Dalit Woman Attacked in Gadaganj; FIR Filed After 6 Days: Accused Also Beat Husband and Mother-in-Law; Previous Case Under SC/ST Act Also Registered
In Bishun Das Pur village, located within the Gadaganj police station area of Raebareli district, Shanti Devi—a woman belonging to a Scheduled Caste—along with her husband, Ranjit Kumar, and mother-in-law, Rajkumari, were subjected to a life-threatening assault. The attackers dragged them out of their home and beat them, resulting in a severe head injury to Shanti Devi. She required nine stitches on her head and sustained serious injuries to her hands, legs, and waist. In an unconscious state, Shanti Devi was rushed to the Dinshah Gaura Community Health Center. After receiving primary treatment, she was referred to the District Hospital; subsequently, as her condition failed to improve, she was admitted to AIIMS. Following six days of treatment, her condition has shown some signs of improvement. On Monday, March 23, 2026, at 5:00 PM, Shanti Devi’s husband, Ranjit Kumar, lodged a formal complaint at the Gadaganj police station. He has accused fellow villagers—Ghanshyam, Deshraj, Aman, Mrs. Kamlesh, and Soni Surat—of assault and verbal abuse. Station House Officer (SHO) Dayanand Tiwari stated that a case has been registered against the accused under the relevant sections of the law, and the police have initiated an investigation into the matter. The SHO further revealed that just three months prior, another case involving assault and charges under the SC/ST Act had been registered against these very same individuals. Premchandra Srivastava | Jalalpur Dhai (Dalmau), Raebareli Courtesy: Hindi News
POCSO Court Sentences Accused to 10 Years: ₹30,000 Fine Imposed in Case of Abduction and Rape of Dalit Minor
In Firozabad, a Special POCSO Court has sentenced an accused individual to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment in a case involving the abduction and rape of a minor Dalit girl. The court also imposed a fine of ₹30,000 on him. This verdict was delivered by Special POCSO Court Judge Mumtaz Ali. This conviction was made possible due to the effective legal advocacy by the police and the prosecution, carried out under “Operation Conviction”—an initiative launched under the directives of Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Saurabh. The case pertains to Garhi Harray village, located within the jurisdiction of the Pachokhara Police Station. On July 26, 2021, Mangal Singh—son of Anganlal and a resident of Dokeli under the Matsena Police Station area—was accused of enticing and abducting the complainant’s minor daughter. In connection with this incident, the victim’s father filed a complaint at the Pachokhara Police Station on July 28, 2021, based on which a First Information Report (FIR) was registered against an unidentified person. During the investigation, based on the evidence gathered, relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC)—specifically Section 366 (Abduction) and Section 376 (Rape)—along with applicable sections of the POCSO Act, were added to the case. Furthermore, since the victim belonged to the Dalit community, Section 3(2)(5) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act was also invoked in the matter. The Investigating Officer filed the charge sheet in court on October 30, 2021—94 days after the incident took place. The roles played by the police and the prosecution were pivotal in this case. The prosecution’s lead counsel, Devprakash; the police team from Pachokhara Police Station; and the Monitoring Cell played a crucial role in ensuring effective legal representation and the robust presentation of evidence before the court. This verdict by the court has sent a clear message to society that strict legal action will be taken against those who commit such heinous crimes, and they will face severe punishment. Arun Kumar Rawat Courtesy : Hindi News
Lok Sabha to take up Transgender Bill on March 24
On Sunday, several Opposition MPs and transgender rights activists called for the Bill to be withdrawn, saying the proposed changes could dilute their right NEW DELHI: Amid widespread protests and demands for the withdrawal of the proposed Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill, the Lok Sabha will take up the bill for consideration and passage on Tuesday. According to the list of business issued by the Lok Sabha secretariat, Union Minister Dr Virendra Kumar will move the Bill to amend the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019, for its passage. The proposed changes in the Bill have sparked protests across the country with Transgender rights activists and members of the trans community demanding its immediate withdrawal, terming it ‘discriminatory’. The Bill, which was introduced in the Lok Sabha by Union Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment Virendra Kumar on March 13, seeks to give a precise definition of the term ‘transgender’ and exclude ‘different sexual orientations and self-perceived sexual identities’ from the proposed law’s ambit. On Sunday, several Opposition MPs and transgender rights activists called for the Bill to be withdrawn, saying the proposed changes could dilute their rights. The members of the community say that the proposed Bill departs from principles laid down by the Supreme Court in the landmark judgement of National Legal Services Authority vs Union of India. The community members allege that the Bill proposes a restrictive redefinition of transgender persons and undermines the dignity, autonomy and constitutional rights of transgender, intersex, and genderqueer persons. Many also point out that the Bill’s requirement of medical scrutiny and mandatory disclosure of sensitive surgical information violates the fundamental right to privacy as granted by the Supreme Court in the Puttaswamy judgment (2017), which recognised privacy, including bodily autonomy and decisional freedom. Activists also point out that the Bill recommends changes to Section 18 of the Act by introducing an ambiguous framework, along with stricter punishments for several offences clearly overlapping with existing criminal laws, and adds to the confusion. These changes strengthen harmful stereotypes by linking transgender identity with crime and coercion, say the community members. The proposed changes also criminalise transgender individuals and their kin or allies by rigorous imprisonment of up to five years for ‘alluring’ or ‘forcing’ individuals to become transgender, despite a lack of credible evidence or documentation of such conduct in India, they said. ”The language used in the Bill is vague, broad and violates fundamental rights, and if passed, will lead to misuse and violence, affecting an already marginalised community and discouraging open expression of identity”, the community members said. Preetha Nair 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
HC Stays Eviction Of Dalit Women’s Stalls In Jangaon
The dispute arose on March 16 when municipal officials, along with police, reached the site with machinery to remove the structures. WARANGAL: The High Court has granted interim stay on eviction of two stalls run by Dalit women near the Jangaon District Collectorate, directing authorities to halt demolition until further orders. The petition was filed by Palamakula Chinna Manjula and Potkuri Vijayalakshmi, who operate a tea stall and a Vijaya Dairy outlet set up under the ‘Indira Mahila Shakti’ scheme. The dispute arose on March 16 when municipal officials, along with police, reached the site with machinery to remove the structures. The women resisted the move, stating that the units were established with loans of ₹3 lakh each under DRDA support and inaugurated six months ago. In their petition, the vendors alleged that the eviction was initiated without prior notice and raised concerns over disconnection of electricity to their stalls. They also submitted complaints alleging harassment by officials and sought action under relevant provisions. After hearing the matter, the court directed authorities to stop eviction proceedings pending further examination. The order provides temporary relief to the petitioners, while the case remains under judicial consideration. Puli Sharath Kumar Courtesy : Deccan Chronicle Note: This news is originally published on https:/deccanchronicle.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Thugs Illegally Occupy Ancestral Home in Lucknow: Locks Broken; Casteist Slurs and Death Threats Issued Upon Protest
A case of forceful occupation of an individual’s ancestral home has come to light in Sarosa Bharosa village, located within the jurisdiction of the Para Police Station in Lucknow. It is alleged that the named accused individuals broke the locks of the house and took possession of the property. When the victim protested against this act, he was also threatened with death. According to reports, Rinku Kumar—son of Bhairav Prasad and a resident of Purana Tikaitganj, Lucknow—owns a plot measuring approximately 1,400 square feet (Gata No. 1333) in Sarosa Bharosa village, where he had constructed a house. Due to family reasons, Rinku had locked up his home and moved to his ancestral village some time ago. The victim, Rinku Kumar, alleges that upon returning to his property, he found the house locks broken. Several individuals were found residing inside illegally. Upon inquiry, it was revealed that Sanjay Singh and Saddam Ghazi—both from the local area—along with 8 to 10 unidentified accomplices, had collectively and forcefully occupied the house. ‘Thugs Used Casteist Slurs’ According to Rinku Kumar, when he asked the accused to vacate the premises, they became aggressive. It is alleged that the thugs hurled casteist slurs and abuses at him, and openly threatened to kill him. The victim further stated that the accused boasted about having carried out similar illegal occupations in the past, claiming that no one could touch them or hold them accountable. Upon receiving information regarding the incident, the Para Police initiated immediate action. An investigation into the matter is currently underway, based on the written complaint filed by the victim. Under the directives of the Station House Officer (SHO), the process of registering a First Information Report (FIR) is in progress, and relevant evidence is being gathered. Police officials have stated that, given the gravity of the matter, strict action will be taken against the culprits. They further emphasized that any attempt to undermine law and order will not be tolerated under any circumstances. Shivanshu Kumar Gupta Courtesy: Hindi News
Dalit Family Attacked in Badlapur: Incident Stems from Land Dispute; Case Registered Against 7 Individuals
An incident involving an attack on a Dalit family and the use of caste-based slurs over a land dispute has come to light within the jurisdiction of the Badlapur Kotwali police station. Acting on a complaint filed by Jiyalal—son of Khaderu and a resident of Bhatehra village—the police have registered a case against seven named individuals and several unidentified persons. In his complaint, Jiyalal stated that a parcel of land (Plot No. 55/0.117) located in Jagatpur (Kamalpur) village is officially recorded in the land records (Khatoni) under his wife, Shyam Dulari’s, name. The partition of this specific land had already been finalized by the Sub-Divisional Magistrate’s (SDM) court under Section 176 of the relevant laws. According to the victim, several villagers—including Siddhinath Tiwari, Arvind Tiwari, Dheeraj, Ashish Tiwari, Lalsahab, Dinesh Tiwari, and Ganesh Tiwari—were attempting to forcibly install a handpump on this very land that had been subject to partition. When Jiyalal objected to their actions, the accused individuals verbally abused him using casteist slurs and chased him away while issuing death threats. Jiyalal managed to escape the scene and reach the Badlapur police station, where he reported the incident. Given the gravity of the matter, the Badlapur Kotwali police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) against the seven named individuals and the unidentified persons under various sections of the law, including the SC/ST Act. Inspector-in-Charge Shesh Kumar Shukla confirmed that a case has been registered regarding this incident and that an investigation has been initiated. He gave assurances that strict legal action would be taken against the culprits. Bipul Kumar Singh Courtesy: Hindi News
Amendments a serious setback for transgenders
The new amendments proposed to the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act 2019, which came out of nowhere on March 12, are like a knife twisting into the heart of the trans community. The central claim for transgender rights has always been gender self-determination. The Supreme Court, in its seminal judgment in National Legal Services Authority v. Union of India (NALSA) in 2014, held that all persons have the fundamental right and autonomy to self-determine their gender identity as male, female, or transgender. It held that one’s gender would not be decided on the basis of their biological attributes or any gender-affirming surgery but based on self-determination. It also guaranteed equality to trans persons and held that any discrimination on the basis of gender identity would amount to discrimination on the basis of sex. With this, India became one of the pioneering countries in the world to have recognised the right to gender identity. The NALSA judgment was followed by the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act of 2019, which also recognised the right to self-determination of gender identity. Most importantly, the Act broadened the definition of transgender persons to mean: “A person whose gender does not match with the gender assigned to that person at birth and includes transman or transwoman (whether or not such person has undergone sex reassignment surgery or hormone therapy or laser therapy or such other therapy), person with intersex variations, genderqueer and person having such socio-cultural identities as kinner, hijra, aravani and jogta.” Recently, in 2025, the Supreme Court in the landmark Jane Kaushik case recognised that the Transgender Persons Act was not being implemented effectively, and set up an advisory committee to review its working and to recommend improvements. While our constitutional courts have been recognising and expanding the rights of transgender persons, the recent Bill attempts to rip out the very soul of the law. The proposed definition of ‘transgender’ persons is restrictive, exclusionary and offensive in its use of stigmatising words like ‘eunuch’. It also removes an entire class that self-identifies as transgender persons, transmen, transwomen or gender queer, and replaces it with a narrow definition based solely on a medical or biological model. The reasons for these amendments in the statement of objects and reasons state that “The legislative policy was and is intended to protect only those who face severe social exclusion due to biological reasons for no fault of their own and no choice of their own…The purpose was and is not to protect each and every class of persons with various gender identities, self-perceived sex/gender identities or gender fluidities…” With this statement, the proposed Bill nullifies more than a decade of settled jurisprudence of the constitutional right to self-determination of one’s gender identity. From being stripped naked before doctors and welfare boards to confirm that they are indeed transgender so that they can claim measly pensions, the transgender community moved the courts to recognise their right to self-determine their gender identity. This was held by the Supreme Court to be one of the most intimate and personal choices that every person is entitled to. When this is replaced by a law that seeks only to cover certain transgender persons from socio-cultural communities and excludes all others who identify themselves as trans or genderqueer, we are invisibilising an entire community and saying that they have no recognition under law. It is only with the legal recognition of their gender identity that many civil rights would be available to trans persons such as the right to claim a legal identity through a passport or Aadhaar, the right to access food through a ration card, a driver’s license, the right to education and reservation in public employment. Our laws cannot begin with a focus on misuse and fraud on the part of the beneficiaries and must enable people of all genders to access their legal rights equally. Over the last few years, around 30,000 persons have obtained transgender identity cards. What happens to them and their legally recognised gender identity? Can legal recognition once given be taken away? The heart of the law is the principle of self-determination of gender identity and the freedom to each person to be who they want to be and to be treated equally. This cannot be taken away by an amendment. Jayna Kothari The writer is Executive Director for Centre for Law and Policy Research. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Reinventing Kanshi Ram
How the Dalit icon’s radical politics is being softened ON MARCH 15, India’s political class performed a familiar ritual of remembrance, except that this time it carried an unmistakable edge of competition. Across party lines, leaders queued up, on social media and at memorials, to pay tribute to Kanshi Ram, the founder of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and one of the most consequential mobilisers of Dalit political consciousness in post-Independence India. Describing him as a symbol of “empowerment and hope”, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi urged the government to confer the Bharat Ratna on him. Two days earlier at a public meeting in Lucknow, Gandhi also said that had Jawaharlal Nehru been alive, Kanshi Ram would have become a Congress chief minister. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, in a message on X, described the BSP founder as a “pioneer of social justice” who “dedicated his entire life to the upliftment of the Dalits, the exploited, and the deprived”, offering his “humble tributes” to the Dalit icon. Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav called Kanshi Ram a “hero of social change” and highlighted how he “secured a dignified place for the Bahujans within Indian society”, while also reiterating the need to carry forward the struggle for social justice envisioned by him and BR Ambedkar. BSP chief Mayawati paid homage to her mentor but also used the occasion to attack other parties for what she described as selective remembrance. She said that tributes to Kanshi Ram had become an “opportunistic fashion”, accusing parties like SP and Congress of invoking his legacy only for electoral gain. “It is due to Congress’ anti-Dalit mindset and mentality that BSP had to be created in the fit place,” she said. With crucial state elections on the horizon, not least in Uttar Pradesh, invoking Kanshi Ram has become as much a gesture of reverence as a signal of intent. His project of consolidating Dalit assertion, once seen as disruptive to established political hierarchies, is now claimed by parties that once stood in opposition to it. As a result, in this choreography of commemoration, the line between homage and appropriation keeps on blurring. The scramble carries an added urgency as every major party begins recalibrating its Dalit outreach. As the Dalit vote remained decisive in a fragmented electoral landscape, Kanshi Ram offered a potent symbol. For decades, he represented a distinct strand of political thought: organisational pragmatism, sharp anti-upper-caste rhetoric, and the creation of BSP, designed to convert the numerical strength of the “Bahujan” into power. Unlike Ambedkar, whose legacy now carries near-universal reverence, Kanshi Ram was once a more polarising and openly confrontational political figure. The “Ambedkarisation” allows parties across the spectrum to appropriate the BSP founder without inheriting the radicalism of his original project. What this produces is a subtle but consequential reframing—Kanshi Ram is no longer invoked primarily as a disruptor of caste hierarchies, but as a precursor to a more consensual, development-inflected politics of inclusion. His sharper edges, like his critique of entrenched social power, his insistence on independent Dalit political assertion, and his scepticism of upper-caste-led parties, are softened or omitted altogether. In their place emerges a curated Kanshi Ram: a social reformer rather than a political insurgent, a figure who can be seamlessly inserted into broader narratives of welfare, governance, and national progress. It is a process not unlike the earlier ‘sanitisation’ of Ambedkar, whose radicalism was gradually subsumed within a consensual national canon. This transformation also reflects the changing incentives of electoral competition. As Dalit voters become more mobile and less tethered to a single party, their symbolic capital has expanded. Political actors are therefore less interested in replicating Kanshi Ram’s autonomous model of mobilisation, which required long-term cadre-building and ideological discipline, and more in selectively borrowing from it features like the language of dignity, the invocation of representation, and the optics of outreach. The result is a shift from structural challenge to rhetorical accommodation. For example, for BJP, it means including Kanshi Ram in a calendar of Dalit icons. For SP, it entails celebrating March 15 as “Bahujan Divas” in all districts of Uttar Pradesh. With Dalit vote expected to play a decisive role in the 2027 Uttar Pradesh elections, the question is no longer who follows Kanshi Ram’s politics, but who gets to redefine it. In that contest, memory itself becomes a site of negotiation; it is a negotiation shaped not by fidelity to his methods, but by the strategic needs of the present. When Kanshi Ram began organising government employees in the 1970s, he was not seeking moral recognition but building the infrastructure of power. Born in 1934 in a Ramdasia Sikh family in Punjab, he worked briefly as a government scientist before turning to activism after encountering the writings of Ambedkar. But while Ambedkar had emphasised social reform and constitutional rights, Kanshi Ram was preoccupied with electoral arithmetic. He founded organisations with names that sounded like molotov cocktails: the All India Backward and Minority Communities Employees Federation (BAMCEF), and later, the Dalit Shoshit Samaj Sangharsh Samiti, or DS-4. Their purpose was clear: mobilise the oppressed majority—Dalits, Other Backward Classes and minorities—against what Kanshi Ram called the domination of the “15 per cent”, shorthand for upper castes. His most famous formulation captured the spirit of the project: “Jiski jitni sankhya bhaari, uski utni hissedari”, or, in other words, representation proportional to population. Democracy, he believed, was fundamentally a numbers game, in which the Bahujan, if it voted in unison, could rule. In 1984, he founded BSP, the vehicle that would convert this theory into power. The party’s early years were marked by sharp rhetoric and relentless grassroots mobilisation. Kanshi Ram travelled ceaselessly across North India, addressing small gatherings in dusty villages and industrial suburbs. His speeches were unsparing. He mocked Congress for co-opting Dalit leaders and accused upper castes of monopolising the state. For supporters, he was a revolutionary organiser, while for critics, he remained a divisive populist. More than four decades ago, when Netrapal Singh
Thakur, Dalit, Brahmin: Uttarakhand CM’s new Cabinet balances caste, regions
The Dhami Cabinet is now at its full strength, with 12 members. Inducting new faces into the Cabinet highlights the BJP’s strategy of balancing social and regional equations in the state ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has expanded his Cabinet, inducting five new faces. The Dhami Cabinet is now at its full strength, with 12 members. Inducting new faces into the Cabinet highlights the BJP’s strategy of balancing social and regional equations in the state ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections. While two ministers belong to the Thakur community, the newly-expanded Cabinet has one member each from the Dalit, Brahmin and Punjabi communities. The Garhwal region and the plains are represented by two ministers each, while the Kumaon region has a lone representative. Khajan Das hails from the Dalit community and has previously served as a minister. In the 2022 Assembly elections, the senior BJP leader won his seat by a margin of 11,163 votes. His political journey began in 2007 when he was elected from Dhanaulti. Bharat Singh Chaudhary, MLA, Rudraprayag Bharat Chaudhary (66) belongs to the Thakur community. Chaudhary is known for his strong command over Hindi, English, and Sanskrit. Before joining the BJP, he unsuccessfully contested the 2012 Assembly elections as an Independent. Ram Singh Kaida, MLA, Bhimtal (Nainital) Ram Singh Kaida, who began his political career with the Congress, contested the 2017 Assembly election as an Independent and won. Later, he gravitated toward the BJP and formally joined the party in 2021. Madan Kaushik, MLA, Haridwar Madan Kaushik is a five-time MLA. A former president of the BJP state unit, he has held various portfolios in previous state governments. Hailing from the Brahmin community, Kaushik commands a strong support base in the Haridwar region. Pradeep Batra, MLA, Roorkee A businessman with interests in hotels, retail and other sectors, Pradeep Batra is a third-term MLA from Roorkee. Batra, who won the 2012 Assembly election on a Congress ticket, joined the BJP prior to the 2022 polls. Ankit Sharma Courtesy : India Today Note: This news is originally published on https:/indiatoday.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Physics Wallah Teacher’s Shameful Casteist Remark: “It would be difficult if I looked like a ‘thief-Ch***r’…”
Community Outraged After Clip Goes Viral New Delhi—A video is rapidly going viral on social media, alleging that a teacher at Physics Wallah (PW) made derogatory casteist remarks against the Dalit community. In the video, the teacher is heard telling students, “It is a big deal that I bear some resemblance to Ravi Kishan; if I looked like a ‘thief-Ch***r,’ it would be difficult—at least now you will look at me…” During this exchange, he used offensive language, which is being perceived as an insult to the Dalit community. Physics Wallah (PW) is a popular Indian educational platform founded by Alakh Pandey, offering affordable online classes, live sessions, video lectures, study notes, and mock tests for students in grades 6–12, as well as for JEE, NEET, and other competitive examinations. Available on the Google Play Store, the platform assists students in their learning journey through interactive tools and doubt-clearing sessions. The incident reportedly involves a colleague of Alakh Pandey. Sharing the video, the ‘Dalit Voice’ account posted: “A teacher insulted the hardworking community in the classroom, going so far as to use the casteist slur ‘thief-Ch***r.’ This exposes the deep-seated prejudice present among such individuals.” Following the viral video, social media users have expressed massive outrage. Many users have demanded immediate and strict action from Physics Wallah and Alakh Pandey. One user wrote, “If a teacher is making casteist remarks, what can we expect from others? @PhysicswallahAP, please take strict action, Sir.” Other users described the incident as “regressive” and “shameful,” accusing the teacher of harboring prejudice against the community. Some users have identified the teacher as “Rishi Jain, Economics teacher (Hindi medium) at PW”; however, no official statement has been issued by Physics Wallah regarding the matter yet. As of now, there has been no news regarding the suspension or termination of the teacher. Physics Wallah has not issued any response or update regarding this matter. This incident comes at a time when protests are underway across the country concerning the UGC (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2026. In January 2026, the Supreme Court stayed these regulations, terming them “too sweeping” and “vague.” The Court had scheduled a hearing for March 19, but the hearing could not take place. The next hearing is expected to be held next week. Meanwhile, Dalit organizations and student groups are demanding the implementation of these regulations, while students from the General Category have opposed them. Linking this controversy involving Physics Wallah to the dispute over the UGC equity regulations, many users have asserted that casteism still persists in educational institutions and that strict laws are needed. Geetha Sunil Pillai Courtesy: Hindi News