Uttarakhand: Dalit teen killed after friendship with ‘upper caste Hindu girl’; caste Hindus accused
An 18-year-old Dalit youth was allegedly beaten to death and his friend seriously injured in Uttarakhand after members of an upper-caste girl’s family assaulted them over their friendship, prompting a murder case under the SC/ST Act. An 18 year old Dalit teen, resident of Deval Village, was allegedly beaten to death and his friend severely injured for befriending a minor from an upper caste community in Pratap Nagar block of Uttarakhand’s New Tehri district, police said on Monday. The deceased Ketan Lal’s friend, Diwakar Dimri, was admitted to the district hospital in Bourari. According to the complaint filed by Ketan’s father Dhanpal Lal, the incident took place in Kholgarh village on Sunday night. Ketan had reportedly been in friendship with the girl from Kholgarh over the past six months. On Sunday at around 11 p.m., Ketan and his friend Diwakar went to Kholgarh village after the girl allegedly asked them over a phone call to come there. When they both arrived, members of the girl’s family locked them both in a room and assaulted them with sticks, the police said. On Monday morning, the girl’s father called Dhanpal Lal to inform him about his son’s condition and asked him to take him back. Dhanpal found his son covered in blood and rushed him to a community health centre in Chaund Lambgaon where he succumbed, the police said. Irate locals and the family initially refused to claim the body from the hospital and demanded immediate action against the assaulters. Speaking on the matter, Tehri Garhwal Senior Superintendent of Police Shweta Choubey said a case under the charge of murder and Section 3(2)(v) of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act was filed. The police had detained for questioning one of the accused, Yashveer Singh Panwar, the SSP added. Reacting to the incident, CPI (ML) Liberation Central Committee member and Uttarakhand State Secretary Indresh Maikhuri said it was “another example of how casteism can make people violent and barbaric, even resorting to murder.” He also recalled similar atrocities against Dalits in his post by mentioning the 2022 murder case of Dalit political activist Jagdish Chandra, who was beaten to death for marrying an upper caste woman. “It was the poison of casteism that flowed deeply in their veins, and in a frenzy, Yashveer Panwar and others took the life of an 18-year-old youth,” he said. “This brought them no fame, nor did it make them heroes; they merely became crazed killers driven by the poison of casteism. If the poison of casteism had not been simmering in their minds, there would have been no need to act like this,” he asserted. He demand justice for Ketan Lal through strict legal action against Ketan’s killers. According to the National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights (NCDHR)’s report, Five Years of Caste-Based Atrocity: An Analysis of Crimes Against Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in India (2019–2023), Uttarakhand ranked 18th among Indian states in crimes against SCs and STs in 2023, accounting for 5.4% of total such crimes. The report also found that crimes against SC/ST communities in the state increased by 21.4% between 2019 and 2023. Courtesy : Maktoob Media Note: This news is originally published on https:/maktoobmedia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Dalit settlement has been without electricity for eight years: Electricity and pension issues raised at a public awareness meeting.
On Tuesday, a night village meeting was held in the village panchayat of Bari Bisa in the Deegh development block under the Central Government’s “Integrated Public Welfare and Public Awareness Campaign.” During the meeting, villagers presented their basic problems to officials, highlighting the lack of electricity in the Dalit settlement for eight years and pension-related issues. Villager Mahendra Kumar Bind informed officials that electricity poles and wires were installed in the settlement about eight years ago under the Saubhagya Yojana. However, electricity supply has not been restored to date, forcing dozens of families to live in darkness. The villagers demanded the electricity department to immediately restore power supply. Villagers also expressed displeasure over the absence of a Social Welfare Department official at the meeting. Nageshwar Nath Dubey, a resident of Bari Bisa, explained that his old-age pension has been suspended for nearly a year, but the absence of the relevant official prevented his problem from being resolved. Several other villagers also filed complaints related to social security schemes. A total of 11 complaints were received at the Chaupal. Village Development Officer Dharmendra Pratap Singh reported that a total of 11 complaints were received at the Chaupal. Ten of these cases were resolved on the spot, while one case was referred to the concerned department for further action. Regional Forest Officer Rahul Singh, Regional Accountant Ranjan Gupta, Dharmendra Kumar of the Agriculture Department, and Anand Dubey of the Health Department, along with other officials, were present at the Chaupal. The officials assured the villagers of resolving their issues and directed the concerned departments to take necessary action. Manoj Tiwari | Koirauna, Bhadohi (Sant Ravidas Nagar) Dainik Bhaskar on Google
Rohta police file case against five individuals for extortion and use of casteist slurs based on a complaint by a Dalit youth.
Following a complaint from a Dalit youth in Rasulpur village, under the Rohta police station area, police have filed a case against five individuals for extortion, use of casteist slurs, and death threats. This action has been taken under various sections, including the SC/ST Act. The victim, Roshan Lal, son of Ramanand, stated in his report that he and his brother purchased two residential plots in Rasulpur village in 2023. These plots have also been fenced. It is alleged that on January 25, 2026 (possibly 2024 or 2023), when Roshan Lal went to inspect his plot, some villagers arrived armed with weapons. They allegedly used casteist slurs and threatened to take over the plot. According to the victim, the accused demanded a ransom of 25 lakh rupees each from him and his brother in exchange for vacating the plot. When they protested, they were beaten and threatened with death. Hearing the noise, people from the vicinity rushed to the scene, after which the accused left. However, they warned of dire consequences before leaving. Rohta police have registered a case under the SC/ST Act against Sandeep alias Sunny, Chaman Singh, Rajkumar, Shahidu, and Suraj alias Neetu (all residents of Rasulpur). Police stated that an investigation has been initiated and further action will be taken based on the investigation. Akash Malik | Sardhana Courtesy : Hindi News
Tortured with pliers, nails driven into feet; murder of Dalit teen sparks outrage in Uttarakhand’s Tehri Garhwal
The family of the 18-year-old refused to accept his body for the last rites until all his attackers were arrested His nails were pulled out with pliers, iron nails were driven into his feet, and severe wounds were dealt to his genitals, the father of a Dalit boy who was allegedly killed over an inter-caste affair has claimed. Irate villagers mobbed Baurari District Hospital here on Tuesday where the boy succumbed to the wounds. The family of the 18-year-old refused to accept his body for the last rites until all his attackers were arrested. According to the police, the victim, Ketan Lal, had reportedly been in a friendship with a girl from Pratapgarh Block’s Kholgarh for the past six months. On Sunday at around 11 pm, the girl called Ketan on his mobile phone and asked him to come to her village. Ketan went to Kholgarh with a friend, Diwakar Dimri. When they both arrived, members of the girl’s family locked them both in a room and assaulted them with sticks, the police said. Ketan succumbed during treatment. Ketan was subjected to extreme physical torture, leaving deep bruises covering his back, chest, and limbs, his family claimed. The police have arrested two primary suspects — the girl’s father, Yashveer Singh, and her grandfather, Vidya Singh. Chief Medical Superintendent Dr Amit Rai said the post-mortem report would come in two days. On Tuesday, Ketan’s relatives and villagers demonstrated outside the hospital, accusing the police of failing to arrest the attackers. Ketan’s father, Dhanpal Lal, broke down while speaking to reporters. “I will not take the body from here until all the culprits are arrested, even if it takes four days or ten days,” Dhanpal Lal said. “I am a poor man. I do not have the resources to run around courts for years. I want justice delivered right here. Only then will I take my son’s body.” He said a video of the assault is on social media and all those gathered at the hospital have seen it. The police said Ketan belonged to a Scheduled Caste community and was in a relationship with the minor daughter of Yashveer Singh. The two had been speaking over the telephone for the past six months. Dhanpal Lal claimed that the attackers used pliers to pluck the teenager’s fingernails and toenails, drove nails into his feet and caused severe injuries to his genitals. Villagers submitted a memorandum to SDM Ghansali Manju Rajput addressed to the chief minister, demanding a fair probe, justice, and security for the victim’s family. Tehri SSP Shweta Choubey said two primary suspects have been arrested and an intensive investigation is underway to ensure no culprit is spared. Police teams and forensic science experts have inspected the crime scene to secure evidence, she added. Courtesy : The Tribune Note: This news is originally published on https:/thetribune.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Brutality in Punjab: Two Dalit youths were stripped, beaten, tied with ropes, and paraded through the village on suspicion of mobile phone theft.
In Sri Muktsar Sahib, two Dalit youths were tied with ropes, beaten, and paraded publicly on suspicion of mobile phone theft. The police and SC Commission took strict action after the video of the incident went viral. Punjab: A horrific incident that shames humanity has come to light in Sri Muktsar Sahib district. Two youths were tied with ropes, beaten, and paraded publicly through the village on suspicion of mobile phone theft. Videos of this brutal incident are rapidly going viral on social media, sparking widespread outrage. According to initial information, this entire incident took place in Jhorad village. It is being reported that these two youths were suspected of snatching mobile phones from migrant laborers. Based on this accusation, some villagers allegedly forcibly abducted them from their homes. They were then tied with ropes and brutally beaten. According to eyewitnesses and viral videos, the mob went to extremes, stripping the victims, brutally beating them, and parading them publicly through the village streets. Following this inhumane incident, the victims’ families have made several serious allegations. The families claim that the two young men belong to the Dalit community and were deliberately subjected to this brutality. The families allege that the mob not only physically assaulted the young men but also hurled vulgar caste-related abuses at them throughout the incident. They strongly condemn this violent act by the mob, calling it a gross violation of human dignity and the law. On the other hand, the villagers have a different perspective on the matter. They claim that the two young men were directly involved in the frequent incidents of mobile phone snatching in the area. These conflicting and contradictory claims from both sides have significantly complicated the police investigation. Given the seriousness of the matter, the police administration has taken prompt action. Police officials have confirmed that both suspects have been detained and a case has been registered against them. At present, both youths have undergone medical examinations, and further legal action will be taken based on the facts revealed in the initial police investigation. Officials have also made it clear that strict action will be taken against those who allegedly took the law into their own hands and assaulted the victims. DSP Jaspal Singh Dhaliwal of Malout issued a strong statement on the incident. DSP Dhaliwal categorically stated that although the youths were suspected of wrongdoing, the villagers had no right to take the law into their own hands. He said that instead of taking the punishment themselves, the villagers should have immediately reported the incident to the police. Following the outrage and growing outrage on social media, the State Scheduled Caste Commission has also taken strict cognizance of the matter. Chairman of the Punjab State Scheduled Caste Commission, Jasvir Singh Garhi, expressed deep displeasure over the violent incident. It has summoned a detailed investigation report from the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) of Sri Muktsar Sahib, through the Superintendent of Police Headquarters. The Commission has set a deadline of June 9, 2026, for the police to submit this detailed report. Rajan Chaudhary Courtesy: Hindi News
Firing between two groups over village headman election rivalry: Dalit woman shot in left hand, seriously injured
In Nagla Ranjita village, under the Akrabad police station area of Aligarh, several rounds of firing took place between two groups over a village headman election rivalry. A Dalit woman was shot in the hand, seriously injuring her. Police immediately rushed the injured woman to the hospital. The accused fled the scene. Upon receiving information, a heavy police force, including the SP Rural, was deployed to the scene. The incident occurred around 8 p.m. on Monday night. A dispute was going on between village headman representative Thakur Tanuj (son of Udayveer), a resident of Nagla Ranjita village, and the other party’s village headman candidate Thakur Bhajni (son of Surendra Singh). During this dispute, one of the two sides opened fire several times. Meanwhile, Pinky Devi (wife of Vinod Kumar), who was coming from the fields, was shot in the hand. Upon receiving information about the shooting, SP Rural Manish Kumar Mishra, Circle Officer Barla Garvit Singh, and Station House Officer Vinod Kumar arrived at the scene with police force. They immediately rushed the injured woman, Pinky Devi, to the Akrabad Health Center for treatment. Given her critical condition, doctors referred her to the medical college. Police have launched an investigation into the shooting incident. A heavy police force has been deployed to maintain peace in the village. Circle Officer Barla Garvit Singh stated that a woman was injured during a shootout between two groups in Nagla Ranjita village. Police have rushed the injured woman to the hospital. The accused have fled the village. Police are searching for them. Zainul Abedin Khan | Akrabad (Kol), Aligarh Courtesy: Hindi News
Dalit woman assaulted, FIR filed on court order: Accused of casteist slurs and assault
A case has been registered in Catholia Lala village, under the Basti Nagar police station area, for assaulting a Dalit woman and her daughter, using casteist slurs, entering their home, and threatening to kill them. The city police took this action on the orders of the Special Court under the SC/ST Act. The victim, Gujarati Devi, stated in her petition to the court that the incident occurred on the morning of January 27th. Village resident Shakeela was sweeping and throwing garbage in the courtyard in front of her house. When Gujarati Devi objected, Shakeela allegedly threw garbage at her and insulted her using casteist slurs. It is alleged that as the dispute escalated, Gujarati Devi’s daughter, Shalu, tried to intervene, but Shakeela began assaulting her. Shakeela then called her husband, Yusuf, and sons, Mubarak, Saddam, Salman, and Sameer. All the accused dragged Shalu to the street, kicked, punched, and beat her with shoes, and also made casteist remarks. The victim also alleges that when she protested, the accused entered her home and assaulted her as well. During this, the accused attempted to dishonor her daughter by tearing her clothes. Hearing the noise, nearby villagers rushed to the scene, saving the mother and daughter. In her petition, Gujarati Devi stated that the accused family had been pressuring her to occupy her courtyard land for a long time and had been repeatedly hurling casteist abuses and threatening to kill her. The victim had previously filed complaints at the city police station, the Superintendent of Police’s office, and through registered mail, but when no action was taken, she had to seek legal recourse. On May 8, 2026, the Additional District and Sessions Judge/Special Judge, SC/ST Act, Basti, registered an FIR under Section 173(4) of the BNSS and ordered legal action. Station House Officer Bhanu Pratap Singh informed that in compliance with the court order, a case has been registered under relevant sections and the SC/ST Act and investigation has been initiated. Mohammad Shakeel | Nagar Bazaar (Basti Sadar), Basti Courtesy: Hindi News
Dalit Teen beaten to death in Tehri Garhwal over inter-caste friendship
An 18-year-old Dalit youth, Ketan Lal, was allegedly beaten to death in Pratapnagar, Uttarakhand, over an inter-caste friendship. His friend was injured. Police have filed a murder case under the SC/ST Act and detained one suspect New Tehri: An 18-year-old Dalit youth was allegedly beaten to death and his friend severely injured over his friendship with a minor girl from an upper caste community in the Pratapnagar block here, police have said. The deceased, Ketan Lal, was a resident of Deval village. His injured friend, Diwakar Dimri, was admitted to the district hospital in Baurari. According to a complaint lodged by the Ketan’s father, Dhanpal Lal, the incident occurred on Sunday night in Kholgarh village. Ketan had reportedly been in a friendship with a girl from Kholgarh for the past six months. On Sunday at around 11 pm, the girl called Ketan on his mobile phone and asked him to come to her village. Ketan went to Kholgarh with Diwakar Dimri. When they both arrived, members of the girl’s family locked them both in a room and assaulted them with sticks, the police said on Monday. On Monday morning, the girl’s father called Dhanpal Lal to inform him about his son’s condition and asked him to take him back. Dhanpal found his son covered in blood and rushed him to a community health centre in Chaund Lambgaon where he succumbed, the police said. Irate locals and the family initially refused to claim the body from the hospital and demanded immediate action against the assaulters. Tehri Garhwal Senior Superintendent of Police Shweta Choubey said a case under the charge of murder and Section 3(2)(v) of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act was filed. The police had detained for questioning one of the accused, Yashveer Singh Panwar, the SSP added. Courtesy : Telangana Today Note: This news is originally published on https:/telanganatoday.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
BRS Delegation in Delhi: A Push for SC Status for Dalit Christians
A delegation from the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) is in Delhi to meet the Justice K. Balakrishnan Commission to advocate for Scheduled Caste status for Dalit Christians. The move, supported by prior resolutions from the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly, aims to ensure parity and social justice. The BRS delegation visited New Delhi to advocate for Scheduled Caste status for Dalit Christians. They aim to gain support from the Justice K. Balakrishnan Commission on this matter. Key members of the delegation include Rajya Sabha Deputy Floor Leader Vaddiraju Ravichandra and former minister Koppula Eshwar. This initiative follows a plea from the YSR Congress Party emphasizing equality and the struggles of Dalit Christians. The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) delegation arrived in New Delhi on Tuesday with the agenda of advocating for Scheduled Caste (SC) status for Dalit Christians. This initiative seeks to gain the backing of the Justice K. Balakrishnan Commission, which holds jurisdiction in these matters. Prominent figures in the delegation include Rajya Sabha Deputy Floor Leader Vaddiraju Ravichandra and former minister Koppula Eshwar. Their visit follows a recent meeting by the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) with the Commission’s chairperson, where they submitted a detailed plea seeking SC inclusion for Christian Dalits. In a compelling letter, YSRCP MP Maddila Gurumoorthy emphasized the constitutional principles of equality and non-discrimination, urging Justice Balakrishnan to recognize the similarity of social and economic struggles faced by Dalit Christians, akin to other SC groups. The appeal highlights ongoing resolutions, such as the support from former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy. Courtesy : Devdiscourse Note: This news is originally published on https:/devdiscourse.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Two Dalit youths stripped, tied, & dragged over theft suspicion in Muktsar; SC panel seeks report from SSP By June 9
Bathinda: Two Dalit youths were allegedly stripped, tied, and dragged through agricultural fields in scorching heat over suspicion of theft in Punjab’s Muktsar district on Saturday. The incident comes just two days after a viral video surfaced from Haryana’s Hansi district showing a Dalit youth hanging upside down in a well over the alleged theft of a water pump. Punjab State Scheduled Castes Commission has taken suo motu notice of the incident in Jhord village, seeking a report from the Muktsar SSP, to be submitted through the SP (headquarters) by June 9. Sources said a group of villagers stormed the homes of the two local youths after learning about the theft of a mobile phone from a migrant labourer. The two were taken to the paddy fields, where they were initially tied to a tree, partially undressed, and bound by their hands before being dragged, showed a video that later went viral and sparked outrage. Ashok Mahindra, a representative of a local pro-Dalit organisation, said, “The villagers acted in a Taliban style. Even if these youths committed a crime, there is a legal system to deal with them. We will request the Punjab social security minister, who represents the Malout constituency, to take serious note of this incident.” Malout DSP JS Dhaliwal identified the two youths as Gurpinder Singh (27) and Sandeep Singh (28), both residents of Jhord. Police said Gurpinder already faces a case under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. DSP Dhaliwal said the police are not overlooking the assault. “While we are investigating the alleged mobile snatching and the background of the youths, strict action is simultaneously being taken against those who indulged in this inhumane act.” Villagers claimed the two men confessed to the theft during the ordeal. Former Punjab SC Commission member Karanbir Singh Indora also strongly condemned the incident. “The villagers acted in a highly objectionable manner. No one has the right to take the law into their own hands.” Locals admitted to the assault but said they acted out of rage, claiming the two were involved in drug abuse and targeted a migrant labourer. 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