Honour is not family’s monopoly, Yogi says, invoking dalit freedom fighter
The CM said that the intersection where Masuriya Din’s statue was installed would be named after him and sought a proposal from the Prayagraj Mayor. LUCKNOW: Reminding people of the contributions of several Dalit icons to winning freedom for the nation, UP CM Yogi Adityanath, on Thursday, said Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi should know that it was not only Jawaharlal Nehru but also Masuriya Din Pasi who had gone to jail for the freedom of the country. Asserting that honour was not the exclusive property of any family, CM Yogi said those who raised their voices for Dalits and the deprived sections and dedicated their lives to the nation and society must also be given due respect. He was addressing a gathering after unveiling a statue of Masuriya, a Dalit freedom fighter from the Pasi community, at Mahashay Masuriyadin Smarak Inter College in Teliyarganj in Prayagraj. Notably, Masuriya Din Pasi was co-elected from the Phulpur Lok Sabha constituency twice, in 1952 and 1957, along with Nehru, and is also known to have worked towards the education of the Scheduled Castes. The CM stated that, as a member of the Constituent Assembly, Masuriya was the one who had got the British Criminal Tribes Act abolished. “After suffering defeat in the First War of Independence in 1857, the British enacted the Criminal Tribes Act in 1871 and humiliated numerous castes, including the Pasi community. Babasaheb and Masuriya Din ji fought against that law and eventually got it abolished, connecting the Pasi, Sonkar, deprived and Dalit communities with the mainstream of the nation and inspiring them to live a life of dignity,” said the CM. He added that Masuriya Din lived for 66-67 years, of which he spent nine years (1932-1944) in jail for taking part in the freedom movement. Even after his release, he continued to carry out public awareness activities. The CM said that the intersection where Masuriya Din’s statue was installed would be named after him and sought a proposal from the Prayagraj Mayor. “The name of one institution in Prayagraj would also be changed to Mahashay Masuriya Din’s name. His statue would also be installed, as the society can progress only by honouring great personalities,” said the CM. He claimed that by honouring the past, the present could be improved, and only by improving the present could the future be bright. “Honouring Mahashay is honouring the freedom fighters, and no shortcoming will be allowed in this regard,” he stated. “He was pushed into oblivion in the annals of history, but the BJP government, which believes in development and heritage, does not allow great personalities to be forgotten. We have unveiled his statue to keep his memories alive,” the CM added. Yogi also invoked the history of Pasi warriors, citing Maharaja Bijli Pasi, who, he said, established 12 forts in and around the state capital in the 12th century as part of the efforts to resist foreign invaders. He also recalled the contribution of Makkha Pasi and his wife, freedom fighter Uda Devi Pasi, who took up the fight against the British after her husband’s death and laid down her life in the struggle. Namita Bajpai 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
Hardoi teenager held hostage and raped in Rajasthan: Lured with the promise of a job, forced to marry in a temple
A 17-year-old Dalit girl from Hardoi has alleged that she was held hostage and raped in Rajasthan after being lured with the promise of a job. The victim alleges that she somehow managed to escape from the accused’s clutches and reach home. Subsequently, she filed a complaint at the police station around 4 pm on Tuesday, demanding action against the accused. The case is registered at Baghauli police station. Police have begun an investigation. Now learn the full story… According to the victim, she has studied up to grade eight. It is alleged that on August 3, 2026, a young man from her village, a truck driver in Rajasthan, lured her with the promise of a good-paying job in Chandigarh. Instead of taking her to Chandigarh, the accused took her to Rajasthan and held her captive there. During this time, he forced her into sexual intercourse against her will. Threatened to return home When she resisted and insisted on returning home, the accused threatened to kill her. The victim also alleges that the accused staged a forced marriage at a temple. 50,000 rupees withdrawn from bank account The teenager alleged that the accused fraudulently withdrew approximately 50,000 rupees from her bank account. Later, when the accused’s family learned about her caste, they refused to accept her. Shahnawaz Khan | Hardoi Courtesy: Hindi News
No reservation for OBC, Dalits who convert: Supreme Court
NEW DELHI: Supreme Court Thursday ruled a Scheduled Castes/OBC person who converts from a Hindu social order to a non-Hindu social order will not be entitled to the benefits of reservation. The court held that reservation is attached to a constitutionally identified class and not to an individual as a personal entitlement, which can be transferred if a person converts. SC said backwardness suffered by the person in Hindu religion cannot be carried forward to the new religion embraced by him or her. The order came on a petition filed by then DMK-led Tamil Nadu govt challenging a Madras HC order quashing state govt’s order to allow reservations for Dalit and OBC converts to Islam. As reservation is provided to some communities of other religions, which are recognised as backward classes in different states, a bench of Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and Shree Chandrashekhar held that conversion of OBCs/Dalits to a non-Hindu social order does not, by itself, confer membership of any particular notified backward class community of the adopted religion. The apex court’s verdict comes against the backdrop of growing demand for extending reservation to those OBCs/Dalits who converted to other religions. “A person who converts from a Hindu social order to a non-Hindu social order cannot claim affirmative action under Article 16(4) of Constitution merely on the basis of the social backwardness associated with his pre-conversion status; the backwardness suffered in the antecedent social order cannot, by itself, be carried forward so as to confer upon him the status of a backward class in the religion to which he has converted,” Supreme Courtsaid while quashing the Tamil Nadu order. 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
Allegations of house lock, assault, and forged deed: 75-year-old Dalit woman and family protest for the second day, administration begins investigation
Phool Kali, a 75-year-old Dalit woman, continued her protest with her family for the second day in Gauhania Kaundhiara. The woman, from Barethia village, alleges that her house was locked, she was assaulted, and a forged deed was executed. At the behest of SDM Bara, a revenue department accountant arrived at the protest site and heard the woman’s complaint. Phool Kali alleges that on October 7th, Rammilan Kushwaha, the operator of Kanak Hospital, arrived at her house with about two dozen people. They assaulted her children and locked the house. The woman filed a complaint and provided the police with a video of the assault. However, the police also filed a case against her family. The dispute also relates to a deed. According to Phool Kali, Rammilan Kushwaha had executed the deed of land belonging to her son Sohan in November 2022. In January 2026, a deed was also executed for the same portion of the house through Sohan, which the woman claims is fraudulent. She has demanded an investigation and cancellation of the deed. The elderly woman has demanded the unlocking of the house, a proper investigation into the assault, and justice by investigating the fraudulent deed. She has stated that the protest will continue until justice is achieved. Pravez Alam | Parsara (Bara), Prayagraj (Allahabad) Courtesy: Hindi News
Protesters detained outside IIT Bombay demanding justice for Dalit student Sahil Wakode
Mumbai Police detained Ambedkarite leaders and civil society members outside IIT Bombay as they demanded a fair investigation into Dalit student Sahil Wakode’s death and allegations of caste discrimination. Mumbai Police on Wednesday detained Ambedkarite leaders and civil society members who gathered outside IIT Bombay in response to the ‘Chalo IIT Bombay’ call, demanding accountability over the death of second-year BTech student Sahil Wakode. The civil society members also demanded an impartial investigation into allegations of caste discrimination. Among those detained were members of the All India Independent Scheduled Castes Association (AIISCA)—Rahul Sonpimple, Deepali Salve and Sambhaji Bhagat. The protest was organised in solidarity with Wakode’s parents, who have been on a hunger strike for nearly two weeks, demanding a fair investigation into their son’s death. According to reports, police detained protesters demonstrating outside IIT Bombay following a call by Sahil’s father, Ravindra Wakode. Reports suggest that Ravindra Wakode was also detained; however, Mumbai Police have denied the allegation. The police, meanwhile, responded with heavy deployment across the campus, restrictions on entry and the detention of people seeking to present their demands to the administration. The protest was also not allowed to proceed. Meanwhile, the Mumbai Crime Branch, which is investigating Wakode’s death, has recorded statements from more than 40 people. The 22-year-old second-year BTech student was found dead in his hostel room on the evening of September 18. According to the police official, Wakode submitted a written statement to the institute after allegedly being caught cheating in an examination. In the statement, he said he had not prepared well for the paper, acknowledged his mistake and sought a second chance. A first information report (FIR) was registered by Powai police against Professor Doolla following a complaint lodged by Wakode’s father. The professor, who has been named as an accused in the abetment-to-suicide case, has, in his statement to the police, denied the allegations of harassment levelled against him by the student’s parents. Wakode’s parents, Ravindra and Sonali Wakode, began their hunger strike at Azad Maidan in south Mumbai on September 24, alleging caste discrimination at the institute and seeking justice for their son. 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
Road to Dalit cremation ground in Rahmatpur blocked: Robbers accused of encroaching on government road, halting construction work; complaint to SDM
In Rahmatpur village, Muzaffarnagar, rowdy people have blocked the road to the Dalit cremation ground. They are accused of encroaching on the government road, hindering funerals and the construction of the cremation ground. Victims Moolchand, Chandrakiran, Vijaypal, Mohit, Indu, and village head representative Alok Kumar stated that this road has existed since ancestral times. Shubham, son of Karnail, Neeraj, son of Brajbir, and Karnail, son of Chatar Singh, are accused of blocking the road and digging pits, blocking traffic. Alok Kumar stated that the road blockage prevents construction materials from reaching the cremation ground, halting construction. There are also difficulties transporting bodies. Villagers have complained to the Sub-District Magistrate, Jansath, and the Bhopa police. A team from the Revenue Department inspected the site. Kanungo Sunil Sharma stated that the road appears to be old. After examining the documents, the measurement will be done and action will be taken as per the rules. Sandeep | Bhopa (Morna), Muzaffarnagar Courtesy: Hindi News
Dalit, Adivasi women recount ordeals in 35 atrocity cases at Hyderabad legal clinic
Victims as well as witnesses in 35 cases of atrocities against Dalit and Adivasi women and girls on Wednesday shared their experiences of seeking justice, at a legal clinic organised by Dalit Sthree Sakthi (DSS) in Hyderabad. The victims narrated their ordeals in cases involving murder, rape and cheating on the pretext of love. Senior government officials and representatives of civil society organisations attended the clinic as jury members, heard the grievances and assured the victims of support in pursuing their cases. DSS national convener Jhansi Geddam presided over the clinic and coordinated the proceedings. Director of Public Prosecutions Sambasiva Reddy commended the victims for their faith in the justice system and the Constitution. He assured them of assistance in prosecuting the cases and said special courts would be established in every district. CEO of Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty and Panchayat Raj Commissioner Divya Devarajan stressed the need for financial assistance to victims and said support would be extended through Sneha Cooperative Societies. She said SERP, in coordination with the Scheduled Castes Development Department (SCDD), would help victims secure bank loans. SCDD Commissioner Vijayendra Boyi expressed anguish over the crimes and said such incidents reflect the prevailing regressive social conditions. The government had sanctioned ₹40 crore towards compensation for victims of atrocities, with another ₹31 crore in the process of being sanctioned, she said. Assuring the victims of compensation and rehabilitation, she stressed that financial assistance alone was not enough and that justice must be secured in every case. 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
A Dalit was defrauded in Ayodhya over land deed: Three accused also accused of casteist slurs and death threats.
A case of fraud involving a land deed has come to light in Ayodhya. Hazari Lal, a Dalit man, has filed a lawsuit against three individuals, accusing them of fraud, casteist slurs, and death threats. Hazari Lal purchased an old 14.61 square meter house in Kushmaha village from Ashok Kumar on January 6, 2026, for ₹2 lakh. It is alleged that the accused fraudulently sold the same land back to Hazari Lal. According to Hazari Lal, on the night of July 21, 2026, Ashok Kumar, Satyam, and Shivam came to his house. They used casteist slurs and threatened to kill him. The accused later refused to return the money. On Hazari Lal’s complaint, the police have registered a case against Ashok Kumar Verma, Satyam Verma, Shivam Verma, and Satyam’s maternal uncle and have begun an investigation. Brijesh Chandra Pandey | Pura Bazaar (Ayodhya), Ayodhya Courtesy: Hindi News
In Mainpuri, miscreants harvested a Dalit woman’s crop: When she protested, they were subjected to caste-related abuses and death threats. A case has been filed.
In Vikrampur village, Mainpuri, miscreants forcibly harvested a Dalit woman’s standing paddy crop. When she protested, the woman was subjected to caste-related abuses and death threats. The victim, Preeti (Scheduled Caste), filed a complaint at the Auncha police station. According to her, on October 11, 2026, at 12 noon, Shailendra, Chandrapal, and Amol Singh (residents of Nagla Vanshi, Auncha), along with their men, harvested the paddy crop from her field (plot number 104/5) using a harvester. When Preeti objected, the accused hurled caste-related abuses and threatened to kill her. According to the victim, the accused are influential and this crop was her only source of income, causing significant losses. The victim has filed a case with the Auncha police station and demanded strict action. The police have registered a case and begun an investigation. Station in-charge Chandrapal Singh stated that the investigation has been initiated. Arjun Singh | Madhan (Ghiror), Mainpuri Courtesy: Hindi News
Jharkhand: 5 accused of assaulting and using casteist slurs against a Dalit woman for drawing water from a well
In Jagannathpur, Ranchi, a case of assault and casteist slurs against a Dalit woman for preventing her from drawing water from a well has come to light. Police have registered an FIR against five accused under the SC/ST Act and have begun an investigation. Jharkhand: A serious incident has come to light in Ranchi, the capital, where a Dalit woman was prevented from drawing water from a well and assaulted. According to police information released on Tuesday, October 13th, a case has been filed against five people, including four members of the same family, in connection with the incident. The miscreants are also accused of harassing and abusing the victim with casteist slurs. The entire incident occurred on October 10th in Sector 2 of HEC Smart City, which falls under the Jagannathpur police station jurisdiction. A senior police officer confirmed that the victim, identified as Manju Chaudhary, had filed a police complaint on the same day of the incident. The case took a new turn on Monday when the accused family filed a cross-complaint with the police. In their complaint, they accused the victim, a Dalit woman, of assaulting them. Jagannathpur police station in-charge Nitin Kumar Singh, providing details of the case, stated that the police have taken concrete action based on the written complaint filed by Manju Chaudhary. Police have registered an FIR against Amrendra Kumar, his wife Remi Devi, their two sons, and another person under relevant sections of the Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, and the BNS Act. According to the station in-charge, the victim alleged in her complaint that these five people, who lived near her house, had been preventing her from drawing water from their well since July 23rd. Subsequently, on October 10th, they suddenly assaulted her brutally and used derogatory casteist slurs against her. Given the sensitivity of the matter, the police have launched an investigation. The investigating officer stated that preliminary police investigations have revealed that the well at the center of the dispute is located within the premises of the main accused, Amarendra’s house. The police are currently thoroughly investigating all the serious allegations of harassment and assault leveled by the woman. The officer clarified that once this investigation is complete, strict and appropriate legal action will be taken against the accused based on all the facts that have emerged. Rajan Chaudhary Courtesy: Hindi News