HRF demands Collector-led probe into Kaikaluru Dalit attack case
The Human Rights Forum (HRF) has demanded a comprehensive probe, under the leadership of the District Collector, into the Kaikaluru Dalit attack case. A three-member team from the HRF visited Danagudem near Kaikaluru, where a Dalit, P. Ajay, was allegedly attacked with a knife by members of Kapu community. The team learnt that the incident took place on September 5 during the Ganesh idol immersion celebrations, when Ajay, who was on his way to a ration shop on a two-wheeler, honked to alert the revellers. Enraged at this, the revellers, belonging to another community, reportedly attacked Ajay. Casteist slurs were reportedly hurled at his mother and sisters, who tried to help him. They were also reportedly dragged by their hair and beaten up. Despite being present there, the police personnel could not do anything, the activists wrote in a statement issued on Tuesday. HRF condemned the silence of the State government on this subject, and demanded stern action against all the accused. They also demanded a Collector-led probe in the incident and action under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act against officials for threatening the complainant with a rowdy sheet. Ajay is undergoing treatment at the government hospital in Eluru. HRF activists A. Ravi, Md. Iqbal and Mutyala Srinivasa Rao were part of the fact-finding team. 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
Govt builds houses for 10 Dalit families in Temkemaiung
Bhojpur. A Dalit family of Temkemaiyung Rural Municipality-9 has got a new house. As many as 10 Dalit families, who were living in tents due to financial constraints, have been provided houses under the Janata Awas Programme. Devi Charan Darnal, a local, said that it has become easier after the government reconstructed the house at a time when people have been living a difficult life due to lack of money for rebuilding their houses. He said that he was very happy to get a house after spending years with a tarpaulin in the tent. “We had been living under tents for generations as we could not construct our houses due to poverty”, he said, adding, “It was difficult to survive in the rainy and cold season.” It has become easier for us after the house was built. ’ Phulmaya Bishwakarma, a local, said that it has become easier to run their daily lives as the state has constructed their houses at a time when they have been living in open sky and sheds. “With the construction of the house, our daily lives have changed,” he said, adding, “Life was very difficult due to poverty.” It was not possible to build a house. Due to lack of a good source of income, they have to work as daily wages. Life has become easier after the government built houses. I’m very happy to be home. ’ Bishwakarma said that although most of the children used to fall ill every day due to cold due to lack of home, such problem has now come to an end. The government has identified the homeless Dalit families who are economically weak. According to ward chair Nabharaj Mangpahang, the houses were constructed with the budget received from Urban Development and Building Division Office, Dhankuta. Each family invested Rs 336,000 to construct the houses, said ward chair Mangpahang. “10 Dalit families have got new houses from the state level”, ward chair Mangpahang said. We had recommended the construction of houses for those who are financially weak. ’ He said that after the completion of the construction of these houses, the budget has not been received yet for the other three poor families after completing the necessary process. Courtesy : Lagani News Note: This news is originally published on https:/laganinews.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rightsC
Supreme Court slams CBI for not arresting absconding cops in Dalit death case
Justices warn of action if witness is harmed; say CBI cannot plead helplessness in arresting Madhya Pradesh officers accused in custodial torture The Supreme Court on Tuesday pulled up the CBI for failing to arrest two Madhya Pradesh police officers for their alleged role in the custodial death of a 26-year-old Dalit man in July 2024 at the state’s Myana police station. “This can’t go on like this. Despite a Supreme Court order, you are unable to act. Then what is the use? You are pleading helplessness. He is absconding, proclamation is there, we can’t trace. Please don’t plead helplessness,” a bench of Justices B.V. Nagarathna and R. Mahadevan told the counsel appearing for the CBI. “We will not spare you if anything untoward happens to the sole witness and there is a second custodial event,” the bench added. The court was referring to the apprehensions of the family of the deceased Deva Pardhi that even his uncle, Gangaram Pardhi, who was an eyewitness to the “custodial death”, had reason to be wary of Madhya Pradesh police officers. The Supreme Court on Tuesday pulled up the CBI for failing to arrest two Madhya Pradesh police officers for their alleged role in the custodial death of a 26-year-old Dalit man in July 2024 at the state’s Myana police station. “This can’t go on like this. Despite a Supreme Court order, you are unable to act. Then what is the use? You are pleading helplessness. He is absconding, proclamation is there, we can’t trace. Please don’t plead helplessness,” a bench of Justices B.V. Nagarathna and R. Mahadevan told the counsel appearing for the CBI. “We will not spare you if anything untoward happens to the sole witness and there is a second custodial event,” the bench added. The court was referring to the apprehensions of the family of the deceased Deva Pardhi that even his uncle, Gangaram Pardhi, who was an eyewitness to the “custodial death”, had reason to be wary of Madhya Pradesh police officers. The CBI counsel said three police personnel had been arrested, but two others were absconding. He said the proclamation order against the two policemen had been issued, but the agency was unable to track them. When the bench asked how come one of the absconding officers had filed an anticipatory bail plea in the state high court, the counsel clarified that it was the brother of the accused who had filed the plea. “You are saying he is absconding, so we cannot do anything. What are you doing?” the bench asked, to which the CBI lawyer said the agency had conducted several raids at various places and was also undertaking digital surveillance to track the absconding cops. The court was dealing with the appeal filed by the family of Pardhi challenging the high court’s refusal to order a CBI probe into the alleged custodial death. According to the family, on July 14, 2024, Pardhi was in the midst of preparations for his marriage when the police swooped on their house and arrested him and Gangaram in connection with theft cases. Pardhi died allegedly due to custodial torture. The counsel for the family on Tuesday told the bench that repeated pressure is being put on Gangaram. According to the counsel, he was brutally beaten up in prison by jail officials in connivance with other Madhya Pradesh police personnel, compelling him to retract his statement against the accused officers. “It is very unfortunate,” the bench observed, noting that even after the Supreme Court had on May 15 passed directions for the arrest of the police personnel, two of them continued to be at large. “We will frame charges against the chief secretary…,” the bench warned. According to the CBI, policemen Sanjiv Singh Malviya and Uttam Singh Kushwaha have been absconding since April and the agency has secured non-bailable warrants against them. They have been declared proclaimed offenders and an application has been filed for the attachment of their properties. “You know where they are. You are protecting,” the bench said, to which the counsel explained that the duo had been absconding before the matter came to the CBI. Courtesy : The Telegraph Note: This news is originally published on https:/thetelegraph.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Caste census: After stiff opposition from CM’s own camp, commission says converted castes axed
Bengaluru: On a day of much drama, Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes Tuesday clarified that all Dalit Christian castes have been removed in the final list of castes to be enumerated as part of the socio-economic-educational-political survey, widely known as the caste census. Commission chairman Madhusudan Naik told TOI that the 14 castes were initially included in the draft list but were removed “earlier this month” following public objections. His clarification came late in the day amid intense political drama that unsettled governing Congress, as several Dalit functionaries — including loyalists of chief minister Siddaramaiah such as former ministers H Anjaneya from the Left sect of Scheduled Castes and KN Rajanna from the Valmiki community of Scheduled Tribes — objected to the inclusion of converted castes in the enumeration. While Anjaneya warned of protests, Rajanna criticised both the govt and the commission, saying inclusion of Dalit converted castes would amount to “state-sponsored religious conversion”. However, drama unfolded when a delegation of BJP members led by Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, leader of the opposition in the legislative council, met Naik in the morning demanding that the 14 castes be masked in the enumeration app — just as the commission had done with 34 OBC converted castes last week. This led to a face-off as Naik defended their inclusion, insisting converted castes are eligible for recognition. BJP members strongly objected to the chairman’s assertion and attempted to gherao him. Naik, though, left for a high court hearing on the census. His clarification, that the 14 castes had already been removed, came late in the evening. “The commission’s clarification appears an afterthought to manipulate the situation,” said Narayanaswamy. “The panel is acting as a puppet of the govt.” The census has initially sparked controversy for including 48 converted castes such as ‘Kuruba Christian’ and ‘Kubara Christian’. It included the 14 SC castes as ‘Madiga Christian’, ‘Holeya Christian’and ‘Valmiki Christian’, an ST caste. Last week, the commission said it had masked 34 OBC converted castes following strong opposition. But 14 converted Dalit castes remained. Dalit representatives vehemently protested their inclusion. “It is wrong to include them under the converted category,” said VS Ugrappa, senior Congress functionary and Valmiki leader. “Inclusion of other Dalit converted castes is also wrong since it is a violation of the Anti-conversion Act. Enlisting these castes as converted castes is not just misleading but also mischievous.” He said those from Valmiki community never opted for conversation as they are not untouchable or socially stigmatised or backward like some other Dalits. The developments provided ample ammunition for opposition BJP to attack the govt with. “By ordering a caste census in a tearing hurry, Siddaramaiah has made everybody, including his own party men and cabinet colleagues, unhappy,” said Lahar Singh Siroya, BJP Rajya Sabha member. “As of Tuesday, Vokkaligas, Lingayats, Dalits, OBCs, Brahmins, minorities, tribes, and nomads are all upset with the Congress govt. The CM should ask if his own Kuruba community is with him or if they too are upset.” 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