Man gets life term for crushing 2 Dalit women with car & trying to abduct girl
Bulandshahr: A special SC/ST court in UP’s Bulandshahr has sentenced a man to life imprisonment for the deaths of two Dalit women — in their 50s — who were deliberately run over by a car during a wedding in 2019. The court also imposed a Rs 51,000 fine on the convict. According to prosecution, the incident took place on June 25 when a marriage ceremony was underway and the bride’s kin were standing by the roadside. The accused, Nakul Thakur, arrived in a car with co-accused Omendra alias Oga. Thakur first tried to abduct a girl, a Dalit, from the venue and then used abusive and casteist remarks when she resisted. The accused also threatened the girl’s kin when they objected. He then drove away only to return with the vehicle at high speed. They mowed down some of the ‘baraatis’ waiting outside as a result of which two women were crushed to death. Two men were also critically hurt. The incident sparked angry protests in the area, following which police registered an FIR against Thakur and Omendra. Special public prosecutor Vipul Raghav told the court that the case was registered on June 25, 2019, on the complaint of Dharmendra Singh of Chandpur village. Police arrested the accused and after completing the investigation, filed the charge-sheet on Aug 28, that year. The case was heard before the special SC/ST Act court. During the proceedings, prosecution presented evidence and witnesses to establish the gruesome crime. Main accused Thakur died during trial on Feb 17, 2024. On Thursday, special judge Om Prakash Verma held co-accused Omendra guilty and sentenced him to life in prison. 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
Class 8 Dalit Student Alleges Caste Discrimination by Teacher at UP Government School
A Class 8 student at a government upper primary school in Uttar Pradesh’s Lakhimpur Kheri district has alleged caste-based discrimination by a teacher. The student, identified as Krishna, belongs to the Valmiki community, which is listed as a Scheduled Caste. He has accused a woman teacher at Government Upper Primary School Patrasi in Nakaha block of allegedly stopping him from sitting in class and refusing to teach him. According to the student’s account, the teacher allegedly told him to stay away from her. He also claimed that she said she would not remain in the school if he came to her class. Krishna has said that his only “fault” was being born into the Valmiki community. He said the alleged treatment has affected his studies and morale. Student Alleges Untouchability The allegations have raised concerns over caste discrimination and untouchability in a government school. People who have spoken about the matter have called for an impartial inquiry and action if the allegations are found to be true. They said such treatment could affect the child’s right to education and equality. The allegations have not been independently verified, and there is no official confirmation available so far about the teacher’s response. Call for Police and Education Department Probe Ashmit Soni, media in charge of the Bharatiya Adivasi Party in Rajasthan, shared a video related to the allegations and tagged Uttar Pradesh Police, seeking an investigation. Soni said discrimination should not be tolerated and referred to social media claims that the student was allegedly removed from the classroom after caste based remarks. He urged the police to examine the matter and take strict action if the allegations are established. There is currently no confirmed information about an FIR or a departmental inquiry into the allegations. What the Law Says Caste based discrimination against children in schools is prohibited under India’s constitutional framework and education laws. The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, provides for a child’s right to education without discrimination. If an alleged act is found to amount to an offence against a Scheduled Caste student, provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act may also be considered, depending on the facts. A formal inquiry by the education authorities and, where required, the police would be needed to establish what happened. The priority, residents have said, should be to ensure that the student’s education is not disrupted while the allegations are investigated. Courtesy : TOP Note: This news is originally published on https:/theobserverpost.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
With eye on poll, BJP to begin ‘drug-free Punjab’ drive amid row over Dalit villager’s death
The campaign comes close on the heels of a row that erupted following the death of a Dalit villager, who was reportedly under pressure to apologise for questioning Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema over the supply of ‘chitta (synthetic drugs)’ in the State. With an eye on the 2027 Assembly poll, the BJP on Friday (September 11, 2026) announced the launch of ‘Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatras’ from September 18 to “highlight the drug menace” in the State. State BJP president Kewal Singh Dhillon said the yatras will cover all 117 Assembly constituencies and turn the fight against drugs into a mass movement. He was addressing a press conference along with party national vice-president Manpreet Badal and former State chief Sunil Jakhar. Rahul Gandhi, Bhagwant spar over the alleged suicide of a Dalit man in Punjab The campaign comes close on the heels of a row that erupted following the alleged death by suicide of a Dalit villager, who was reportedly under pressure to apologise for questioning Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema over the supply of ‘chitta (synthetic drugs)’ in the State. Mr. Dhillon alleged that three major challenges are confronting Punjab – growing drugs menace, deteriorating law and order situation, and corruption. “The yatras are not merely an anti-drug awareness campaign, but an attempt to confront the grave threat that it poses to Punjabiyat, our culture, values and the proud identity of the land of the gurus. The drug crisis is tearing families apart, pushing Punjab’s youth, traditionally known for their contribution to the armed forces, sports and nation-building, towards violence and gang-related activities. It is also imposing a heavy financial burden on families forced into debt or to sell their land and assets for treatment,” he said. Punjab govt treats over 90,000 drug victims in rehabilitation centres Mr. Dhillon said BJP president Nitin Nabin will flag off the first yatra on September 18 from Pathankot district. It will be followed by marches from Fatehgarh Sahib (September 19), Fazilka (September 20) and Talwandi Sabo (September 21). In March, Union Home Minister Amit Shah had sought a chance to form the next government, promising that the BJP will free the State from the scourge of drugs within two years. (Those in distress can contact Tele MANAS at 14416 to seek help) 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
Dalit couple assaulted for protesting tree felling: Case filed against constable and contractor in Basti on court order, 5-year-old case
Following an order from the Special Judge SC/ST Act Court in Basti, Walterganj police have filed a case against a former constable and a contractor from their own department. The case dates back to May 26, 2021. Reena Devi, a resident of Ganeshpur, alleges that contractor Durgesh Choubey was cutting down two green mango trees planted along the PWD road in front of her house without valid permission. When she protested, the contractor used casteist slurs. Meanwhile, Vinod, a constable at the then Ganeshpur outpost, who was in plain clothes, assaulted her husband, Rajesh Kumar Sonkar, and forcibly detained him at the outpost. Allegations of having the trees cut while her husband was locked up in the outpost According to Reena Devi, when she protested against the tree felling, the constable dragged her husband by the collar and locked him in the outpost. It is alleged that the contractor had the trees cut down while her husband was detained and took away the wood. Later, as the dispute escalated, the constable had the wood pulled by a tractor and stored at the police station. The victim alleges that her husband was released after threatening to send him to jail under false charges. Following the incident, she sent a complaint to the Chief Minister’s Portal, as well as to police officers and the District Magistrate, demanding action, but she alleges that no action was taken at the police level. Five years later, a case was filed on a court order. Following the police’s inaction, Reena Devi filed a petition in the court of the Special Judge, SC/ST Act. Following the court’s order, Walterganj police registered a case against then-constable Vinod and contractor Durgesh Choubey at 5:04 pm on September 10th. The police are now investigating the matter based on the court order and the allegations made in the victim’s complaint. Raj Prakash | Basti Courtesy: Hindi News
Dalit family forced to live in hut with 5 children: Multiple complaints for housing in Achhalda, officials demand action
A poor Dalit family in Purva Ramdas, a hamlet in Bhasora Gram Panchayat of Achhalda development block, is struggling to find housing. Village resident Rajneesh Kumar, along with his wife and five children, are forced to live in a hut made of straw and tarpaulin. Family members reported that the hut floods during the rainy season, making it extremely difficult to live with the children. They have been struggling with housing for several years. Dalit woman Kalpana Devi reported that she has filed numerous complaints seeking benefits under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Prime Minister’s Housing Scheme). However, her pleas have remained unanswered. She has also repeatedly appealed to the village head for housing, but the problem remains unresolved. The family has appealed to the Block Development Officer and the district administration to investigate the matter. They have demanded action against the responsible officials who were negligent in providing them with the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Prime Minister’s Housing Scheme). Akhilesh Kumar | Harchandpur (Bidhuna), Auraiya Courtesy: Hindi News
UP Election 2027: Akhilesh Yadav targets Brahmins, Dalits and Gen-Z with new PDA and blue gamcha strategy | Explained
With UP elections due in early 2027, the SP chief is redefining his party’s coalition, courting Brahmins with one hand and Dalits with the other — while BJP watches its most loyal vote bank show early signs of restlessness On August 5, Samajwadi Party national president Akhilesh Yadav stood before a Brahmin Sammelan at his party’s Lucknow headquarters and made a statement that carried considerably more weight than it appeared to on the surface. He declared that the ‘P’ in ‘PDA’ stands for ‘Pandits’. This was not a slip of the tongue. When Akhilesh coined the term PDA during the 2022 UP Assembly elections, the ‘P’ explicitly stood for ‘Pichhda’, meaning backwards or Other Backward Classes. That formulation was the foundation of the social coalition he was building: Pichhda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak — backward castes, Dalits and minorities. It was a direct challenge to the BJP’s dominant Hindu consolidation strategy and helped the SP make significant gains, even if it was not ultimately enough to form the government. Now, with the 2027 UP elections scheduled for February or March of next year, the ‘P’ has been expanded, or perhaps repositioned, to include Pandits. The question being asked across Lucknow’s political circles is whether this represents a genuine strategic evolution or an opportunistic repositioning. The answer, on examination, appears to be both, and that combination is precisely what makes it interesting. Why Brahmins Matter So Much in Uttar Pradesh To understand Akhilesh’s Brahmin outreach, you need to understand the electoral arithmetic of Uttar Pradesh at a granular level. Political analysts estimate that the Brahmin community can decisively influence outcomes in more than 115 of the 403 Assembly constituencies across the state. This is not simply a function of numbers — Brahmins constitute approximately 10 to 11 percent of UP’s population — but of their geographic distribution across constituencies and their traditional role as opinion leaders in rural and semi-urban settings. The data across successive elections makes the pattern unmistakable. In 2007, when Mayawati led the BSP to a landmark 206-seat majority, the party had achieved something genuinely unprecedented: it secured 16 percent of the Brahmin vote through a deliberate Brahmin-Dalit alliance strategy. The BJP still received 44 percent, but the split was significant enough to help the BSP sweep to a majority. The 2012 SP victory saw the party win 224 seats, partly on the strength of 19 percent of the Brahmin vote, double its 2007 performance of 10 percent. The BJP got 38 percent of Brahmin votes that year, with the community fractured across multiple parties. Then came 2017, and the numbers tell a stark story. Riding the Modi wave, the BJP secured approximately 83 percent of Brahmin votes and more than 300 seats. The SP collapsed to 7 percent of Brahmin votes. In 2022, the consolidation deepened further. The BJP captured 89 percent of Brahmin votes. The SP got 6 percent. Those two numbers, 89 and 6, are the context for everything Akhilesh is doing with the Brahmin Sammelan and the reframed PDA acronym. Even a modest swing in Brahmin votes, from 6 percent to 15 or 20 percent, could alter outcomes in dozens of constituencies. What Is Driving Brahmin Discontent With the BJP? The opposition’s narrative about Brahmin disenchantment with the BJP government under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath centres on two overlapping allegations. The first is that Thakurs or Rajputs, the caste community to which Yogi himself belongs, have been disproportionately favoured for appointments across state administration, police postings and government positions. This allegation of Thakur dominance in the state’s power structure has been circulating within Brahmin circles for several years and carries enough traction that the BJP has felt compelled to respond. The second is the Maha Kumbh episode. Akhilesh has repeatedly alleged that Shankaracharya Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati, a revered religious figure with significant standing among Brahmins, was prevented from taking a holy dip during the Maha Kumbh. Whether or not this allegation is fully accurate, it has served as a powerful symbolic touchpoint for Brahmin grievance politics, suggesting that even high-status religious figures from the community are not immune to being marginalised under the current administration. At the Brahmin Sammelan, Akhilesh wove these threads together: the BJP targets SP workers, it targets Brahmins, and now it is even after the ‘P’ in PDA. The framing positions Brahmins not as a group being invited into the SP’s coalition out of political convenience but as a community that shares a common adversary with the SP’s traditional base. How much of this narrative has actually penetrated Brahmin opinion is difficult to assess. Many Brahmins in UP remain deeply sceptical of the SP, which they have historically associated with minority appeasement policies and a governance culture they see as hostile to their interests. The gap between Brahmin discontent with the BJP and Brahmin willingness to vote SP is wide, and bridging it requires more than a well-attended sammelan. The BJP’s Response: Playing Defence on Its Own Ground The BJP has not sat passively while Akhilesh pursues his Brahmin outreach. The party’s response has been both structural and strategic. Its appointment of Nagendra Nath Tripathi, an RSS ideologue, as national organiser for senior workers’ outreach is the most revealing signal. Tripathi previously served as BJP’s zonal general secretary for Bihar and Jharkhand and is considered an expert in grassroots-level organisation. Deploying him specifically for senior workers’ outreach, a category in which Brahmin party workers are prominently represented, is a clear message that the BJP intends to actively retain rather than passively assume the loyalty of its most historically reliable upper-caste constituency. Newly appointed UP in-charge Vinod Tawde has also specifically targeted the PDA strategy in his early public interventions, signalling that the BJP has decided to contest Akhilesh’s social coalition framing rather than ignore it. The BJP’s structural advantage in this contest is considerable. It has 89 percent Brahmin votes to protect rather than 6 percent to build from. Even if Brahmin discontent is real, translating it into votes for the SP
Family alleges forced cremation of Dalit man Gulzar Singh in Punjab
Gulzar Singh, a 47-year-old Dalit man from Sangrur in Punjab who died after allegedly consuming poison. Image source: X/screengrab The family of Sangrur suicide victim Gulzar Singh on Thursday alleged that his cremation was carried out “forcibly”, as opposition parties renewed their demand for a CBI probe into his death. National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) Chairman Kishor Makwana and senior BJP leaders visited Gulzar’s family in Turbanjara village in Sangrur district. The family alleged that the administration conducted the cremation without its consent and that the body was taken directly to the cremation ground instead of being brought home for rituals. Gulzar’s son Shahbaz, in a purported video released on Thursday, claimed that the cremation was carried out “forcibly” and that his brother was “misled” into cremating the body. “We appeal that until justice is done, we will neither hold ‘bhog’ nor collect his ashes,” he said. His other son, Lakhwinder Singh, also alleged that the cremation was conducted without the family’s consent. The family demanded action against Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema and all those allegedly named by Gulzar before his death. Gulzar, a 47-year-old Dalit man from Dirba, died on Monday night after allegedly consuming poison. His family has claimed that he was harassed and subjected to casteist slurs after questioning Cheema about the supply of drugs in the area during an event on Sunday. The NCSC said Makwana told the family that Gulzar had been raising his voice against the drug menace and was threatened and intimidated, which led him to take the extreme step. The commission also said the family had sought strict action against those allegedly involved in threatening Gulzar and demanded security for them. Opposition parties, including the BJP, Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal, demanded Cheema’s dismissal and a CBI inquiry into the death. BJP Punjab chief Kewal Singh Dhillon, national vice president Manpreet Singh Badal and former state presidents Sunil Jakhar and Ashwani Sharma met the family and assured them of assistance. Dhillon said the BJP had demanded a CBI inquiry. Congress Punjab chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring alleged that the AAP government had humiliated the family by conducting the last rites against its wishes. SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal also alleged that the family’s consent was not taken and that the cremation was hurried. BJP Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha criticised the Mann government over the drug situation in Punjab, alleging that synthetic drugs, or “chitta”, were widely available and that home delivery of intoxicants was taking place. On the way to the village, BJP leaders alleged that AAP workers surrounded Dhillon’s vehicle and raised slogans against the BJP, asking it not to “do politics over the dead”. Five people have so far been booked under Section 108 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for abetment of suicide and relevant provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Courtesy : The Pioneer Note: This news is originally published on https:/thepioneer.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Telangana ‘Purification’ Row: Congress, Dalit Groups Slam BRS; Hold Ex-CM KCR Responsible
A day before the ‘purification’ ritual was performed, Congress leaders and Dalit members took out a procession in protest against two BRS MLCs, Tata Madhusudhan and Naveen Kumar Reddy, who they said had insulted assembly speaker G. Prasad Kumar, a Dalit, on September 7. Hyderabad: A month after a ‘purification’ ritual was performed in Uttarakhand following Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s address at a rally in Haldwani, a similar anti-Dalit practice was publicly demonstrated in Telangana on Wednesday (September 9). This happened a day after Dalit leaders and Congress workers held a protest against Bharat Rashtra Samiti (BRS) president and former chief minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao. On Tuesday, September 8, a large number of Dalit leaders and Congress workers had marched in a ‘Chavu-Dappu’ procession to Rao’s farmhouse on the outskirts of Varadharajapuram village in Siddipet district. Funereal drums, ‘Chavu-Dappu’, were beaten during this procession. Beating the drums in a funeral procession is an occupation traditionally associated with Dalits. The Congress leaders’ procession was in protest against two BRS MLCs, Tata Madhusudhan and Naveen Kumar Reddy, who they said had insulted assembly speaker G. Prasad Kumar, a Dalit, on September 7. That was on the first day of the state assembly’s monsoon session, when the BRS MLAs and MLCs had tried to gatecrash into the assembly premises against severe security restrictions in the area. Alleging that the area near the farmhouse was “desecrated” by the drum-beating procession, the BRS cadre on Wednesday poured turmeric-water and milk on the road and nearby places to symbolise ‘purification’ of the entire area. The Scheduled Caste cell of the Congress termed this as an attempt to promote untouchability, and, alleging that it was done the blessings of Rao, demanding action against him under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1987. Scheduled Caste organisations representing Mala and Madiga sub-castes reacted strongly to the ritual after videos went viral on social media. A Congress leader, Satish Madiga, said a zero FIR had been registered at Saifabad against Rao and other BRS leaders. Congress party’s Choppadandi MLA, Medipally Sathyam, said he had filed a complaint at Saifabad police station. His complaint says the procession led by Congress workers near the farmhouse was part of a statewide call by the party to protest the intemperate remarks previously made by the two BRS MLCs – Tata Madhusudhan and Naveen Kumar Reddy – against Speaker Kumar’s late mother. Sathyam’s complaint said that the call for “dandora” – a traditional drumbeat to gather people and share important news – was issued to seek an apology from Rao for the misconduct of his party’s MLCs. The Congress protest and aftermath Congress workers had proceeded towards K. Chandrasekhar Rao’s farmhouse from four directions. A large group had also gathered on the Hyderabad-Karimnagar highway, led by former MLA T. Narsa Reddy. This group alone could approach the farmhouse, breaching the obstacles set up by the police along the way. Narsa Reddy was injured in clashes with police during this march. His group still remained two kilometres away from Rao’s farmhouse. Speaking to the media later, Sathyam alleged that the ‘purification’ ritual which followed the march was conducted on the instructions of Rao. He said it was evident that the BRS practiced caste discrimination. Another Congress MLA, K. Shankaraiah, wished “bad times” befall Rao, which BRS later said meant that the rival party aimed to “kill” him. Following this series of developments, the Congress has said it will “expose” the anti-Dalit stand of the BRS. Over a dozen party MLCs demanded that the Election Commission of India derecognises the BRS. A delegation of Congress legislators from non-elite castes, led by deputy chief minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, called on Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla and said the BRS was trying to push the state into a “dark era”. They compared the developments to Germany under the Nazi Party and the activities of the American far-right hate group Ku Klux Klan. BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao in a scuffle with police as the BRS legislators tried to gatecrash into the Assembly wearing black T-shirts to protest against the Congress-led Telangana government failures on September 7. photo by arrangement. The BRS, led by working president K.T. Rama Rao, met the governor separately and complained that the procession to the farmhouse was an aborted attempt to murder Rao, and alleged that it had been authorised by chief minister Revanth Reddy. He said the Congress had mobilised thousands of people with police escort to lay siege to the farmhouse. However, the Congress maintained that the police stopped them at several places enroute. Monsoon Session chaos The purification ritual topped a series of incidents that unfolded since the BRS legislators tried to gatecrash the assembly premises wearing black T-shirts. There were scuffles between them and a huge police force that sought to stop anyone wearing black clothing or carrying black items from entering the Assembly. That is when Tata Madhusudhan and Naveen Reddy allegedly made remarks about the Speaker and his family. BRS MLC Naveen Kumar Reddy stopped by women police from entering the Assembly on September 7. Photo by arrangement. During this incident, a few MLAs had taken off their T-shirts and confronted the police, including women constables, in a half-dressed state. A woman constable trying to catch BRS MLA and former minister P. Sabita Indra Reddy was caught on camera. The video was aired on TV channels and weaponised by the BRS as an assault against a legislator. The party has sought action against the police. Police and Assembly actions so far On Wednesday, BRS members stormed into the well of the House and 22 were suspended for the rest of the session, which ends on Saturday (September 12). At the same time, the police arrested Madhusudhan and Naveen Reddy. They were released within hours in court. The verbal abuse by both the legislators has been referred to the ethics committee of the Legislative Council. Chief minister A. Revanth Reddy has announced a comprehensive inquiry
Cong will continue to fight for dignity of Dalits: Ganesh Godiyal
Dehradun, The political controversy over the alleged ‘purification’ of the Ramlila Maidan in Haldwani following Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge’s rally on 8 August further escalated today with hundreds of Congress leaders and workers marching towards the Chief Minister’s residence in Dehradun despite heavy rain. The protesters were stopped by the police near Hathibarkala, where barricades had been erected to prevent them from proceeding further. Tension prevailed for some time as Congress leaders and workers attempted to cross the barricades, resulting in pushing and shoving between the protesters and the police personnel. Some Congress leaders and workers were later taken into custody by the police. The protest, organised by the Uttarakhand Pradesh Congress Committee, was led by state president Ganesh Godiyal and saw the participation of party state in-charge Kumari Selja, Leader of the Opposition Yashpal Arya, former minister Harak Singh Rawat, former state Congress president Pritam Singh and several Congress MLAs and senior leaders. The protesters assembled at Parade Ground, where senior leaders addressed the gathering before the march towards the Chief Minister’s residence began. The Congress has stepped up its agitation over the alleged purification ritual performed at the Haldwani venue after Kharge addressed a public meeting there. The party has described the incident as an insult to its national president and an affront to democratic values and the dignity of the Opposition. Congress leaders have also objected to the alleged failure of the authorities to register FIRs on complaints submitted at various police stations against those responsible for the ritual, while an FIR has been registered against Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi in connection with his remarks on the controversy. Addressing party workers, Godiyal said the Congress would continue its democratic agitation until action was taken against those responsible for the incident. He said the party was demanding accountability and would continue to raise the voice of the people and its workers before the State Government. Godiyal added that the party will continue to fight for the dignity of the Dalits and for the justice. Kumari Selja accused the BJP government in Uttarakhand of betraying the sentiments and trust of the people of the State. She alleged that the venue of a rally addressed by the Congress national president was subjected to ‘purification’ by people associated with the BJP after the programme. She alleged that the BJP is resorting to every possible tactic in view of the forthcoming elections and said the Congress would not remain silent on issues involving social discrimination and the dignity of its leaders. The Congress has also linked the controversy with the FIR registered against Rahul Gandhi and has alleged that the authorities are adopting a discriminatory approach by failing to act on complaints against those who conducted the alleged purification ritual while taking action against the Leader of the Opposition. It may be recalled that the protest had been planned as a major show of strength by the State Congress. The party workers from different districts reached Dehradun for the programme despite heavy rain at the time of the march. The large gathering also affected traffic movement in several parts of the city, with police and district administration making extensive security arrangements along the proposed route to the CM’s residence. The rally also threw the traffic arrangements across the city into disarray. Traffic jams were witnessed almost at all important roads in the city. The Police were unable to manage the traffic. As the protesters moved towards Hathibarkala, police stopped them at the barricading. Congress workers raised slogans against the State Government and demanded action against those responsible for the Haldwani incident. Several protesters climbed onto the barricades during the confrontation before being pushed back by the police. The situation remained tense for some time but did not escalate into major violence. As the Congress has turned the incident into a Dalit issue, the controversy has now widened far beyond Uttarakhand. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has raised the issue at the national level, while the party has been seeking action against those involved in the alleged purification ceremony. Congress leaders have argued that the incident carries implications beyond party politics and relates to the larger question of caste discrimination and social equality. The BJP, on the other hand, has rejected the Congress’ interpretation of the incident and has accused the Opposition of attempting to disturb social harmony for political purposes. The party had announced ‘Samajik Sauhard Sankalp Dharna’ programmes at its organisational district headquarters across Uttarakhand on Monday to counter the Congress campaign. A Zero FIR was registered in Bengaluru against BJP State President Mahendra Bhatt despite Bhatt and the BJP distancing from the purification event. Bhatt has maintained that the ritual was related to a havan after garbage had allegedly been left at the venue but the BJP had no connection to the purification exercise. The Congress protest in Dehradun also saw several prominent personalities joining the party in the presence of Kumari Selja and other senior leaders. Those who joined the Congress included former Roorkee mayor Yashpal Rana, former Yamkeshwar block chief Bhuvanesh Kharkwal, former principal and former chairman of the Haridwar Cane Committee Manoj Saini, former minister of state rank Ram Kumar Walia, former Dehradun Mandi Samiti chairman Ravindra Anand, advocate Sachin Kumar and others. By ARUN PRATAP SINGH Courtesy : Garhwal Post Note: This news is originally published on https:/garhwalpost.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Dalit labourer’s suicide: Family alleges forced cremation
Sangrur: The family of Dalit labourer Gulzar Singh — who died by suicide after allegedly being harassed for publicly questioning finance minister Harpal Singh Cheema on the unchecked sale of drugs in his village — on Thursday alleged that he was cremated without their consent. Gulzar’s son, Lakhwinder Singh, alleged that the district administration carried out his father’s last rites without the family’s approval and did not allow him to see his father’s face one last time. “Govt forcibly carried out the last rites. They told us they would provide a job and other things, but we received nothing. Police pressure was immense — it was the district police. It happened without our consent,” Lakhwinder said. The family has vowed not to perform the Bhog ceremony until Cheema is named in the FIR and arrested. Sangrur deputy commissioner Poonamdeep Kaur, however, said that the family “expressed satisfaction” with the administration’s response, and mentioned that ₹5 lakh ex gratia compensation had already been disbursed and a govt job assured. Earlier in the day, National Commission for Scheduled Castes chairman Kishor Makwana visited Toor Banjara village and flagged an “atmosphere of fear” tied to the drug trade among Dalit youth.A political firestorm has engulfed Punjab over the suicide. A convoy carrying Punjab BJP president Kewal Singh Dhillon, party national vice-president Manpreet Singh Badal and former state presidents Sunil Jakhar and Ashwani Sharma, was allegedly surrounded by AAP workers near Toor Banjara when they were on their way to offer condolences to the family. Dhillon called it a “brazen assault on democracy”. Sangrur BJP district president Daman Bajwa said no vehicles were damaged in the incident but alleged that AAP workers struck the vehicles with their fists, while police personnel stationed roughly 100 metres away did not intervene and “turned mute spectators”. Dhillon and general secretary Parminder Singh Brar backed the family’s account and reiterated the demand for a CBI probe. Calling it a case of “abuse of power and denial of basic dignity”, they demanded Cheema’s resignation. AAP Dirba in charge Pritam Singh Peetu Sarpanch refuted the allegations and said he, along with party workers, had only protested against BJP and Congress leaders for politicising Gulzar’s death. He said none of the BJP vehicles were attacked, and that AAP workers were only carrying banners. Former Congress CM Charanjit Singh Channi and MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira sought accountability from state govt on the cremation. Senior Congress functionary Vijay Inder Singla accused the AAP leadership of shielding Cheema. Bholath Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira termed the alleged forced cremation an abuse of state power and demanded Cheema’s dismissal, criminal cases against him and the executive magistrates involved, and Rs 2 crore compensation for the family. 4 of 5 Accused Arrested Police have registered a case against five residents of Toor Banjara — sarpanch Baljinder Kaur, her husband Baljeet Singh, Sukhdev Singh, Vicky Singh and Gona Singh — under BNS Section 108 for abetment of suicide and under Sections 3(1)(r) and 3(1)(s) of SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Apart from the Sukhdev, the others have been arrested. Medical sources indicate several hours were lost after Gulzar took poison as he was moved between Sangrur Civil Hospital, Rajindra Hospital in Patiala, a private facility in Sangrur and finally DMC Ludhiana before he died. 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