Protest against playing Baba Bhimrao Ambedkar songs: Violence in Dalit girl’s wedding procession, 5 booked, wedding held under police protection
In Sambhal, people protested against the playing of Baba Bhimrao Ambedkar songs during the wedding procession of a Dalit girl. An altercation broke out between the two parties, which later escalated into a physical altercation. Eight to ten people from the bride’s side were injured in the incident. The incident occurred in Allipur Buzurg village, located in the Baniyatheer police station area of Chandausi tehsil in Sambhal district. The wedding procession of Tejpal, son of Lakhan, a resident of the village, arrived in Allipur Buzurg from Akbarpur Chitauri village at around 5:30 pm on April 29th. The procession was passing by the post office in the village. It is alleged that songs related to Baba Bhimrao Ambedkar were being played on a Tata Magic DJ system, which was objected to by Ram Bahadur, son of Pati, Ajay, son of Khempal, Aman, son of Subhash, Bablu, son of Dinu, and Prempal, son of Jagatpal. They are also accused of assaulting members of the Dalit community. Several videos of the altercation have surfaced, showing a young man standing on the roof holding a stick while people standing below are fighting among themselves. Acting police station in-charge Roshan Singh stated that a named report has been filed against five people based on a complaint from the bride’s father, Tejpal, regarding the altercation during the wedding procession in Allipur Buzurg village. Police are investigating the matter and efforts are being made to arrest the culprits. Tejpal Singh stated that police arrived in the village after the altercation. His daughter’s wedding was conducted under police protection, and the wedding procession departed the next morning. He has demanded strict action against the culprits from the police administration. Sunny Gupta, Sambhal Courtesy: Hindi News
Is India’s new transgender law not grounded in scientific knowledge?
A mere physical examination is not enough to certify a person as transgender, according to experts Is India’s new transgender law not grounded in scientific knowledge? Parliament last month passed the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill, 2026. The new legislation significantly amends the 2019 Act. According to the new law, an examination by the medical board is mandatory to confirm transgender identity. Is India’s new transgender law not grounded in scientific knowledge? It only recognises certain socio-cultural identities.Photo: Vikas Choudhary/CSE However, critics have pointed out that the new law leaves out many trans men, trans women and non-binary individuals, who do not fall into law’s definition of a ‘transgender person’ which only includes socio-cultural identities like hijra, kinner, aravani. Is India’s new transgender law not grounded in scientific knowledge? This, say critics, leaves out many trans men, trans women and non-binary individuals.Photo: Vikas Choudhary/CSE Experts have said that the new law is not based on scientific knowledge. Vikas Choudhary Courtesy : Down To Earth Note: This news is originally published on https:/downtoearth.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Rahul Gandhi Flags Great Nicobar Connectivity Project As ‘Destruction Dressed As Development’ During Island Visit
Rahul Gandhi also mentioned that this project aims at the destruction of enormous ecological properties, and that he would raise this matter in the Parliament Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi strongly condemned the Union Government’s proposed infrastructure project on the Great Nicobar islands. He is currently visiting Andaman and Nicobar, where he is assessing the environmental impact the project could have, and talking to indigenous communities about the same. On Wednesday, April 29, 2026, he said: “What is being done in Great Nicobar is one of the biggest scams and gravest crimes against this country’s natural and tribal heritage in our lifetimes.” See Also: Hardoi School Principal Booked Under BNS and SC/ST Act After Viral Video of Her Shouting at Parents Rahul Gandhi: Destruction Dressed In Development’s Language The Rae Bareli MP described the Nicobar islands as one of the most beautiful forests he has seen in his lifetime, hosting a rich flora and fauna. In a post on X (April 29, 2026), Gandhi talked about his visit to the region. He said: “These are the most extraordinary forests I have ever seen in my life. Trees older than memory. Forests that took generations to grow. The people on this island are equally beautiful – both the adivasi communities and the settlers – but they are being robbed of what is rightfully theirs.” Flagging the ecological loss, he mentioned that this project ignores the livelihoods and aspirations of the local tribal communities living in the area. He also visited Campbell Bay on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, to talk to the tribal leaders opposing the project. “This is not development. This is destruction dressed in development’s language,” he added. Targeting Crony Capitalism Highlighting the scale of the deforestation as a major ecological loss for the region’s indigenous communities, the Lok Sabha MP said: “It’s amazing that 160 square kilometres of these forests is being chopped up, so that one businessman, Mr. Adani, can fulfill his fantasies.” The Adani Group has expressed interest in developing a trans-shipment project in the region. Rahul Gandhi has previously, on multiple occasions, targeted Gautam Adani for building projects that would pose harmful disadvantages to local communities. The Opposition recently targeted the BJP government in Assam for handing over a thermal power contract to Adani for procuring 3,200 MW power in the region, a move that could potentially deprive the state exchequer of thousands of crores of rupees. The ₹81,000-Crore Great Nicobar Connectivity Project The Great Nicobar Connectivity Project, officially known as the “Holistic Development of Great Nicobar Island” project, is a massive strategic and commercial initiative piloted by NITI Aayog. Now estimated at over ₹92,000 crores, the ambitious plan aims to transform the southernmost island into a global maritime and defense hub. The development includes the construction of a deep-water International Container Transshipment Terminal (ICTT) at Galathea Bay, a greenfield dual-use international airport, a gas-and-solar power plant, and a new coastal township projected to house over 3,00,000 people. Recent data indicate that the present population of the Great Nicobar Islands is around 8,000. To accommodate this sprawling infrastructure, the project could result in the mass felling of nearly 8.5 lakh trees, clearing approximately 160 square kilometres of pristine rainforests. See Also: Governments Come and Go, But Burari’s Fate Remains Same: Dust All Around, Long Pending Sewer Work and Collapsed Administration, It’s What US President Trump Would Call a HellHole Will Raise The Issue In Parliament, Says Rahul Gandhi Gandhi mentioned that this project aims at the destruction of enormous ecological properties, and also said that he would raise this matter in the Parliament. The project has already seen immense backlash from local tribal communities and environmentalists, who have raised concerns over the lack of transparency of the project, severe environmental risks, and the alleged neglect of tribal rights by the central government. Ultimately, the push for the Great Nicobar project highlights a growing conflict between the government’s aggressive infrastructure ambitions and the urgent need to protect India’s most vulnerable indigenous populations and irreplaceable natural heritage.India travel guides ParliamentAuthor:Gaurav Pandey, Edited by :Dhruv Sharma Courtesy : News Gram Note: This news is originally published on https:/newsgram.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Rahul Gandhi: “Youth’s homes have been turned into a police state”; Rahul Gandhi said on Ladakh, “Democratic rights have also been crushed.”
Congress MP Rahul Gandhi has targeted PM Modi and the central government on the issue related to the Union Territory of Ladakh. In a post on Instagram, he wrote, “The youth of Ladakh told me how their beautiful home has been turned into a police state. Their voices have been suppressed, democratic rights have been crushed, and their land and fragile environment are being handed over to Modiji’s billionaire friends.” The people of Ladakh want employment and industry. Rahul wrote, “The people of Ladakh are not against development. They want employment and industry, but development that benefits the local people. I hope the Home Minister understands this truth during his visit.” Published by: Jyoti Bhaskar Courtesy: Hindi News
Dalit History Month: How Caste Shapes Life After Inclusion
MPP student Tejaswi Singh reflects on Dalit History Month and how caste shapes labour dignity and opportunity in India In India, where one in six individuals is a Scheduled Caste, Dalit History Month offers, at first glance, a moment of remembrance. It also raises a difficult question: one that asks not only what has been corrected in the long arc of caste-based exclusion, but what continues to endure, often less visibly, within the structures of participation, labour, and everyday social life in India? Much like the staggered lanes of a relay track, where each runner begins from a different position not by choice but by design, individuals enter social and economic systems already carrying the weight of histories that determine how far they must travel to arrive at what is considered an equal point. Over time, policies such as reservation and affirmative actions have attempted to reduce these distances, to move starting lines closer together, or at least compensate for their unevenness. In measurable terms, these interventions have produced results. The proportion of Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) in government employment increased from 12.2% in 1990 to 21.9% in 2019. Between 2015 and 2022, enrolment of SC and ST students in higher education rose significantly, with SC students making up 15.3% and ST students 6.3%, together accounting for 21.6% of total enrolment. Female enrolment within the SC category also increased sharply, rising by 51% during this period. For earnings, a report from 2022 indicates that the ‘bottom 50%’ of the Indian population which includes a large share of SC, ST, and OBC groups, has a disproportionately low share of total national income at 13%. Taken together, this evidence shows improved earnings and a gradual, though uneven, entry into the formal sector. Yet, these shifts in access, when observed more closely, do not settle into a story of transformation. They mark an opening, certainly, but do not mean that Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes have an equal position in the system. Representation has expanded, but it remains uneven, often clustering at the lower tiers of institutional and economic hierarchies. Scheduled Castes, for instance, continue to be overrepresented in low-status and low-paying occupations, such as manual labour and scavenging, while being underrepresented in high-status and high-paying occupations, such as professional and managerial jobs. According to the 2011-12 NSSO data, 63% of SC workers are engaged as wage labourers, with 32% in casual labour—double the national average of 16%. This reflects both economic vulnerability and persistent occupational segmentation that policy alone has not addressed. The question that emerges here is less about entry and more about placement. If participation does not change the terms on which individuals are incorporated into systems of work and recognition, it risks reshuffling them without altering the structure itself. It is in this space that caste continues to operate through expectations about where one belongs, what one is expected to do, and how that work is valued. This becomes more legible in moments where formal inclusion meets social resistance. In June 2019, two Scheduled Caste women appointed at an Anganwadi centre in Madurai were transferred shortly after their hiring, following objections from dominant caste groups who claimed that their presence would “pollute the food.” This incident does not reflect a lack of policy; the appointment itself was made possible by it. Rather, it reveals the limits of policy when it encounters forms of social perception that remain largely unaltered. Employment, in this instance, did not secure dignity; it exposed the conditions under which dignity continues to be withheld. Even in the case of tribal communities, inclusion in economic activities often unfolds alongside processes of marginalisation. The Birhor community, classified as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG), offers one such case. Their dietary practice of eating monkeys has been met with stigma and exclusion since monkeys are believed to be under the protection of the Hindu God Hanuman. Even as constitutional provisions emphasise their protection and advancement, formal recognition continues to coexist with social distance. These instances begin to suggest that caste persists not only as a structure of access, but as a structure of perception, one that shapes how individuals are seen even after they have entered spaces from which they were historically excluded. The stigma attached to marginalised communities does not disappear with the entry of the State. It often persists, sometimes subtly, sometimes explicitly, influencing both the opportunities available and the terms on which they are offered. As Dr B.R. Ambedkar had argued, restrictions on occupation do not only limit income but also shape whether employment is possible at all. What this indicates is that while affirmative policies (such as reservation, political representation, conditional cash transfers and scholarship) have been necessary and useful to a good extent, they have not been sufficient in altering the deeper social relations that govern inclusion. While economic participation has increased, it has not been accompanied by a proportional shift in dignity or recognition. Therefore, the persistence of caste is not simply a failure of policy, but a reminder that policy operates within a social field that does not change at the same pace. In this context, the ongoing discussions around caste-based enumeration could be seen in a positive light. The absence of updated, disaggregated data has long limited the ability to assess how caste continues to shape outcomes in contemporary India. If conducted with transparency and methodological care, the absence of vote-bank politics, such an exercise could offer a clearer view of not only who participates, but where they are located within systems of work, income, and representation. In doing so, it may allow for a rethinking of policy frameworks that have, over time, become somewhat static, even as the realities they seek to address have evolved. To conclude, the track may have widened, but the lanes remain staggered in ways that are not always immediately visible and not easily corrected through institutional presence alone. Dalit History Month, in this sense, returns not only as a site
Caste-Based Violence in Gujarat: Sarpanch and his associates brutally beat a Dalit family for requesting them not to damage a drain.
Caste-based individuals attacked a Dalit family, using weapons such as sticks and mace. The attackers also pelted stones and tried to break down the door of the family’s home. Patan – On July 16, a minor dispute escalated into a violent attack on a Dalit family in Datrana village, Santalpur taluka, Patan district, Gujarat, when the village sarpanch and his associates launched a deadly attack on a Dalit family. The incident began when a Dalit man requested them not to damage a drain constructed in front of his house. Enraged by this minor issue, the sarpanch and his associates not only used caste-based slurs but also attacked the family members with weapons such as sticks and mace. This incident is another example of the increasing caste-based violence against the Dalit community in Gujarat, highlighting social inequality and the indifference of the local administration. According to the FIR, on July 16th, at around 6:30 p.m., Datrana village sarpanch Jeevanbhai Savabhai Ahir was removing mud from the road with a JCB machine. During this, Madeobhai Dhawal, a Dalit, requested him not to damage the drain in front of his house to prevent water from spilling onto the road and avoid dirt. This enraged the sarpanch and he began abusing Madeobhai, including caste-based slurs. The sarpanch then attacked Madeobhai with a gadda patu (a type of tool). When Madeobhai’s family members, Muljibhai Danabhai Dhawal, Naranbhai, his wife Upaben, Mayurbhai, and Vinodbhai, intervened to save him, the sarpanch called his companions. These included Kishanbhai Jeevanbhai Ahir, Bhachabhai alias Bhappu Patabhai Ahir, Virambhai Savabhai Ahir, Parbatbhai Lalabhai Ahir, Savabhai Lalabhai Ahir, Dalabhai Lalabhai Ahir, and other unidentified individuals. These individuals attacked the Dalit family in a coordinated manner, using weapons such as sticks and mace. Naranbhai, Upabhen, Muljibhai, Mayurbhai, and Vinodbhai suffered serious injuries, particularly to their backs and heads. The attackers also pelted stones and tried to break down the door of the family’s home. The attackers threatened, “You escaped today, but next time we will kill you.” The injured were taken to the government hospital in Santalpur by 108 ambulance, where they received first aid. Muljibhai Danabhai Dhaval subsequently filed a complaint at the Santalpur police station. The complaint has been filed under sections 3(1)(r) (intentionally insulting a person belonging to a Scheduled Caste/Tribe) and 3(1)(s) (using caste-based slurs against a person belonging to a Scheduled Caste/Tribe) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 (SC/ST Act), along with sections of the BNS. The FIR names Sarpanch Jivanbhai Savabhai Ahir, Kishanbhai Jivanbhai Ahir, Bhachabhai alias Bhappo Patabhai Ahir, Virambhai Savabhai Ahir, Parbatbhai Lalabhai Ahir, Savabhai Lalabhai Ahir, and Dalabhai Lalabhai Ahir. Social activist Narendrabhai M. Parmar from Patan says that the incident in Datrana village is proof that caste mentality is still deeply rooted in society. Incidents of caste-based violence against Dalits are frequently occurring in Gujarat. According to National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data, more than 1,500 cases were registered under the SC/ST Act in Gujarat in 2023, reflecting rising atrocities against the Dalit community. In many cases, especially in rural areas, Dalits are subjected to social exclusion, humiliation, and violence. This violence often stems from minor disputes, such as personal lifestyle or participation in social activities. Geetha Sunil Pillai Courtesy: Hindi News
Gujarat: Dalits invited to the Ram Temple Pran Pratishtha ceremony were told to bring plates and glasses from home!
The community refused to accept this condition, and an FIR was filed at the Visavadar police station. A case of alleged discrimination and disrespectful treatment of members of the Dalit community has come to light during the Pran Pratishtha Mahotsav of the Lord Ram Temple in Bhootdi village, Visavadar taluka, Junagadh district. The organizing committee had invited approximately ten people to the event, but they were asked to arrive after others had finished eating, eat their food separately, and not enter the temple. They were also asked to bring their own plates, bowls, and drinking water from home. Members of the Dalit community allege that separate arrangements for food and water were made for them, which clearly amounted to untouchability and caste-based insults, and therefore, the offended individuals decided not to attend the event. 25-year-old Ajay Chatur Boricha filed a complaint with the Visavadar police station. According to the complaint, around 5 pm on April 27th, five members of the organizing committee came to his neighborhood and invited about 10 Scheduled Caste members present there for the temple’s consecration ceremony. They also imposed the condition that they arrive after other caste members had eaten and that they bring their own plates and bowls. The Dalit community refused to accept this condition. Consequently, the proposed community feast in the village was canceled. However, the temple’s consecration ceremony was completed on the evening of April 29th. Based on this complaint, the police have registered a case against five individuals: Babu Uka Hapani, Narendra Bhanji Siroya, Ramnik Samji Sorathia, Atul Bhikha Siroya, and Phoola Popat Siroya under sections 3(1)(r), 3(1)(za)A, 3(1)(za)C of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, as well as sections 196(2) and 54 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). An investigation has been initiated following the FIR lodged at the Visavadar police station. The investigation has been assigned to Raviraj Singh Parmar, DSP of the Junagadh SC/ST Cell. The police have conducted a panchnama of the scene of the incident, recorded witness statements, and issued notices to the accused. The victim Dalit families have demanded a fair investigation and justice. The case is currently under investigation, and further action will be taken based on the investigation report. Casteism Incidents in Gujarat In the past few months, numerous incidents of caste-based discrimination, untouchability, and violence against the Dalit community have been reported in Gujarat. These include restrictions on temple entry, social boycotts, attacks on wedding horse riders, and untouchability in everyday life. Recently, a sensational and heartbreaking incident emerged from Amreli district in which Mahesh Premji Rathod, a 24-year-old man who had come to Shantaba General Hospital for his elderly uncle’s treatment, was beaten to death with plastic pipes for throwing leftover food into a free dining hall on the hospital premises. In March of this year, the Dalit deputy sarpanch of a village in Sabarkantha district filed a serious police complaint against eight people. The dispute is said to be rooted in the village panchayat’s decision to remove an old and dilapidated bird feeder tower (platform). It is alleged that during a meeting convened on this issue, these people threatened the deputy sarpanch and used caste-related slurs against him. Similarly, in February, in Chandrumana village, Patan, when a Dalit groom rode a horse, people with a casteist mindset allegedly resorted to hooliganism, armed with swords. They not only threatened the groom but also assaulted members of the wedding procession. In January of this year, a case of caste-based violence was reported against Tulsi Solanki, a 26-year-old Dalit laborer, in Piprala village, Santalpur tehsil, Patan district. Three men attacked Solanki with sticks, fists, and kicks, hurling casteist slurs, and threatening to kill him after he refused to lend them his glasses. In 2025, a case was filed against four women for verbally and physically abusing a Dalit woman during a Garba event in a village in Mahisagar district. The victim filed an FIR at the Virpur police station, alleging that she was subjected to caste-based abuse and physical assault after attempting to participate in a traditional dance festival with a friend. Geetha Sunil Pillai Courtesy: Hindi News
Obscenity against Dalit girl in Kannauj: Accused sentenced to 5 years in prison, fined ₹10,000 under the POCSO Act
The court has sentenced the accused to 5 years in prison for sexually assaulting a Dalit girl in Kannauj district. A fine of ₹10,000 has also been imposed on the accused, which will be given as compensation to the victim. This incident occurred in Rooppur village, under the jurisdiction of the Saurikh police station. On September 10, 2020, Pappu Sharma, a resident of the village, lured a Dalit girl to his home. The accused stripped naked in front of the girl and sexually assaulted her. When the girl screamed, her mother arrived and managed to get him out. When she protested, the accused also abused her mother. Subsequently, the victim’s mother filed a complaint against Pappu Sharma at the Saurikh police station under sections of the POCSO and SC/ST Acts. During the court hearing, accused Pappu Sharma defended himself, saying that he had not stripped naked in front of the girl, but that his towel had come loose. Government advocate Brijesh Shukla stated that based on the evidence and witness statements, Special Judge Ram Gopal Singh sentenced Pappu Sharma to five years’ imprisonment and a fine of 10,000 rupees. However, due to a lack of evidence, he was acquitted under the SC/ST Act. Vikas Awasthi | Kannauj Courtesy: Hindi News
Police launch probe into death of Dalit youth in Pudukottai
Police have launched an investigation into the death of a 20-year Dalit youth, whose body was found in a non-functional stone quarry in Pudukottai district a few days ago, after his parents raised suspicion of foul play. The victim, whose identity was established as R. Hariharan of Keelapatti village, had left home on April 21 and did not return. His body was found in a non-functional quarry in Vellanur police station limits on April 23. Acting on a complaint from the victim’s father Rajkumar, the Vellanur police initially registered a case under section 194 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). The body was sent to Pudukottai Government Medical College Hospital for a postmortem examination. But the youth’s parents refused to accept the body after completion of the post-mortem on April 24. They suspected that their son had been killed by family members of the girl with whom he was in love with earlier. The Vellanur police subsequently altered the case to section 108 of the BNS (abetment of suicide) read with section 3 (2) (va) of The SC / ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act naming the girl, her father and her brothers as the accused. The victim’s parents received the body on April 27 and it was buried thereafter. Police sources said the youth and the girl were in love had loved each other and had allegedly run away from their homes a few months ago. They were traced and the girl was handed over to her parents. Arrangements were said to have been made for the marriage of the girl. The case was being investigated by the Deputy Superintendent of Police, Pudukottai. The sources said the final report of the post-mortem was awaited. Assistance for overcoming suicidal thoughts is available on the State’s health helpline 104, Tele-MANAS 14416, and Sneha’s suicide prevention helpline 044-24640050. 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
‘Great Nicobar Project is destruction disguised as development,’ Rahul Gandhi blasts the Centre
Rahul Gandhi has slammed the central government, calling the Andaman and Nicobar Project “destruction disguised as development.” New Delhi. Although the National Green Tribunal has approved the Andaman and Nicobar Project, Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, has alleged that the project is one of the biggest scams and most serious crimes against the country’s natural and tribal heritage. Rahul said that millions of trees will be cut down in the 160 square kilometer rainforest of the islands. Calling it “destruction disguised as development,” he announced that he would raise the issue in Parliament and appealed to the public to view the project in the same light. In a post on Instagram on Wednesday, after concluding his three-day visit to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Rahul Gandhi said that during his visit to Great Nicobar, he had seen the most extraordinary forest of his life, with trees that are older than we can remember. Forests that took generations to grow. The people of the island are equally beautiful, whether they are tribal communities or settlers. In a video shared on social media, Rahul Gandhi claimed that everyone on the island is against the project and that people have not forgotten what compensation they will receive for their land. The Leader of the Opposition said that after visiting the island, he finally understood why the government had been preventing him from visiting, and after much effort, he was finally able to travel. Edited by Sanjay Mishra: Deepak Gupta Courtesy: Hindi News