MP: Teacher brutally beats 8-year-old Dalit student for touching water bottle, FIR filed
A case of alleged untouchability and caste discrimination has come to light at a government school in Shivpuri district, Madhya Pradesh. The teacher allegedly beat an eight-year-old student with a stick and used casteist slurs for touching his water bottle. A shocking incident has come to light in Shivpuri district, Madhya Pradesh, raising serious questions about both the education system and society. It is alleged that an 8-year-old student studying in a government school drank water from a teacher’s water bottle. Angered by this, the teacher allegedly beat the child and used casteist slurs against him. Following the incident, the family filed a police complaint. According to an NDTV report, the incident occurred at the government primary school in Ukawal village, Kolaras tehsil, Shivpuri district. According to reports, the 8-year-old student, a Class 4 student, arrived at school as usual. While studying, he felt thirsty and drank water from the teacher’s water bottle in the classroom. It is reported that this sparked a dispute, and the teacher’s anger was directed at the innocent student. Family members and local residents allege that teacher Lokesh Sharma became angry when the student touched his water bottle. They say the teacher first scolded the student and allegedly used casteist slurs against him. It is alleged that the teacher then brutally beat the student with a stick, saying, “How dare you touch my bottle?” The child returned home crying. When the student returned home after the beating, he was terrified. He informed his family about the incident. The family was shocked to hear his story. The family says that treating a young child in this manner simply for drinking water is a very serious matter. Following this, the family decided to take legal action and filed a complaint at the police station. FIR Registered On the complaint of the victim’s family, the Lukwasa police station in the Kolaras police station area has registered a case against the accused teacher, Lokesh Sharma. The police have registered a case under sections 296(A) and 115(2) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). They have also taken action against the accused under sections 3(1)(d), 3(1)(d), and 3(2)(v) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Police Engaged in Investigation According to police officials, an investigation has been initiated into the case. Further action will be taken based on the complaint, witness statements, and other available evidence. Officials say that necessary legal action will be taken as per the law after the investigation is complete. Meanwhile, there is an atmosphere of anger in the village and surrounding areas following the incident. Locals say that schools are places to impart the message of education, equality, and respect to children. In such a context, the emergence of such allegations is extremely serious and worrying. Such incidents have happened before. It should be noted that similar incidents have occurred before. In April of last year, a 15-year-old Dalit student in Agra suffered fractures to two fingers and serious injuries to his thigh, shoulder, and jaw. It was alleged that a teacher beat him for touching a water bottle. This incident occurred at a private higher secondary school in Haripur. The student told the English newspaper TOI, “I was thirsty, and when I saw a water bottle on the table, I picked it up. As soon as I touched the bottle, my teacher, Mangal Singh Shakya, became angry and said, ‘How dare you touch the bottle? It’s no longer fit to be touched. Who will drink from it?’” The boy said that Shakya locked him in a room after school and beat him severely. A similar incident also occurred in Rajasthan in July 2022. A nine-year-old Dalit student died after being allegedly beaten by a teacher for drinking water from a water pot at a private school in Jalore district, Rajasthan. The victim was a student at a private school in Surana village, Jalore district. He was beaten on July 20 and later died at a hospital in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Courtesy: Hindi News
Life imprisonment for raping a Dalit girl: POCSO court in Ambedkar Nagar also imposed a fine of 40,000 rupees, ruling in a 6-year-old case.
In the case of rape of a Dalit girl in the Jaitpur area of Ambedkar Nagar, Special Judge under the POCSO Act, Mohan Kumar, convicted the accused, Anand Singh alias Jhinak Singh, and sentenced him to life imprisonment. The court also imposed a fine of 40,000 rupees. According to the prosecution, the incident occurred on September 11, 2020. The accused, Anand Singh alias Jhinak Singh, a resident of Bhitaura South, gagged a Dalit girl who was outside her house, dragged her into the bushes, and raped her. When she resisted, the accused beat her and threatened to kill her. Charge sheet filed after investigation Following the incident, the police registered a case based on the complaint of the victim’s family. After the investigation was completed, the charge sheet was filed in the court. During the hearing, statements and evidence from the victim and other witnesses were presented before the court. The court delivered its verdict based on the evidence. The prosecution demanded a harsh punishment for the accused. Despite the defense’s arguments, the court deemed the available evidence and witness statements sufficient and convicted the accused. Sentence under the SC-ST Act and rape sections The special judge sentenced the accused to life imprisonment and a fine of ₹10,000 under the SC-ST Act. He also imposed various sentences under other sections, including 20 years of rigorous imprisonment for the crime of rape. The court also ordered a copy of the verdict be sent to the District Legal Services Authority to provide compensation to the victim. Arunesh Pratap Singh | Ambedkar Nagar Courtesy: Hindi News
Samajwadi Party’s ‘PDA’ Strategy On General Seats: Akhilesh Yadav To Field Over 100 Dalit Candidates In UP Assembly Polls
UP Assembly Election: Samajwadi Party is expanding its ‘PDA’ strategy for the 2027 UP Assembly elections, with Akhilesh Yadav planning to field over 100 Dalit candidates, including on general seats. This move aims to broaden SP’s voter base and challenge BJP’s social engineering in the state. Strategy aims to challenge BJP’s social engineering in UP. Jagran Correspondent, Lucknow: With just a few months remaining in the much-awaited Uttar Pradesh Assembly election, the Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party (SP) has begun preparing its strategy. It is planning to expand the formula of “PDA” (Backward, Dalit, and Minority), the strategy that helped the Samajwadi Party in the 2024 Lok Sabha election as it emerged as the single largest party in the state. SP To Expand PDA Strategy As per the reports, along with seeking votes on the PDA formula, the socialist party is also planning to field candidates on this formula to target a larger voter base. Akhilesh Yadav is preparing a “2.0” version of the PDA formula, in which the “D” (Dalit) category of the PDA will also be assured a greater share. The reports suggest that along with the reserved seats, Akhilesh Yadav is in favor of fielding Dalit candidates on general seats as well. As per the experts, the effort is likely to increase the party’s acceptance among Dalit and non-Yadav backward voters while also challenging the BJP’s social engineering. More Dalit Candidates Likely Earlier in the 2022 assembly elections, the Samajwadi Party fielded Dalit candidates on only three general seats, in addition to the reserved seats. However, it is considering fielding Dalit and tribal candidates on over 100 seats, including 15 to 20 general seats in the 2027 polls, reported Jagran, citing sources. The party reportedly believes that fielding Dalit candidates on general seats will lead to political polarization in those seats, as well as in surrounding regions. The strategy could help the Akhilesh Yadav-led party in Western Uttar Pradesh and other regions where Dalits are in significant numbers. With this move, the SP also aims to weaken the BJP’s non-Yadav backward class and non-Jatav Dalit alliance. This equation has benefitted the saffron party for the past decade; however, the Samajwadi Party managed to make a dent in the last Lok Sabha elections. By Aditya Jha Courtesy : The Daily Jagran Note: This news is originally published on https:/thedailyjagran.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Rape of Dalit girl in Nasirabad… Accused still absconding: Lok Janshakti Party and villagers protest, Samajwadi Party threatens agitation.
Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) workers and villagers protested on Thursday against the non-arrest of the absconding accused in the rape case of a Dalit girl in the Nasirabad police station area of Rae Bareli. Meanwhile, a delegation of the Samajwadi Party (SP) also met with the victim’s family and demanded immediate action. The incident dates back to last Tuesday, when a case was registered under sections of the rape and SC/ST Act for the rape of a Dalit girl. Police have arrested Prem Sagar Tiwari, but the other four accused are still reported to be absconding. Lok Janshakti Party, Amethi District President, Dharmraj Paswan, visited the victim’s family. The family alleged that the arrest of the remaining accused was being delayed and they were receiving constant threats. Following this, party workers and villagers protested in the village and demanded the immediate arrest of all the absconding accused. Assurances given to protesters Upon receiving information about the protest, Paraiya Namaksar outpost in-charge Atul Kumar Tripathi arrived at the scene with police force. During this, there was a minor altercation between the protesters and the police regarding the arrest of the accused. The police assured the protesters that continuous efforts were being made to arrest the absconding accused and that action would be taken soon. Following this, the protest ended. Demand for fair and strict action Meanwhile, a delegation from the Samajwadi Party also met with the victim’s family. SP leader Chaudhary Suresh Nirmal warned that if the absconding accused were not arrested within 24 hours, the party would launch a major agitation regarding the matter. He demanded fair and strict action from the police administration. LJP’s Chhavilal Pasi, Rakesh, Pushpendra, Ramesh and several other villagers were present on the occasion. Ashar Fapur (Salon), Rae Bareli Courtesy: Hindi News
32% Dalit Vote In Play: Why Every Party In Punjab Is Racing To Own Guru Ravidas Jayanti
Since the Jayanti is on February 20, it will fall right in the middle of the election campaign, making it a major event for all the parties Ahead of the Punjab Assembly elections, Guru Ravidas Jayanti has become more than just a religious occasion. With the Ravidasia community wielding considerable electoral influence, particularly in the Doaba region, every major party is using the celebrations to reinforce its outreach to Dalit voters. Guru Ravidas was a revered 14th-15th-century Bhakti movement saint, poet, and social reformer. He has a massive following among Scheduled Castes in Punjab. Punjab has the highest Dalit population in the country at around 32%, according to the 2011 Census. The community plays a decisive role in the electoral outcome of several assembly constituencies, making it a key political constituency for all major parties. Since the Jayanti is on February 20, it will fall right in the middle of the election campaign, making it a major event for all political stakeholders in the state. The Centre’s launch of a special train for Guru Ravidas Jayanti is also likely to add a political dimension to the festivities. The BJP is projecting the launch of the special train as part of the Narendra Modi government’s efforts to facilitate pilgrimage and honour the legacy of Guru Ravidas. The party is showcasing the initiative alongside its outreach to Ravidasia deras and religious institutions, seeking to strengthen its connect with SC voters. The BJP is also using the occasion to expand its social base beyond its traditional urban support. The BJP has already kickstarted seven-month-long celebrations from UP to Punjab under the banner of ‘Samrasta Sankalp Abhiyan’, coinciding with the 650th birth anniversary of Guru Ravidas. The ruling AAP government is highlighting the measures it has taken to mark Guru Ravidas Jayanti, including declaring it a public holiday, organising state-supported celebrations and facilitating devotees travelling to places associated with Guru Ravidas. The party is expected to present these initiatives as part of its broader commitment to respecting all faiths, while combining them with welfare and governance measures targeted at disadvantaged communities. The celebrations are likely to be used to reinforce AAP’s outreach to Dalit voters, who form a key pillar of its electoral support in Punjab. The Congress is expected to leverage its traditional support base among the Ravidasia community, particularly in the Doaba belt, by increasing the visibility of its senior Dalit leaders during the celebrations. The party is likely to argue that while symbolic gestures have their place, the place in Sikhism, with his hymns enshrined in the Guru Granth Sahib, while projecting itself as a party rooted in Punjab’s religious and social ethos. The Akali Dal is also likely to step up its engagement with Ravidasia organisations as it seeks to rebuild its support base before the 2027 polls. Reported by: Gurpreet Singh Chhina Edited by: Mohd Asim Courtesy : NDTV Note: This news is originally published on https:/ndtv.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Shravasti News: LJP to hold Dalit Chaupal on August 1
Shravasti. The Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) will organize a Dalit Chaupal program on August 1 in Sangampurwa village of Jamunaha tehsil. The chief guest at the program will be MP and Uttar Pradesh in-charge Arun Bharti. A divisional review meeting was held on Wednesday regarding the preparations for the program, chaired by District President Rahul Paswan. Program coordinator and State Vice President Manoj Pathak stated that the Chaupal is being organized to strengthen the party’s hold among Dalits. Officials from all districts of the division attended the meeting, and the program outline was prepared. Devipatan divisional president Jatashankar Valmiki, Ashwani Srivastava, Balrampur district president Gaurav Singh, and Bahraich district president Yunus Parvez, among others, were present. Courtesy: Hindi News
BJP flags off 6-month campaign to consolidate Dalit’s support
Lucknow: In a move aimed at strengthening its presence among Dalits ahead of key electoral battles in Uttar Pradesh and Punjab, the BJP on Tuesday launched its ambitious ‘Samrasta Yatra’ from Varanasi. UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and state BJP president Pankaj Chaudhary flagged off 131 urns carrying soil from Dalit icon Sant Ravidas’s birthplace at Seer Govardhanpur in Varanasi, is being seen as an attempt to strengthen the party’s influence among Dalit communities in UP while making significant political inroads in Punjab. The yatra, which began on Guru Purnima, will continue for six months until February 20, 2027, making it one of the BJP’s longest social outreach campaigns. Although BJP national president Nitin Nabin was scheduled to attend the launch, his visit was cancelled at the last moment. Of the 131 urns, 75 will be distributed across villages and hamlets in UP, while the remaining will be sent to other states, with Punjab receiving special attention. Political observers believe the campaign’s impact could be more pronounced in Punjab than in UP. Sant Ravidas enjoys deep reverence among Jatavs, one of the largest Dalit communities, and Dalits constitute nearly 34% of Punjab’s population. In UP, Dalits account for around 21% of the population and hold significant electoral influence through 84 Assembly constituencies reserved for scheduled castes. However, the BJP faces challenges in attracting Jatav voters in UP. Despite its efforts and also by the SP-Congress alliance and Chandrashekhar Azad’s Azad Samaj Party to consolidate their support, a large section of Jatavs continues to remain aligned with the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). Analysts say this leaves limited room for the BJP to make rapid gains among the community in the state. Punjab presents a different political landscape. Though BSP founder Kanshi Ram hailed from Punjab and began his political journey there, the party has struggled to establish itself as a major electoral force in the state. The vacuum has allowed national and regional parties to compete for Dalit support, making the BJP’s Sant Ravidas outreach politically significant. Within UP, party insiders say the campaign reflects a broader strategy to strengthen ties with Dalit communities. BJP leaders are reportedly working on literature and outreach programmes centred on Dalit icons as part of preparations for the 2027 Assembly elections. The urgency stems from the BJP’s performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, when sections of its traditionally supportive non-Jatav Dalit base, including Valmikis, Sonkers and Pasis, drifted away from the party. The SP-Congress alliance made significant gains, with the Samajwadi Party winning 37 seats and the Congress six, while the BJP’s tally dropped sharply from 62 to 33 seats in the state. Political observers attribute part of this shift to the Congress-SP alliance, while SP leaders argue that sustained grassroots engagement and the emergence of Dalit leaders within the party helped reduce long-standing mistrust among Dalit voters toward the SP. SP insiders say the party plans to further expand Dalit representation in the 2027 Assembly polls and may field Dalit candidates even from general seats where electoral conditions favour such a move. The political importance of Sant Ravidas’s birthplace has steadily grown over the years. Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended Ravidas Jayanti celebrations in 2016 and 2019 and visited the temple again in 2023. Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal and former Punjab chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi have also paid visits in recent years. The site’s political symbolism dates back to 1997, when then chief minister Mayawati attempted to develop a grand park at Sant Ravidas’s birthplace. The proposal, however, faced local resistance and could not be completed. Nearly three decades later, the temple and Sant Ravidas’s legacy remain at the centre of competing political efforts to win over Dalit voters. 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
Tehri Dalit Teen Death Case: Fugitive Accused Arrested in POCSO Case
The people of Pratap Nagar had repeatedly appealed to the district administration to arrest the accused. Tehri: The death of a Dalit teen in the Lambgaon area is once again in the news. Based on the complaint filed by the minor victim’s mother, a case was registered at the Lambgaon police station under sections of the BNS and POCSO Acts. Following this, the Dalit teen’s friend was arrested today. During the investigation, based on the victim’s statements under sections 180 and 183 of the BNSS and other evidence, the absconding accused was arrested. The accused was produced in court today. The people of Pratap Nagar had repeatedly appealed to the district administration to arrest the accused. Following this, the police conducted raids at various locations to arrest the accused, and finally, the accused has been arrested. The Dalit teen was friends (or in a love affair) with a girl. On the night of June 7-8, after receiving a call from the girl, he and his friend went to meet her on a bike. The girl’s family members intercepted him there. They then took the Dalit teenager and his friend hostage. They reportedly assaulted them, resulting in serious injuries. The Dalit teenager died. After the Dalit teenager’s death, the case became a high-profile one. There was a huge uproar. Following this, Chandrashekhar Azad, MP from the Nagina parliamentary constituency in Uttar Pradesh, visited the Dalit teenager’s home. He met with the Dalit teenager’s family and assured them of his support. He also demanded a CBI investigation into the matter. Following this, several other revelations emerged regarding the case. The other party also demanded the arrest of the Dalit teenager’s friend, who was arrested today. Courtesy: Hindi News
Occupation of 72 Dalit Patta Lands: Women Beaten for Protesting, Appeal to DM
In Niloha village, Falavada, Sardhana tehsil, Meerut, 72 Dalit leased lands have been encroached upon by powerful people. When the women tenants arrived with their land documents, they were assaulted and threatened with dire consequences. The victims met with District Magistrate Dr. VK Singh and requested an investigation and action in the matter. Villagers of Niloha village, Sardhana tehsil, stated that these leased lands were allotted to Dalits during the BSP government. According to government records, the land measures approximately 750 bighas, and all the villagers have valid lease documents. However, despite the land being in their names on the documents, the village’s powerful people have occupied it. According to the villagers, when they go to cultivate their land, the powerful people destroy their crops with tractors. This has caused them losses worth lakhs of rupees and has created a financial crisis. The villagers have accused Satte Pradhan, Mukesh Pradhan, Ompal, Ajay Kumar, Devi Lal, Rajveer, and Vinod, among others, of encroaching the land. The victims stated that they had filed complaints in this regard at the relevant tehsil and police station. However, their complaints were dismissed as land disputes, and no action was taken. On Wednesday afternoon, a large number of villagers reached the District Magistrate’s office. They explained their problems to the administrative officer and alleged that the bullies do not spare even women and beat them with sticks. Administrative officials have investigated the matter and assured impartial action. Shubham | Meerut Courtesy: Hindi News
Alleged rape of Dalit girl in Nasirabad: Main accused arrested, case filed under serious sections including SC/ST Act
A case of rape of an 18-year-old Dalit girl has come to light in a village in the Nasirabad police station area of Rae Bareli. Based on the complaint filed by the victim, the police have registered a case under rape, SC/ST Act, and other serious sections. Police have arrested the main accused and are investigating the matter. According to the complaint filed by the victim’s aunt, on July 28th, at around 4 pm, village resident Prem Sagar Tiwari, son of Dayashankar Tiwari, allegedly lured the girl into his tubewell room. It is alleged that she was forcibly raped there. After the incident, the accused used casteist slurs and threatened to kill her if she mentioned the incident to anyone or complained to the police. The accused also claimed that his family had influential and political connections. The complaint also alleges that when some villagers arrived at the scene, those present allegedly abused the victims, made casteist remarks, and threatened to kill them. As the crowd of villagers grew, the accused fled the scene. Salon Circle Officer Yaduvendra Bahadur Pal stated that after the complaint came to light, a case was registered under serious sections including rape and the SC/ST Act. The main accused has been arrested and is being interrogated. The victim has been sent for a medical examination. He added that an impartial investigation is also being conducted into the role of the other accused named in the case. Strict legal action will be taken based on the facts that emerge from the investigation. According to the police, the investigation is being carried forward based on all evidence and the medical report. Rajiv Sinha | Chhatoh, Raebareli Courtesy: Hindi News