Special Court Decision: Five Convicts in Narsinghpur Murder of Dalit Middle-Aged Man Sentenced to Life Imprisonment
According to the prosecution, the incident occurred on March 14, 2025. Nitesh Mehra, a resident of Umaria village in the Gotegaon area, was called by accused Kamlesh Prajapati and abused… Read More Special Court Decision. Naidunia Representative, Narsinghpur. The court of Special Judge (Scheduled Castes/Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act) Manoj Kumar Ladhiya, delivering swift justice in a serious case of murder and caste-based atrocity, convicted five accused from the same family and sentenced them to life imprisonment. The Special Court convicted the accused, Kamlesh Prajapati (28), Annilal Prajapati (50), Akhilesh Prajapati (24), Chhotu alias Umesh (22), and Savita Bai (47) (all residents of Umaria village, Gotegaon police station) under sections 103(1)/190 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the SC/ST Act and sentenced them to life imprisonment and a fine. According to the prosecution, the incident occurred on March 14, 2025. Nitesh Mehra, a resident of Umaria village in the Gotegaon area, received a call from the accused, Kamlesh Prajapati, abusing him, and informing him that they were assaulting his father, Sukhlal Mehra. Nitesh immediately rushed to the scene (a gram field) and saw the accused brutally beating his father with sticks and kicks. Sukhlal suffered serious injuries due to a minor dispute (over leaving straw) and caste-based hatred. Sukhlal was later declared dead on the way to the hospital. Court Verdict and Sentence On behalf of the prosecution, ADPO Amit Kumar Rai presented strong evidence and oral arguments. The court agreed with the prosecution’s arguments and sentenced the five accused to life imprisonment and a fine of 2,000 rupees each under Section 103(1) of the IPC for murder. Kamlesh, Annilal, and Akhilesh were sentenced to 2 years’ rigorous imprisonment and a fine of 500 rupees each for rioting and other charges. Chhotu and Savita Bai were sentenced to 1 year’s rigorous imprisonment and a fine of 500 rupees each. BY VARIJ BAJPAIEDITED BY: NAVODIT SAKTAWAT Courtesy: Hindi News
Rahul-Akhilesh’s ‘UP ke Ladke’ chemistry puts youth anger at centre of UP’s 2027 political battle
The spirit of “UP ke Ladke” resurfaced at Jantar Mantar, where Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav stood with protesting students instead of sharing an election stage. LUCKNOW: The camaraderie between Congress MP and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and Samajwadi Party MP and national president Akhilesh Yadav seen at Jantar Mantar during the recent students’ protests was a reminder of the 2017 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, when the two had come together as “UP ke Ladke”, an expression allegedly coined by Prashant Kishore. While Rahul Gandhi brought the visibility of the Leader of the Opposition, Akhilesh Yadav carried the electoral weight of Uttar Pradesh, the state that plays a decisive role in national politics and is set to go to the Assembly polls early next year. Together, they reframed the protest as a question of governance and accountability. However, will the political chemistry between Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav, combined with the alleged youth anger against the dispensation, be able to deliver major political gains to the INDIA bloc in the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections? That will be interesting to watch. The ethos of “UP ke Ladke” was palpable in a very different setting at Jantar Mantar. This time, there was no electoral pitch, no seat-sharing talks and no campaign rally. There were protesting students instead. The NEET agitation, initially focused on alleged irregularities in the examination process, expanded to include unemployment, recruitment delays and declining trust in public institutions after Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav joined the protest. They might not have initiated the agitation, but their presence amplified its political significance and visibility. While Rahul Gandhi said the protest was not just about NEET or one examination but about the future of the youth, which was at stake, Akhilesh Yadav added that students in Uttar Pradesh were angry over delays in recruitment. “This is a fight for their future,” he said. Perhaps it was their presence that transformed the protest from a student-led agitation into a national political issue. For the Opposition, the issue fits into a wider narrative of unemployment and institutional failure. For Akhilesh Yadav, it is even more politically immediate, given Uttar Pradesh’s large population of competitive examination aspirants. Though the “UP ke Ladke” slogan failed to make much impact among voters in the 2017 Assembly elections, when both leaders campaigned together as the young faces of the Congress-SP alliance, the political symbolism endured. It resurfaced during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, when the Congress and Samajwadi Party jointly challenged the BJP in Uttar Pradesh under the INDIA bloc, changing the political landscape of the state. The Jantar Mantar appearance signals that this partnership is once again finding political space, this time around youth anger and examination-related distress. However, political experts believe the joint appearance of Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav is politically significant and, if sustained, could shape the anti-incumbency mood among first-time voters in the 2027 Assembly elections. The camaraderie may strengthen Opposition unity in urban and semi-urban constituencies where examination-related frustration is most visible, political experts say. Though the BJP continues to maintain strong organisational dominance in Uttar Pradesh, youth anger operates on a different tangent, away from traditional caste-based politics. This makes the NEET controversy and broader issues surrounding the examination system potentially powerful political triggers. The real challenge for the ruling party is addressing the lived experience of aspirants who feel excluded from opportunities. “However, it is imperative for both Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav to expand the issue from NEET to jobs, recruitment, and education reform besides maintaining unity when electoral negotiations begin in the earnest,” said Prof A K Mishra, a political scientist. If the sentiment that their future is at stake deepens among the youth, the defining question of the 2027 Assembly elections may not be about caste arithmetic or party machinery. It could instead be about who succeeds in owning the politics of student anxiety, youth anger and the aspirations of a new generation of women voters. Namita Bajpai 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 ri
Dalit woman denied payment, subjected to casteist slurs: Casteist slurs and assault upon protest; FIR filed a month later
In Vidyarthipuram village, under the Bichhwan police station area of Mainpuri, a Dalit woman was denied payment after purchasing goods from a shop. When she protested, the accused used casteist slurs against her and assaulted her, leaving her injured. An FIR has been filed a month after the incident. Vidyarthipuram resident Sapna, wife of Mansingh Jatav, stated in her FIR that on June 21st, at 2 p.m., she was alone at her grocery store when Akash, son of Sukhpal, and Nitin Chauhan, son of Guddan, from the neighboring village of Garh Nagla Bhagat, came to her shop and purchased goods. When Sapna asked for money, the accused began abusing her. They used casteist slurs and threatened to kill her if she complained. When Sapna asked for money, the accused also assaulted Sapna, leaving her injured. The woman filed a complaint with higher authorities. Subsequently, a case was registered on July 25th, and the woman underwent a medical examination on July 26th. Station House Officer Ashish Dubey stated that an FIR has been registered based on the complaint, and further action will be taken after the investigation. Shashikant | Orandh (Kurawali), Mainpuri Courtesy: Hindi News
Dalit activists question DK district administration over not holding SC/ST grievance meet
Questioning the Dakshina Kannada district administration for not holding an SC/ST grievance redressal meeting for nearly two years, Dalit activists said the district administration should hold the meeting once every three months. Speaking at a SC/ST grievance redressal meeting on Sunday, held jointly by the Mangaluru City police and Dakshina Kannada district police at the office of the Mangaluru Police Commissioner, activist Jagadish Pandeshwar said many of the grievances raised during meetings held by the police related to revenue matters. “We cannot have unnecessary discussions about revenue matters in this meeting,” he said. He said that while the Udupi district administration held meetings once every three months, the Dakshina Kannada district administration had not held grievance redressal meetings for nearly two years. Mr. Pandeshwar said he had met Revenue Minister G. Parameshwara and apprised him of the issue. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) H.N. Mithun said he would convey the demand for a grievance redressal meeting by the district administration to Additional Deputy Commissioner K. Raju. When an activist spoke about a dispute related to land in Kunjathbail village, Mr. Mithun asked Dalit organisations to render legal assistance to Dalits in protecting their legal rights. The DCP appreciated the efforts of para legal volunteers from the District Legal Services Authority in participating in SC/ST grievance meetings at the Mulki police station and rendering legal assistance to affected parties. Dalit activist S.P. Anand said people were still facing issues in getting caste certificates as Adi Dravida. “Though the government has notified sub-castes under Adi Dravida, officials are still not issuing caste certificates,” Mr. Anand said. On the demand for deployment of home guards across the district, Additional Superintendent of Police Anil Kumar S. Bhoomraddi said that against the sanctioned strength of 800 home guards, only 640 were working, while the remaining 160 posts were vacant. He said only people keen on serving society for an honorarium could come forward to work as home guards. In the last 10 months, only 24 people had come forward to serve as home guards. A home guard is paid ₹800 per day by the police, while other departments pay ₹500 per day, Mr. Bhoomraddi said. A woman said the city police had so far not succeeded in tracing her husband, who had been missing with another woman for the past 26 days. The Bajpe police have registered the missing case of her husband, while Mangaluru Women’s Police have registered a case of the missing woman. A police inspector from Mangaluru South police station said a team had gone to a lodge in Kukke Subrahmanya a few days ago, but the two escaped from the lodge, he said. The Hindu Bureau Courtesy : The Hindu Note: This news is originally published on https:/thehindu.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
As Modi meets Sachkhand Ballan chief, why Punjab’s largest Dalit dera matters politically
Home to Punjab’s largest Ravidasia congregation, the dera has evolved into a symbol of Dalit assertion, religious identity and electoral significance. Chandigarh: Last week, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi was in Jalandhar to inaugurate a new railway station, one of the few persons he chose to specially meet was Sant Niranjan Dass, head of the influential Dalit Dera Sachkhand Ballan. The warmth between the PM and the Dalit dera appears mutual. In December last year, Sant Dass had first met Modi inviting him to the dera on the occasion of Guru Ravidas Jayanti, and the PM visited the dera in February to participate in the ceremony. The dera chief was also honoured with the civilian award Padma Shri last month. Apart from the growing personal friendship, the PM’s open patronage of Punjab’s largest Dalit dera can also be read politically as part of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) outreach to Dalit voters ahead of next year’s assembly polls. ThePrint explains the emergence of Dera Sachkhand Ballan, located at Ballan in Jalandhar, and its political significance in Punjab. Three prominent deras Deras, widespread in Punjab, are socio-religious centres of various sects and organisations. Unlike Sikh gurdwaras, where the Guru Granth Sahib is considered a living guru, deras are generally led by a living guru with a personal following. Dera Radha Soami Satsang Beas, Dera Sacha Sauda (headquartered in Sirsa) and Dera Sachkhand Ballan are the three most followed deras in Punjab, commanding a following running into several lakhs. Though the dera Beas, located in the Majha belt, is considered to be apolitical, the BJP has in the past few years made multiple efforts to cement the party’s bond with dera chief Baba Gurinder Singh. The outreach has included the PM meeting Baba Gurinder Singh on several occasions. The dera at Sirsa, which has a large following in Malwa, is headed by Gurmeet Ram Rahim currently in jail serving multiple sentences for rape and murder. He is considered to be close to the BJP, with the administration allowing him breaks from jail several times in the year. Now, the bonhomie with a prominent Dalit dera in the heart of Doaba completes the picture. Dalits hold the key Dalits constitute almost 32 percent of Punjab’s population, the highest proportion of Scheduled Caste (SC) population among all Indian states, according to the 2011 Census. They are divided among Sikh, Hindu and Christian faiths, and many flock to deras. Dalits also do not vote en bloc in Punjab. Among the Dalits, the Ravidasias, Ramdasias and Ad-Dharmis are the major sub-groups, concentrated in the Doaba region comprising the districts of Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, SBS Nagar and Phagwara. Ronki Ram, from the department of sociology, Panjab University Chandigarh, had in his seminal study on Punjab Dalits reported that the Ravidasias are the most prominent Dalit community in the state. “Out of the 39 SC castes in Punjab, the four major castes of Chamar (23.45 percent), Ad-dharmi (11.48 percent), Balmiki (9.78 percent) and Mazhabi (29.72 percent) constitute 74.44 percent of the total SC population,” he wrote in his research paper titled ‘Caste within Caste: Predicament of Political Solidarity among Scheduled Castes in Contemporary Punjab’. “Chamars are further divided into Ravidasias (leather workers) and Ramdasias (weavers). The Ravidasias have utilised the availability of reservation in education well, and are more upwardly mobile than Ramdasias,” he told ThePrint. The Ravidasias are followers of Guru Ravidas, a 15th-century Bhakti saint and social reformer of the Chamar caste whose egalitarian message resonated with Dalit communities. “Ravidas was born into the Chamar caste, also known as Kutbandhla, one of the Scheduled Castes (SC) in Uttar Pradesh. Chamars are known by their profession of leather and tanning. They were oppressed and their touch and sight were considered polluting by the upper castes. Ravidas revolted against this inhuman system of untouchability. He adopted bhakti as a mode of expression for his revolt,” reads Ronki Ram’s research paper. Guru Ravidas’s poetic hymns are also included in the holy text of the Guru Granth Sahib. Every year, trains full of devotees from Sachkhand Ballan head to Shri Guru Ravidas Janam Asthan in Varanasi to mark the guru’s birth anniversary. During his visit to Jalandhar last week, the PM also flagged off the Sant Ravidas Express connecting Amritsar to Varanasi to facilitate devotees travelling from Punjab. The Sachkhand Ballan Dera is the largest dera of the Ravidasias in Punjab. According to Ronki Ram, the growth and expansion of Sachkhand Ballan is an example of the upward mobility of Ravidasias. “Many Ravidasias went abroad and have earned well and have invested in Guru Ravidas deras. They have built temples, gurdwaras, bhawans (memorial halls), educational institutions/chairs, cultural organisations and hospitals in his name all over Punjab. They are also networked and, as a community, enjoy political clout. The growth and expansion of Sachkhand Ballan is an example of this upward mobility of Ravidasias,” he said. A faultline among Ravidasias and radical Sikhs emerged in 2009 when six armed men attacked a Ravidasia congregation at Ravidas Gurdwara in Vienna in Austria, where Sant Ramanand, the then second in command of the dera, was fatally injured. Sant Niranjan Dass, who was heading the sect even then and was with Sant Ramanand, was injured. Sikh extremists saw some Ravidasia practises as divergent from orthodox Sikh canon. They objected to keeping the Guru Granth Sahib at the same level as a human guru. The 2009 attack triggered protests in Punjab, with clashes among Sikhs and Ravidasias reported in Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, and other areas. Several vehicles were burnt in the riots that ensued. A passenger train was torched after passengers were asked to evacuate. Then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had to appeal for peace. In September 2010, a Vienna court sentenced the main attacker to life in prison for murder and attempted murder, while four accomplices received 17 to 18-year sentences and a sixth received six months. Demand for separate identity The Vienna incident was pivotal in galvanising the community’s sense of a separate identity.
Dalit farmer assaulted, subjected to casteist slurs; case registered: Incident occurred in Baghaura village, Bar police station area. A case has been filed under the SC/ST Act along with sections of assault and assault.
Lalitpur. A Dalit farmer working in his field in Baghaura village, Bar police station area, was assaulted and insulted with casteist slurs. Based on the complaint of the victim, police have registered an FIR against four named accused under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. According to the FIR, Brijlal Ahirwar, a resident of Baghaura village, stated that on July 24, 2026, at around 8 a.m., his uncle, Govinda Ahirwar, was working in his field. Jagdish Yadav, Akash, Dayaram, and Ghuman, residents of the village, arrived and began abusing him. When he resisted, the accused assaulted Govinda Ahirwar with sticks, causing serious injuries. The complaint alleges that the accused insulted her using casteist slurs, threatened to kill her, and fled the scene. The police have registered a case under sections 115(2), 351(3), 352 of the IPC and sections 3(1)(d), 3(1)(g) and 3(2)(va) of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and have begun an investigation. Jitendra Singh | Bar, Lalitpur Courtesy: Hindi News
Eight people have been booked for Dalit harassment in Pratapgarh: They accused youths returning from herding goats, and an FIR was filed on the orders of the SC/ST Court.
A case has been filed against eight named accused in connection with the assault and harassment of Dalits in the Aspur Devsara police station area of Pratapgarh, based on the orders of the SC/ST Court. The police have filed an FIR against the accused under various serious sections, including casteist insults, assault, threats, and rioting, and under the SC/ST Act. According to a petition filed in court by Pramila Devi, a resident of Bhikhampur, her son Lucky and family member Amit Kumar were returning home from herding goats on June 4th. It is alleged that Umesh, Dinesh, Omprakash, Umashankar, Ankit, Kusum, Sanskar, and Shiv from Pritampur village stopped them on the way. A woman who tried to protest was also assaulted. The victim alleges that all the accused used casteist slurs and assaulted the two youths, leaving them injured. Pramila Devi says that when she went to protest and complain about the incident, other people from the Yadav settlement also arrived. She alleges that she was also assaulted, resulting in injuries. FIR registered on court order Following a lack of action at the local level, Pramila Devi sought refuge in the SC/ST Court. Following the court’s direction, the Aspur Devsara police have registered a case against all the named accused under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Police say an investigation has been initiated and further legal action will be taken based on the evidence. Manu Kumar Singh | Pratapgarh Courtesy: Hindi News
“Stop the Metro, shut down the Internet… but they couldn’t stop the paper leaks”; Rahul Gandhi’s scathing attack on PM Modi
Following the closure of 18 Delhi Metro stations, Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi took a dig at PM Modi. He said, “Stop the Metro, shut down the Internet. But PM Modi couldn’t stop the paper leaks.” New Delhi: Students have been protesting at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar for several days over alleged irregularities in the NEET entrance exam. Meanwhile, the government has imposed several restrictions in the capital, including the closure of 18 Delhi Metro stations. Now, Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi has taken a dig at Modi. “Stop the Metro, shut down the roads, shut down the shops, shut down the Internet, and stop eating,” he said, taking a dig at PM Modi. “Stop the Metro, shut down the roads, shut down the shops, shut down the Internet, and stop eating,” he said. Brutal action against students demanding their rights On Saturday, in a post on the social media platform X, Rahul Gandhi said, “Shut down the metro, block roads, close shops. The government has taken these brutal measures against students demanding their rights.” Rahul raised the pellet gun issue Earlier on Friday, Rahul Gandhi launched a scathing attack on the central government in support of students protesting against the paper leak issue. Rahul Gandhi said, “This young man was hit with a pellet gun while he was peacefully protesting with the Indian tricolor in his hands. The government says that pellet guns were not used during the protest, but the truth is in front of everyone.” He claimed that a student’s eye was seriously injured and he lost his vision in the pellet gun attack. Rahul Gandhi said, “I cannot even say with certainty whether this young man’s eyesight will be saved.” Allegations of firing pellet guns against students The Congress leader alleged that pellet guns were fired and they were beaten with sticks against thousands of young people protesting against the paper leak. He said that the students were only protesting peacefully over issues related to their future and the education system. Demand for Dharmendra Pradhan’s Resignation Rahul Gandhi launched a direct attack on Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, saying, “Dharmendra Pradhan is a criminal Education Minister. He should be removed from his post. He symbolizes the decline of the country’s education system. He is responsible for the thousands of people on the streets today.” He alleged that the Modi government has attacked the country’s future, while the students are making only three demands. According to Rahul Gandhi, the protesting students’ main demands are: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan should resign. Strict action should be taken against those who allegedly brutalized the students. Prime Minister Narendra Modi should apologize to the students and the country. Rahul Gandhi appealed to the central government to stop intimidating and assaulting students and to seriously consider and fulfill their demands. Curated by: Abhishek Pandey About the Author Abhishek Pandey is a digital journalist at Navbharat Times. He joined Navbharat Times, the digital wing of the Times of India Group, in July 2025. He currently covers news for the National and Delhi desks. He has four years of experience in journalism, both as a reporter and on the desk. Courtesy: Hindi News
Two M.P. Police constables arrested for raping minor dalit girl in Bhopal
According to the police, the incident took place on July 22 and that the minor survivor lodged a complaint on July 23, based on which a case was registered Two Madhya Pradesh Police personnel have been arrested for allegedly raping a minor Dalit girl after abducting her in Bhopal, police said on Friday (July 24, 2026). According to the police, the incident took place on July 22 and that the minor survivor lodged a complaint in Bhopal’s Jahangirabad police station on July 23, based on which a case was registered. Bhopal Additional Commissioner of Police (law and order) Shailendra Singh Chauhan told The Hindu that the accused have been identified as constables Santosh Sen and Jitendra Singh, and that the duo have been arrested. “The complainant approached Jahangirabad Police Station and reported that two individuals, who are basically police constables, called the minor girl and took her in a car somewhere where one of them raped her,” Mr. Chauhan said. Case registered The officer said that a case under relevant provisions, including the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, and BNS Sections like 137(2), has been registered, and investigation has been taken up. Mr. Chauhan said that a medical examination was conducted on the survivor. Another officer from Jahangirabad said that the accused had called the girl and lured her on the pretext of taking her to someone’s birthday. “They then took her to a secluded location where Santosh Sen raped her. After this they left the girl at a square in the city,” the officer said, requesting anonymity. The officer said that the girl is currently at her home and her health condition is fine. Mehul Malpani Courtesy : The Hindu Note: This news is originally published on https:/thehindu.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Husband attacked with axes and sticks for protesting against wife’s molestation: Dalit family attacked with axes and sticks, caste-related abuses alleged
A Dalit family has been attacked with axes and sticks in the Nai Mandi police station area of Muzaffarnagar for protesting against alleged molestation of a woman. The victim’s family alleges that neighbors attacked the young man with sticks and axes, seriously injuring him. They also hurled caste-related abuses and threatened to kill the entire family. The injured man is undergoing treatment at the district hospital. Police have launched an investigation. The incident took place in Haripuram Kookra. According to the victim, some young men from the neighborhood had been allegedly harassing and teasing his wife for a long time. When he protested, he was first beaten up. Attacked with Weapons After Calling Family The victim alleges that when he called his family to the scene, the accused arrived armed with sticks and sharp weapons like axes and attacked the entire family. He suffered serious injuries to his head and several parts of his body. He was subsequently admitted to the district hospital. Allegations of Casteist Abuses and Threats The victim alleged that the attackers used casteist slurs during the assault and said, “We will not allow people from lower castes to live in the neighborhood.” They also threatened to rape his wife and kill his entire family. The victim has demanded action against the named accused and 10 to 12 unidentified individuals. He alleges that all of them arrived with weapons in a planned manner. Police Investigating Upon receiving information about the incident, police from the Nai Mandi police station arrived at the scene. Police have conducted a medical examination of the injured and have begun investigating the case based on the complaint filed by the victim’s family. The police say that further legal action will be taken based on the facts that emerge during the investigation. Varun Kumar Sharma | Muzaffarnagar Courtesy: Hindi News