Dalit Youth Attacked with Bottle; Struck on Head: Police Accused in Sultanpur of Releasing Accused from Custody
In the Sultanpur district of Uttar Pradesh, a Dalit youth has been attacked due to an old feud. The victim’s family alleges that the police released the accused from custody without taking any action, leaving them now living in fear. The incident took place in the village of Kasamau, within the jurisdiction of the Goshainganj police station in Sultanpur. A resident, Brajesh Kumar, has written a letter to the Superintendent of Police, pleading for justice. According to Brajesh, the incident occurred on April 1st when he went to his tube well. It is alleged that Arbaz, a local resident, verbally abused him over an old grudge and struck him on the head with a broken glass bottle. Brajesh lost consciousness as a result of the attack. The police have registered a case in this matter under various sections of the law, including the SC/ST Act. The victim alleges that while the police did bring the accused, Arbaz, to the police station, he was released that very evening without any concrete action being taken against him. The victim, Brajesh, and his family are now terrified. They state that the accused is continuously issuing death threats against them. Brajesh has demanded that the Superintendent of Police of Sultanpur immediately arrest the accused, send him to jail, and provide them with legal protection. Courtesy: Hindi News
Sub-Inspector Accused of Violating Widow’s Privacy: BKU Swaraj Submits Memorandum to SP in Kannauj, Demanding Inquiry and Action
On Wednesday, the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Swaraj) visited the office of the Superintendent of Police (SP) and leveled serious allegations against a Sub-Inspector (SI) stationed at the Talgram police station. Led by District President Pushpendra Singh Rathore, the organization’s members and farmers submitted a four-point memorandum—addressed to the Chief Minister and the Director General of Police—to the Superintendent of Police. The memorandum accuses the Sub-Inspector of behaving inappropriately with women, engaging in corruption, and being involved in unethical activities. The Union alleged that on March 26, 2026, the Sub-Inspector forcibly entered the home of a widow residing in the Girikuan locality of Talgram without permission or prior notice. At the time, the woman was bathing, resulting in a violation of her privacy. When the woman expressed her outrage over this incident and lodged a complaint, the Sub-Inspector, acting out of a spirit of vendetta, initiated proceedings against her brother and another individual for disturbing the peace. The Union has demanded that these proceedings be quashed. Furthermore, the Sub-Inspector faces allegations of negligence and collusion in another separate case. In December 2025, a young man died in the village of Kalkattapurwa (Kudra) within the Talgram area after consuming a poisonous powder provided by a gym operator. An FIR was registered in this matter; however, it is alleged that the Sub-Inspector colluded with the accused gym operator, failed to arrest him, and allowed the investigation to remain pending. Additionally, negligence is reportedly being shown in the completion of necessary legal formalities. Through the memorandum, the Union has put forward four key demands. These include the immediate transfer of the Sub-Inspector out of the district; a swift and impartial inquiry into all allegations leveled against him, accompanied by departmental action; the immediate arrest of the accused gym operator involved in the Kalkattapurwa (Kudra) case; and the immediate revocation of the proceedings initiated against the widow’s brother and the other individual for disturbing the peace. The organization has warned that if their demands are not met in a timely manner, they will be compelled to stage protests and sit-ins in solidarity with the victims, farmers, and women. Several activists, including Santosh Kumar, Akshay Kumar, Yogendra Rajput, Rajkumar, Vineet, and Pramod, were present on this occasion. Station House Officer (SHO) Vinay Sharma stated that the matters in question would be investigated, and further action would be taken once the investigation report is received. Sanjeev Kumar | Bamrauli (Chhibramau), Kannauj Courtesy: Hindi News
Farmer Beaten by Thugs in Hamirpur; Attempted Murder: Locked in Tubewell Room and Nearly Hanged with a Rope
Bharua Sumerpur: In the village of Bank within this region, a Dalit farmer was brutally beaten by a group of thugs following a dispute over the installation of thorny fencing along a farm embankment. The accused also attempted to kill the farmer by locking him inside a tubewell room and trying to hang him with a rope. The police have registered a case regarding this incident. Raghuvar Prasad, a resident of Triveni Maidan in the town, has filed a complaint with the police. He stated that he was in his ancestral village, Bank, installing thorny fencing along the farm embankment to protect his fruit-bearing trees. During this time, Babu Kushwaha, Nokhelal, Chhote, Rajkumar, and others—all residents of Bank—stormed onto the scene. It is alleged that these individuals hurled caste-based slurs at Raghuvar Prasad and, drawing a country-made pistol, rushed at him with the intent to kill. To save his life, Raghuvar Prasad fled into the nearby tubewell room. The attackers followed him inside, where they brutally beat him with kicks and punches, leaving him covered in blood. Subsequently, they placed a rope around Raghuvar Prasad’s neck and attempted to hang him. The police have registered a case against the accused under the Dalit Atrocities Act (SC/ST Act), along with other relevant sections of the law. The police are currently investigating the matter and have launched a search for the accused. Deepak Kumar | Kalauli Teer (Hamirpur) Courtesy: Hindi News
PIL seeks SIT probe into dalit man’s death in Bengaluru
Bengaluru: The high court Wednesday issued notice to the state govt, police, and the Karnataka State Human Rights Commission in response to a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by the People’s Union for Civil Liberties–Karnataka. The petition seeks the constitution of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the death of 24-year-old Darshan, a Dalit and resident of Vivek Nagar, who died in Nov last year within the limits of Madanayakanahalli police station. He was allegedly picked up by the police on accusations of brandishing a machete to intimidate a Zomato delivery agent. The petitioner organisation contended that the incident amounted to custodial death and required investigation by SIT, arguing that the CID—currently probing the case—would not ensure justice, as no police personnel have been taken into custody so far. In addition to seeking a speedy trial, the petitioner has sought compensation of Rs 50 lakh for Darshan’s legal heirs. It has also requested directions to provide protection to his family members and witnesses in the case. 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
‘Forced into death for wages’: Dalit sanitation worker dies cleaning drain without safety gear in Delhi
Rahul (32), a contractual sanitation worker from the Valmiki community, died on March 30 while manually desilting an 8–to 10-feet-deep drain in Tahirpur, Dilshad Garden, allegedly without any safety gear, supervision, or mechanised support. The incident, which occurred under the jurisdiction of the Public Works Department, has raised serious questions about illegal manual scavenging practices, caste-based labour exploitation, and institutional accountability. According to findings by a fact-finding team from Dalit Adivasi Shakti Adhikar Manch (DASAM), Rahul had gone to collect two months of unpaid wages on the morning of the incident but was allegedly coerced into cleaning the hazardous drain, with payment conditional on completing the task. Witnesses and family members claim that he was forced to enter the toxic environment without protective equipment, exposing him to lethal gases such as methane and hydrogen sulphide. Rahul and a co-worker began the work from 8 am and by 2 pm, he was found unresponsive inside the drain. Rescue operations reportedly took nearly two hours, and he was declared dead on arrival at Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital. His family was informed only hours later, around 5 pm by an unknown person, raising concerns about official delay and insensitivity. Police initially registered a case at Seemapuri Police Station but did not include key provisions of the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and the Rehabilitation Act, and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. These sections were reportedly added later following pressure from the family and civil society groups. Authorities have since invoked provisions under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including Section 106 (causing death by negligence), but no arrests had been made at the time of reporting. Family members have alleged that Rahul’s death was not accidental but the result of toxic gas exposure and unsafe working conditions. They also raised suspicions of evidence tampering, noting that his body was found in clean clothes, contrary to standard conditions of sewer work. “We sent Rahul at 8 in the morning to collect his pending salary, but instead of paying him, the contractor told him to first clean the drain and only then he would get his two months’ wages”, Rahul’s sister said in conversation with DASAM. “We never imagined this would lead to his death. This tragedy happened because of toxic fumes, hazardous conditions, and the negligence of the contractor and the PWD”, she added. “It has been three days, and no one has come to us, not from the department, not any official, not even the contractor. We received his body on March 31”, she further said. “He was found dead in the drain around 2 p.m., and the police took nearly two hours to recover him and bring him to Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, where he was declared dead. We were not informed by anyone, neither the contractor nor co-workers. Someone else told us around 5 pm and we were asked to rush to the hospital.” Rahul’s brother Vijay said, “When people clean drains, they usually wear only underwear, but Rahul was found in full clothes, and they were clean. He was forced into death for wages. We suspect the contractor tried to remove evidence,” said Vijay.” A sewer worker, Jayvir said, “Workers were given no safety equipment at all,” noting that Rahul earned just 350 rupees a day. “He was the youngest in our family, with five brothers and one sister, and he was unmarried. Some people even threatened us to remove the contractor’s name, but the best officer assured us that justice would be done. The police kept pushing for cremation, but we refused until we were given assurance of 30 lakh rupees compensation”, Vijay said. The case has drawn attention to the continued existence of manual scavenging despite its legal prohibition and repeated judicial interventions. In its 2023 ruling, the Supreme Court of India increased compensation for sewer deaths to 30 lakh rupees and reiterated the state’s obligation to eradicate the practice. Activists argue that Rahul’s death highlights a persistent gap between legal safeguards and their implementation. The fact-finding report by DASAM also points to a multilayered system of contractors and subcontractors, allowing state agencies to deflect responsibility. “While the work fell under the PWD, officials have reportedly distanced themselves by attributing operational control to private contractors, a practice critics say enables systemic evasion of accountability”, National Coordinator of the organisation, Mohsina Malik told Maktoob. She added, “We along with the family demanded compensation, accountability, and the immediate arrest of the contractor, but the authorities kept refusing. It was only after sustained pressure from the SDM, MLA Kuldeep, and organisations like DASAM that the administration began to respond and included the appropriate sections in the FIR.” Malik said, “So far compensation had been promised but not disbursed. No arrests had been made. The investigation remains ongoing.” The fact-finding team recommended immediate arrest of all responsible contractors and officials, along with the payment of ₹30 lakh compensation in line with guidelines laid down by the Supreme Court of India. It also called for interim financial relief and rehabilitation support for the family, strict enforcement of the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and the Rehabilitation Act, and mandatory mechanisation of all sewer and drain cleaning work. The recommendations emphasised the need to eliminate informal subcontracting chains and clearly fix principal employer liability, while ensuring provision of safety gear, proper training, and supervision. Further, it urged formalisation of employment through written contracts, timely payment of wages, and access to social security and insurance for workers. The report also demanded criminal liability for officials permitting illegal manual scavenging, regular independent audits of sanitation work, and public disclosure of contractor details and working conditions. Additionally, it called for awareness campaigns on the prohibition of manual scavenging, training for police and municipal authorities, and community-level initiatives to promote safe sanitation practices. Rahul, the youngest of six siblings, earned between 300 and 400 rupees per day under precarious employment conditions. His family delayed his cremation until assurances of compensation were made. The last rites were
UP govt launches Dr B R Ambedkar Murti Vikas Yojana
With a push on Dalit issues barely a week ahead of the birth anniversary of Dr B R Ambedkar, Uttar Pradesh government on Tuesday launched a new ” Dr. B R Ambedkar Murti Vikas Yojana”. With a push on Dalit issues barely a week ahead of the birth anniversary of Dr B R Ambedkar, Uttar Pradesh government on Tuesday launched a new ” Dr. B R Ambedkar Murti Vikas Yojana”. UP backward welfare Minister Asim Arun stated that under the “Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Murti Vikas Yojana Scheme”, umbrellas, boundaries, and beautification work would be carried out around statues of Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar. The minister said 10 memorials will be developed in each Legislative Assembly, with a cost of ₹10 lakh per memorial. Thus, a total expenditure of ₹403 crore is expected for the development of 10 memorials in 403 Legislative Assembly constituencies. The new scheme was approved by the state cabinet here on Tuesday. According to officials, under this scheme, statues of great personalities, national social reformers, and cultural figures and important symbols of our nation’s historical, cultural, and social heritage will be covered. These statues represent public memory, social values, and respect for national and local contributors. Currently, many statues are installed in accordance with prescribed legal standards, but lack walls and guardrails. Consequently, these statues are highly vulnerable to weather, encroachment, and neglect. The lack of adequate security and glazing also compromises the statues’ beauty and visual appeal. Officials said keeping the above circumstances in mind, this plan has been prepared, the objective of which is to ensure the safety of such existing statues installed till December 31, 2025 and to provide them a protected and respectable form by sanctifying the area around them. Besides, the physical security of the statues and the preservation of cultural and historical heritage will be ensured, and the statue sites will be beautified and enhanced. This will make the statue sites informative and useful to the public. With the launch of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Statue Development Scheme, the site around the statues will be developed and boundary walls will be constructed, which will lead to employment generation. Courtesy : The Statesman Note: This news is originally published on https:/thestatesman.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Dalit mason assaulted for asking Rs 1.5L pending wages; 3 held
BIJNOR: A 24-year-old Dalit labourer was allegedly stripped and brutally beaten for demanding Rs 1.5 lakh in pending wages in Dabarasi village of Hasanpur area in Amroha district on Sunday. After a video of the assault started circulating on social media, police registered a case and arrested three accused men. The FIR was registered at Adampur police station under BNS sections 115(2), 351(2) and 352, along with Section 3(2)(Va) of the SC/ST Act against the accused. According to police, Sachin Kumar, a resident of Dhabarsi village under Adampur police station, is a mason and is engaged in installing ceiling at an under-construction house. He works along with his two brothers. On Sunday morning, the two brothers arrived to take Sachin to work at another place. Before leaving, he demanded unpaid wages from the employer, and this led to an argument. The dispute soon turned violent, and the accused allegedly cornered Sachin on the road and assaulted him. A bystander recorded the assault and posted it online. SP Lakhan Singh Yadav confirmed that three accused — Mohammad Nausad, Samayuddin and their father Haseen Khan — have been arrested in connection with the assault and caste abuse case. 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
Student Harassed by Molesters Sets Herself on Fire; Molesters Also Beat Her Father After Complaint Was Filed
In Sagar, a 14-year-old Dalit student, tormented by harassment, set herself on fire following a brutal assault on her father. The molesters had beaten her father after he filed a complaint with the police. A case has been registered against four minors. Student Tormented by Harassment Sets Herself on Fire A deeply tragic and harrowing incident has come to light from the Sagar district of Madhya Pradesh. In the Malathone (Khurai) police station area of the district, a 14-year-old Dalit student—a 9th-grader—who was tormented by the harassment of local miscreants, poured diesel over herself and set herself ablaze. The student was driven to take this horrific step because, after she complained about the molesters, the accused individuals had severely assaulted her father right in front of their home. The critically burnt student has been admitted to the Bundelkhand Medical College in Sagar for treatment. Molester Had Been Harassing Her on the Bus for a Long Time The victim’s father stated that his daughter studies at a government school in Malathone and commutes daily by bus. A boy from a nearby village, Kapil Lodhi, had been harassing her for the past three months, frequently calling her on the phone and pressuring her to talk to him. When the molester refused to desist despite being reasoned with, the father filed a complaint against him at the Malathone police station. Upon Complaint, Accused Came to House and Beat Father According to the father, on the evening of April 5—after he had filed the police complaint and returned home with his daughter—the accused, Kapil, was standing outside their house along with three accomplices. The four began hurling abuses, and when the father objected, they brutally beat him with kicks and punches. As they left, the accused also issued death threats. Terrified by Her Father’s Beating, Daughter Sets Herself on Fire Witnessing her father being beaten right before her eyes, the innocent student became utterly terrified. She ran inside the house, doused herself with diesel, and set herself on fire. Hearing the child’s screams, family members rushed to the scene and used a bedsheet to extinguish the fire; however, by that time, her neck, the right side of her chest, and both hands had already sustained severe burns. The family members immediately transported her to a hospital with the assistance of the ‘Dial 112’ and ‘108’ ambulance services, from where she was subsequently referred to Sagar for further treatment. **Case Registered Against All Four Minor Accused; Investigation Underway** Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Lokesh Sinha stated that the police had promptly registered a case regarding the assault on the girl’s father. In her statement, the victim also corroborated the allegations of molestation and the physical assault on her father. The police have registered a case against four individuals—including two who were specifically named—under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the SC/ST Act. All four accused are reported to be minors. The matter is currently being investigated with the utmost seriousness. By: Vinod Arya, Sagar Courtesy: Hindi News
SC reservations for Dalit Christians sought
Rajamahendravaram: A nall-party meeting convened by the Congress party strongly criticised the current governance in the country, alleging that the rights granted to citizens under the Constitution by Dr BR Ambedkar were being undermined. The meeting demanded restoration of Scheduled Caste reservations for Dalit Christians. It was held on Tuesday under the leadership of Rajahmundry Urban District Congress president Balepalli Muralidhar, with participation from leaders of various political parties, representatives of Christian organisations, pastors, and leaders from BC, SC, ST and minority communities. Congress Rajahmundry Parliament coordinator T K Visweswara Reddy, CPI state leader T Madhu, CPM district secretary T Arun, coastal districts’ traders association leader Ashok Kumar Jain, Praja Sanghala Aikyavedika founder Desireddy Balarama Naidu and Congress state leader Talluri Vijayakumar were among those present. Leaders from CPI, CPM and Aam Aadmi Party also attended. Speakers at the meeting urged the Central government to take steps for a review of the Supreme Court judgment on the issue. They expressed strong objection to the ruling, stating that while the Constitution guarantees the right to practice any religion, denying reservations based on religion was unjust. They called for a discussion in Parliament and a constitutional amendment to ensure Scheduled Caste reservations for Dalit Christians. The leaders appealed for a nationwide movement on the issue and stressed that democratic rights of the people should not be curtailed. Describing the loss of reservations upon religious conversion as a major conspiracy, the speakers demanded that Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu respond immediately and pass a resolution in the State Assembly. They made it clear that the all-party committee would continue its agitation until reservations for Dalit Christians are restored. The meeting also passed a resolution seeking the immediate conduct of elections to the Rajamahendravaram Municipal Corporation. Senior Congress leaders Martin Luther, Dr Vadayar, Bezawada Rangarao, and leaders from various parties, including Pawan, Kondalarao, K Rambabu, Poornima Raj, Sandhya Rani, Srinivas, Yalla Veerabhadra Rao were present. Courtesy : THI Note: This news is originally published on https:/thehansindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Stop State Repression: Citizens Urge Odisha CM to Halt Violence Against Adivasis and Dalits in Sijimali Region
To Sri Mohan Majhi, The Chief Minister of Odisha Bhubaneswar, Odisha Subject: Urgent Appeal to Take Immediate Steps To Curb State Violence on Adivasis and Dalits of Raygada and Kalahandi Dear Sir, As concerned citizens, we express our collective condemnation of the brutal violence unleashed on the villagers of Kantamal in Kashipur block of Raygada district from late night to the wee hours this morning. Both the police and senior district officials were present. We are deeply concerned that in a democracy, Adivasis and Dalits opposed to the mining operations of Vedanta Limited and its contract company Maithri, have been subject to ceaseless violence and arbitrary arrests since mid-2023. Now, to begin construction work, the violence has escalated targeting the leaders of Ma Mati Mali Surakhya Mancha, the people’s local forum. It is to be noted that people have adopted all democratic means to protect their land, livelihood, water and air while also holding on to their cultural heritage and the abode of Tij Raja their scared deity. This entire area is protected under the Fifth Schedule Area of the Indian Constitution. In order to reject the proposed mining project, Ma Mati Mali Surakhya Mancha has appealed to all authorities from the local administration to the state government and from the concerned union ministers to the President of India. They have asserted their objections against mining in testimonies in the public hearings of the Odisha Pollution Control Board. In the same way, as per the FRA provisions, villagers organised Gram Sabhas in which they have clearly and unanimously rejected the mining project and the required forest clearance to protect their lives, livelihood and cultural identity. However, in this Scheduled Area, the state administration has resorted to repression to push through Vedanta Limited’s mining project. As a result, hundreds of criminal cases have been foisted on the people and almost a hundred of them have undergone incarceration and many still continue to languish in jail. Repression on the people has escalated sharply in the last few months. We urge your attention to a few incidents: On the night of March 10, after a local village conflict, hundreds of police descended on Talaampadar village in the middle of the night and picked up 21 adivasis, including 10 women. They raided houses and damaged people’s houses and belongings. Among the women, there is a nineteen-year old who is pregnant and some with small children at home. They are now languishing in District Jail of Bhawanipatna of Kalahandi district. On 25 March, Lingaraj Azad and Suresh Sangram of Samajwadi Jan Parishad were arrested and are today in Raygada Jail. The actions of the police and administration instead of being in accordance with the law clearly seems to be aiding the company. On February 26, 27 and 28, around 200 police and paramilitary forces caused much terror and intimidation under the cover of executing arrest warrants issued by the SDM Rayagada and JMFC Kashipur on the walls of some members of “Ma Mati Mali Surakhya Mancha”. Sagabari, Bantej, Bondel, Kantamal and Talaampadar are witnessing a massive presence of armed police and vehicles, drones flying on the area, and police on the lookout for leaders. Drones are followed by 18 to 25 vehicles and marches of armed police through the area along with private persons. Adivasi peasants and wage workers are losing out on earnings and cultivation work. They can no longer go out to the forest and river for nature’s call or other daily chores because of the surveillance done by drones flying overhead as it violates their privacy. People are now carrying water to their houses to do the daily chores. They can neither buy medicines nor go to shops to buy essentials from sheer intimidation. On 3rd April, the police and administration announced prohibitory orders from loud speakers. People were prohibited from assembling in more than four within 100 meters of the approach road being constructed to the mining area. As construction work began with a massive presence of police force, villagers stood ground and refused them entry from April 4 to 6. After three days of peaceful disobedience of prohibitory orders, the police resorted to violence by entering Kantamal village at midnight of April 7. They fired tear gas shells. They killed a cow. People came rushing out; many were injured by police lathis. Two women have sustained head injuries. People are unable to seek medical assistance. Sir, as local Adivasi and Dalit communities continue to live under a climate of terror and constant fear, we urge you to take the following steps without delay: Revoke the prohibitory orders issued by the Rayagada SDM under Section 163 of the BNSS. Revoke the proposed mining lease in Sijimali and ensure the protection of the jal, jangal and jameen of the Adivasis of the region. Ensure that the proposed approach road to the mining area is stopped immediately. Withdraw the entire police force in the area and immediately stop all drone surveillance. Withdraw all criminal cases foisted on villagers who are opposed to bauxite mining. Ensure the immediate release of all those in prison. Implement properly the PESA and FRA in Fifth Schedule areas. We urge you, in your capacity as Chief Minister and Chairperson of the Tribal Advisory Council, to intervene urgently and ensure that all necessary steps are taken to protect and uphold the constitutional and democratic rights of the people of this region. Thanking you, On behalf of Concerned Citizens Forum, Odisha Ananta Lokmukti Sangathan, Jharsuguda Asutosh Parida, Poet, Bhubaneswar Archana Rath, Analyst Akankshya Mahapatra, Writer and Researcher Balabhadra Mallick, Chasi Mali Surakhya Samiti, Kandhamal Bibhrant Biswajit, Mulnivasi Student & Youth Front (MSYF) Bichitra, TUCI Biswapriya Kanungo, Advocate British Kumar, Khandualamali Sthai Surakhya Samiti, Kalahandi Damodar Behera, Dalit Adhikar Andolan, Kalahandi Dandapani Mohanty, Political Activist Deba Prasad Rai, Lohia Academy Debaranjan, Gantantrik Adhikar Surakhya Sangatha, Bhubaneswar Debati Behera, AICCTU Dr Bijay Bohidar, Retd Professor, Bhubaneswar Dr Birendra Nayak, Retd Professor, Bhubaneswar Dr Biswajit, Gandhi Peace Foundation, Odisha Dr Randall