grand Alliance was reduced to just 35. The BJP led the NDA’s victory, securing 89 seats, followed by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s JDU (JDU) with 85 and Chirag Paswan’s LJP (RLD) with 19. The RJD, the dominant party in the Grand Alliance, saw its tally drop to 25, while the Congress managed only six. In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in Bihar, the NDA won 30 of the 40 seats, with the BJP and JDU winning 12 each. The LJP (RLD) won five seats, while the HAM (S) won one. The Grand Alliance won nine seats, with the RJD winning four, the Congress three, and the CPI (ML) L two. The remaining one was won by an independent. Bihar Situation In addition to Bihar, the BJP has won resounding victories in several elections in recent years, whether alone or with the NDA alliance, defeating the opposition in several states. Let’s take a look at some of these states. In the November 2024 elections for the 288-member Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, the Mahayuti, or NDA, won a landslide victory, winning 232 seats. The BJP topped the polls with 132, followed by the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena with 57 and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP with 41. The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) won only 46 seats, with the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) winning 20, the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) winning 10, and the Congress winning 16. However, in the Lok Sabha elections held six months before the Assembly elections, the Mahayuti had won only 17 seats (9 from the BJP, 7 from the Shiv Sena, and 1 from the NCP), while the MVA had won 30 seats (13 from the Congress, 9 from the Shiv Sena-UBT, and 8 from the NCP-SP). Odisha Situation In the 2024 Odisha Assembly elections, the BJP came to power in the state on its own for the first time, ending the five-term rule of BJD chief Naveen Patnaik. The BJP won 78 of the state’s 147 seats, while the BJD won 51 and the Congress won 14. In the simultaneous Lok Sabha elections in Odisha, the BJP won 20 of the 21 seats, while the Congress won one. The BJD failed to open its account in this election. In the 2019 Assembly elections, the BJD returned to power in Odisha with a landslide victory, winning 112 seats compared to the BJP’s 23. Andhra Pradesh Situation Andhra Pradesh also held simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in 2024. The NDA, which includes the N. Chandrababu Naidu-led TDP and the Pawan Kalyan-led Jana Sena Party (JSP), along with the BJP, won 21 out of 25 seats in the Lok Sabha elections, defeating the ruling BJP. The YSRCP led by Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy won 4 seats. Among NDA allies, the TDP won 16, the BJP 3, and the JSP 2. In the Assembly elections, the NDA secured 164 out of 175 seats. The TDP contested 135 of the 144 seats it contested. The JSP won all 21 seats, while the BJP contested 10, winning 8. The YSRCP won only 11 seats. The Congress failed to even open its account. Madhya Pradesh Situation In the November 2023 elections for the 230-member Madhya Pradesh Assembly, the incumbent BJP returned to power by winning 163 seats. The opposition Congress failed to stage a comeback, winning only 66 seats. In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP swept the state again, winning all 29 seats. In the Gujarat Assembly elections held in December 2022, the ruling BJP returned to power by winning 156 out of 182 seats. This was the highest number achieved by any party in the state’s electoral history. The Congress suffered its worst defeat, winning only 17 seats, while the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) won five. In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP will win 24 out of 25 seats, while the Congress will win only one. Edited by: Ashutosh Kumar Pandey About the Author Ashutosh Kumar Pandey works for Navbharat Times Online. He has been active in digital, print, and electronic journalism for over 22 years. He specializes in uncovering untold stories from the past, digging into the pages of politics. Presents political stories in a witty manner. Courtesy: Hindi News
“You’re a Dalit, you can’t marry”: Karnataka HC denies bail to constable accused of having a relationship with a woman on the pretext of marriage, calling it a clear caste atrocity…
The High Court said, “According to the victim, the accused married her in front of a photo of Sai Baba and had physical relations with her several times, but refused to accept her as his wife. When she insisted, he deceived her using caste as an excuse.” Bengaluru – The Karnataka High Court has rejected the anticipatory bail plea of a police constable accused in a case where a Dalit woman was deceived in the name of love. The accused had physical relations with the woman after promising marriage, but later broke off the relationship and even assaulted her, citing her Scheduled Caste (SC) identity. In his judgment delivered on November 3, High Court Justice S. Rachaiah clearly stated that this is a serious offense under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, and bail is strictly prohibited under Section 18A. The court stated, “It is clear from the allegations in the complaint that the accused refused to accept her as his wife because she belonged to a Scheduled Caste. The essential elements of the crime are established. Therefore, he is not entitled to anticipatory bail under Section 18A of the said Act.” Learn about the entire case The case relates to the Amrutur police station in Tumkur district, where both the accused constable and the victim were posted as colleagues. According to the prosecution, the incident began on February 14, 2023, when the accused arrived at the victim’s official residence. There, he expressed his desire to marry her and performed a simple wedding ceremony in front of a picture of Sai Baba. The accused assured the victim that the marriage would be kept secret until the caste dispute was resolved. Following this, the accused had physical relations with the victim several times, but did not allow her to wear a mangalsutra, fearing it would cause problems for both of them. The victim, trusting him, remained silent. However, when she demanded that the marriage be made public, the accused flatly refused. His excuse was that the victim belonged to a Scheduled Caste, while he himself belonged to a different caste. Not only did he refuse, but when she insisted on marriage, the accused also assaulted her. Hurt and betrayed, the victim finally filed a complaint, based on which the Amritsar police registered Crime No. 81/2025. Legal provisions applied in the case The accused has been charged under sections 318(2) (cheating), 352 (assault), 115(2) (criminal conspiracy), 351(2) (criminal intimidation), 54 (concealment of an offence), and 74 (abetment of an offence) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), 2023, as well as section 3(5). Additionally, sections 3(1)(r) (insult on grounds of caste), 3(1)(s) (cheating on grounds of caste), 3(1)(w)(i) (caste-based offences), and 3(2)(va) (group offences on grounds of caste) of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 (Amendment 2015) have also been added. The case is pending in the court of the Additional District and Sessions Judge, Tumkur. The trial court had rejected the accused’s bail plea (CRL.Miss.761/2025) on June 9, against which the accused filed an appeal under Section 14(A)(2) of the SC/ST Act. This appeal was filed in the Karnataka High Court as CRL.A No. 1363/2025, where the SPP appeared for the State and the lawyer appeared for the victim. The accused said the victim had proposed marriage. The appeal hearing took place on September 26th, where the accused’s lawyer, Dayanand Hiramath, presented a powerful argument. He claimed that the entire case was fabricated and that the victim had proposed marriage. When the accused refused, false allegations were made as revenge. The lawyer stated that there was no concrete evidence that the accused had married or physically abused her. He also refuted the caste-based denial, stating that mere allegations do not prove a crime. The lawyer also emphasized the accused’s personal hardship. The accused is a police constable and the sole earning member of the family. He is a permanent resident of Manapura village in Sindgi taluk, Vijayapura district. Failure to grant bail would cause financial hardship to the entire family. The lawyer requested that anticipatory bail be granted with strict conditions, stating that the accused is willing to comply with the court’s conditions. On the other hand, High Court government lawyer Waheeda M.M., representing the state, strongly objected. Citing the facts of the complaint, she argued that the accused deliberately lured the victim into a love affair. He engaged in physical relations with her repeatedly under the false promise of marriage, but when it came to granting her wifely status, he used caste as an excuse. She stated that the accused refused to recognize the victim as his wife and assaulted her. This constituted clear caste-based atrocity under the SC/ST Act. The lawyer cited Section 18A, which prohibits bail in such cases, and demanded that the appeal be dismissed so as not to hamper the investigation. The High Court rejected the bail plea for this reason. After hearing arguments from both parties, the High Court thoroughly reviewed the complaint record. Justice Rachaiah reiterated the facts in the judgment. He wrote that both the accused and the victim worked as constables at the Amritur police station. They grew close, leading to a decision to marry. According to the victim, the accused married her in front of a photo of Sai Baba at her home and began living as husband and wife. They had physical relations several times, but he avoided making a public announcement. When the victim insisted, the accused deceived her by citing caste. The court stated, “According to the victim, the accused married her in front of a photo of Sai Baba and engaged in physical relations several times, but refused to accept her as his wife. When she insisted, he deceived her by citing caste.” The court held that the allegations in the complaint attracted elements of the offense under the SC/ST Act. Therefore, bail cannot be granted due to the prohibition of Section 18A. The appeal was dismissed, and the accused will have to face trial. Geetha
Himachal: Organizations took to the streets in Nahan against Dalit oppression, submitted a 12-point memorandum to the Chief Minister.
The 12-point demands, including the investigation of pending cases under the SC/ST Act, the arrest of the culprits, and the formation of a clean-up commission, were submitted to the Chief Minister. Nahan (Sirmaur). Dalit organizations held a strong protest in Nahan on Monday against the increasing atrocities, discrimination, and rights violations against the Dalit community in Himachal Pradesh. Representatives from more than eight organizations, united under the banner of the “Dalit Shoshan Mukti Manch,” held a protest rally and presented their demands to the state government. The protest began at the Hindu Ashram in Nahan and passed through various parts of the city, culminating at the Deputy Commissioner’s (DC) office. Here, the protesters, led by the forum’s state convener, Ashish Kumar, submitted a 12-point memorandum of demands to the Chief Minister through the Deputy Commissioner. Anger over recent incidents Prior to the rally, a joint convention of various Dalit organizations was held at the Hindu Ashram. Ashish Kumar inaugurated the convention, while Satpal Mann moderated the forum. In his address, Ashish Kumar stated that incidents of atrocities against Dalits have increased in the state in recent times. He specifically mentioned the suspicious death of Dalit student Sikandar in Rohru and the fatal attack and death of a Dalit woman in Sainj, Kullu. He stated that these incidents have created deep resentment within the Dalit community across the state. Formation of a New Committee During the convention, a 31-member committee was also formed to formulate future strategies and strengthen the organization. Rajesh Tomar was unanimously elected as the convener, and Vijay Chauriya, Prasan Tomar, and Praveen Sodha were elected co-conveners. Key Demands Included in the Memorandum The memorandum sent to the Chief Minister includes several important demands related to the safety and rights of the Dalit community. The forum’s key demands are: Justice and Law: Pending cases registered under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act should be investigated in a timely and impartial manner, and the culprits should be immediately arrested. Reservation and Funds: An SC/ST Development Fund Act should be enacted in the state, modeled after Telangana, and the 85th Constitutional Amendment should be fully implemented. The reservation roster should be strictly followed in new recruitments. Victim Relief: Immediate financial assistance should be provided to families affected by harassment. Education: Timely payment of scholarships to Dalit students should be ensured. Monitoring: A state-level monitoring committee should be formed to investigate discrimination in government and educational institutions. Budget: The budget allocated for SC/ST welfare schemes should be utilized 100%, and a public report should be released. Sanitation Workers: Sanitation workers should be regularized in the state, the contract system should be abolished, and a ‘Sanitation Commission’ should be established in Himachal Pradesh, modeled after Delhi, Punjab, and Karnataka. Rajan Chaudhary Courtesy: Hindi News