Crime News: Dalit Youth Murdered and Dismembered, Body Hidden in House for 80 Days; People Demand Death Penalty for Killers
Jharkhand News: A shocking crime has come to light in Ramgarh. People’s anger has erupted over the brutal murder of Sonu Kumar Ram. On Friday, family members and local residents staged a massive protest at Subhash Chowk. The protesters are demanding the death penalty for the killers. The brutality of this murder has shaken the entire city. The crowd has appealed to the administration for swift justice. Body Hidden in House for 80 Days The truth behind this crime is extremely horrific. Former Congress District President Munna Paswan said that the Dalit youth was brutally murdered. The accused dismembered the body into several pieces. In a shocking act of cruelty, the accused kept the body hidden in his house for about 80 days. Later, he disposed of the body parts in different locations. People have described it as an inhuman and cruel crime. Trial in Fast Track Court Former Cantonment Board Vice President Sardar Anmol Singh also participated in the protest. He said that this is a heinous crime. It seems unlikely that only one person was involved. He demanded that the police immediately arrest all the accused. Anmol Singh said that the case should be tried in a fast-track court. The culprits should be given a harsh punishment as soon as possible. Demand for Compensation and Job The protesters demanded rehabilitation for the victim’s family from the district administration. They appealed to the SDO and Deputy Superintendent of Police to intervene. People have demanded that the deceased’s family be given land for a house. They also demanded compensation and benefits under the family welfare scheme as per government rules. In addition, the demand for a contractual job in the municipal council was also prominently raised. Poonam Sharma Courtesy: Hindi News
Transgender empowerment initiative: Amarjeet Singh aids 133 transgenders securing jobs; Ongoing efforts for housing and social acceptance persist
Jamshedpur: Amarjeet Singh, a transgender and a city-based human rights activist, is helping transgenders turn their life around and live with freedom and dignity. In 2014, Amarjeet founded Utthaan, a community-based organisation. For a decade now, the NGO has been providing transgenders a platform to voice their rights. “We took off our campaign right after the Supreme Court upheld NALSA’s judgement in April 2014. In the last decade, we achieved breakthroughs on several fronts, but our struggle is still ongoing to earn a dignified life for the transgender community,” Amarjeet said. It is her team’s effort that presently 133 transgenders from different states got jobs on permanent rolls in Tata Steel’s operating plants in Jamshedpur, Noamundi, Ghato, and Kalinganagar. Besides, 15 school dropout transgenders are receiving formal education with the support of Tata Steel Foundation (TSF). Another six skilled transgenders will be observed on rolls at Electro Steel Ltd (ESL) Bokaro in January. The journey was not easy for Amarjeet, who is a transgender. “The rudimentary mindset of the people is still a major obstruction in securing a dignified space for the transgenders in society. At every step, I experienced objections and opposition from society, but my resilience helped me achieve the goals,” she said. Aamrjeet recalled that it took five years of persistent efforts to obtain Aadhar cards for the transgenders in 2019. Gradually, the community members also obtained Pan and ration cards. Most recently, 50 transgenders in East Singhbhum district received their voter cards in December last year. “Initially, the Election Commission rejected their applications as the transgenders failed to provide their permanent residential address. But following our request, state chief electoral officer K Ravi Kumar agreed to issue voter cards based on identification done by us. On our letterhead, voter ID cards were issued. In fact, I also got the voter card on the same letterhead,” Amarjeet said. “The Transgender Welfare Board, which was constituted in the state in 2024, paved the way for the transgenders to be covered under the universal pension scheme, helping them avail Rs 1,000 every month,” Fernandez Sundi, a community member, said. “Our grievance with the govt is that we are still struggling to get a shelter home for transgenders. Besides, there’s no Abua Awas or Pradhan Mantri Awas for our community,” said Arpity, an Utthaan member. 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
Transgender players unite: Jamshedpur Football Club launches first Super League for transgender athletes; 70 players compete in groundbreaking tournament
Jamshedpur: In a first, the Jamshedpur Football Club (JFC) organised Jamshedpur Super League (JSL), a six-month soccer tournament exclusively for transgender players. The event which began on Dec 7 features seven teams competing in a five-a-side format at the JRD Tata Sports Complex artificial football turf in Jamshedpur. Matches will be organised every Sunday, with each team playing 12 matches. JFC officials said Chaibasa FC, Jamshedpur FT, Chakradharpur FC and Seraikela FC were initially slated to compete, but three additional sides—Kolhan Tiger FC, Noamundi FC and Jamshdpur Indra Nagar FC—later joined the tournament. A total of 70 players from varied backgrounds, including Tata Steel employees, daily wage labourers and vendor’s workers, are participating. “Its’s tremendous experience playing in a proper professional tournament,” said Aliya, one of the participants. 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
Dalits denied barber services: Dalit community in Jaypura alleges barber boycott; Police intervenes but barbers remain uncooperative
Jamshedpur: Members of the Scheduled Caste (SC) community in Jaypura village, located in the Baharagora block of East Singhbhum district, alleged that local barbers have stopped providing services to them. According to residents, for the past four weeks all six barber shops in the village have refused to serve dalit customers. “Despite police intervention, they are not serving us,” said Madadev Baitha (38), a resident of the village. Jaypura had a population of 347 across 54 households according to the 2011 Census. Locals claim the population has grown significantly in the last 15 years. “There are around 30 Dalit families in the village,” Baitha said. Another resident alleged that barbers have begun charging inflated rates to deter Dalit customers. “When our children go for a haircut, they charge Rs 300. Even for shaving, they ask for Rs 100,” said Rakhahari Mukhi (50). Community members first reported the issue to Barsol thana police on Nov 8 and have followed up several times since. “Police threatened the barbers with legal action, but nothing has changed,” Mukhi added. Villagers said the police station in-charge summoned all barbers on Sunday and instructed them to comply or face action. “Today (Monday), all barber shops in the village are closed,” said Sagar Kalindi, a Dalit resident. Police station in-charge Abhishek Kumar denied that this is a case of social boycott. “There is confusion over the money they are charging. Some people believe the fees were raised deliberately to avoid them,” he said. Mahadalit Samaj leader Vimal Baitha, who submitted a representation to Barsol police, insisted it is a clear case of social boycott. Dalit representatives accused the police of downplaying the issue. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/limesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Major RPF action at Tatanagar station: 13 tribal minors, including 12 girls, being taken to Tamil Nadu were rescued.
The plan was to make them work as laborers in a Tamil Nadu thread factory; the RPF apprehended them before they could board the Tatanagar-Ernakulam Express. Jamshedpur: The Railway Protection Force (RPF) has achieved a major success in its campaign against human trafficking in Jharkhand. The RPF, acting swiftly at Jamshedpur’s Tatanagar railway station, rescued 13 tribal minors from the clutches of human traffickers. Officials announced on Monday that the rescued children, including 12 girls and one boy, were being taken to Tamil Nadu under the pretext of providing them jobs. They were planning to go to Coimbatore. Tatanagar RPF in-charge Rakesh Mohan stated that the action was based on a strong intelligence report. Senior Divisional Security Commissioner P. Shankar Kutti of the Chakradharpur Division of the South Eastern Railway had provided a tip in this regard. Upon receiving information, the Flying Squad of the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit (AHTU) increased surveillance at the station. An RPF officer said, “These children were rescued from Tatanagar station on Sunday while they were waiting to board the Tatanagar-Ernakulam Express. During interrogation, the minors revealed that they were being taken to work at a yarn manufacturing unit in Salem, Tamil Nadu.” Two brothers arrested Taking action in this case, police arrested two alleged human traffickers. The accused have been identified as Sunil Tatonba and Jampira Tatonba. These two accused are real brothers and residents of Amdiha Panchayat, which falls under the Hatgamharia police station area of West Singhbhum district. On Monday, the RPF handed over all the rescued children and the two arrested accused to the Tatanagar Government Railway Police (GRP) for further legal action. All the children are residents of West Singhbhum. Tatanagar GRP in-charge Jitram Oraon confirmed the case and said that all the rescued minors are between 15 and 17 years old. They are residents of different villages in the Hatgamharia block of West Singhbhum district, Jharkhand. Giving details about the further process, the GRP in-charge said, “All 13 minors have been handed over to the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) in Jamshedpur for care and protection. Before being released to their families in Hatgamharia, these children will be produced in the Jamshedpur Civil Court to record their statements.” Accused Sent to Jail Sunil and Jampira Tatonba, two brothers arrested on charges of trafficking minors, were produced in court, from where they were sent to Ghaghidih Central Jail in judicial custody. This prompt action by the administration saved the children from a bleak future. Rajan Chaudhary Courtesy: Hindi News
Shilpi Neha Tirkey Appointed as Observer by All India Adivasi Congress for Bihar Elections
Ranchi: State agriculture minister and Congress leader Shilpi Neha Tirkey was appointed observer on behalf of the All India Adivasi Congress to oversee and support the election campaign during the Bihar assembly election. In a letter issued to Tirkey, the chairman of the All India Adivasi Congress, Dr Vikrant Bhuria, on Sunday, appealed to her to make all possible efforts to reach out to every tribal household and group before the election as an observer to strengthen the party’s base. “Adivasi Congress is expecting your support and dedication in strengthening the hands of Congress president, Mallikarjun Kharge, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, MP and Leader of the Opposition (Lok Sabha), Rahul Gandhi,” the letter stated. After assuming the charge, Tirkey expressed her gratitude to the Congress high command for entrusting her with the responsibility. “I will devote all my efforts to ensure that every vote of the Adivasi community in the Bihar Assembly elections goes in favour of the INDIA bloc. This time, winds of change are blowing in Bihar, and a coalition govt is going to be formed in Bihar with the support of the Congress,” Tirkey said. BJP MP from Jharkhand, Deepak Prakash, who is the co-incharge of Bihar, said that there is no doubt that the NDA alliance will come back to power in Bihar. The party’s top leaders from Jharkhand will carry out an extensive campaign in Bihar in favour of the NDA alliance candidates there after the Chhatch festival is over. “You can say there is an ongoing wave in favour of the NDA alliance in Bihar. The Modi-Nitish pro-poor welfare schemes will turn out to be successful,” he said. People will go with the development that has happened in the state, especially development in the field of education, roads, electricity, and water, to mention a few, he said. “When I was a student, we waited for four to six years to sit for the graduation examination. The exams used to get postponed. People used to get older and could not go for higher education or sit for various entrance exams. All those days are gone,” Deepak Prakash explained. Students used to go out of the state. Mostly, they used to go to Delhi. Now that has stopped. The same thing has happened in the case of businessmen, he claimed. The BJP in Jharkhand will be issuing a list of candidates who will campaign in Bihar soon. 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
Bokaro District Administration Launches Campaign for Transgender Identity Cards and Rights
Bokaro: Deputy commissioner Ajay Nath Jha on Tuesday said the district administration will roll out a campaign to issue identity cards to the transgenders living in the district. The announcement came during a transgender welfare committee meeting, which deliberated on the steps needed to be taken to ensure the recognition of transgenders and securing their rights. Jha said that a comprehensive social and economic mapping of all transgenders in the district will be conducted. “The survey will help assess their living standards, livelihood opportunities, education, and healthcare status. Complete confidentiality would be maintained during the process so that individuals can share information without hesitation and with dignity,” he said. The administration also plans establishment of a transgender help desk at the collectorate premises. “It will provide information on govt schemes, pensions, healthcare services, and legal aid. It will also act as a grievance redressal platform to ensure quick solutions to community issues,” he said. Jha also said that the transgender community is an integral part of society and deserves equal rights, opportunities, and respect. 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.
Former minister’s temper flared up in traffic jam! Slapped Dalit constable calling him ‘Harijan’? After FIR, CCTV will now reveal the whole secret
Former minister Krishna Nand Tripathi called the allegations ‘revenge’, said- CCTV footage will reveal the truth. Ranchi: Jharkhand politics has heated up once again. A Dalit police constable has accused former minister of the state and senior Congress leader Krishna Nand Tripathi of assault and using casteist abuses. This incident happened when the convoy of the former minister was stuck in a traffic jam. On the complaint of the victim constable, the police have registered a case and started investigation. What is the whole matter? According to the information received by the police, this incident happened in Latehar at around 1:30 pm. Dalit constable Ravindra Rikhyasan, posted in the personal security squad of former minister Krishna Nand Tripathi, said in his complaint that there was a huge traffic jam on the road due to Karam festival. The former minister’s car also got stuck in this jam. It is alleged that Tripathi, annoyed with the jam, ordered constable Ravindra to get out of the vehicle and clear the way. “As we tried to handle the situation, Netaji (Krishan Nand Tripathi) got out of the vehicle and started abusing us,” Ravindra said in his complaint. The constable also alleged that the former minister insulted him with casteist words like “Adivasi” and “Harijan” and said that he was not fit for the job. Following this, Tripathi also slapped him. Police action A zero FIR has been registered in the Daltonganj town police station in this case. Daltonganj Town police station in-charge Jyoti Lal Rajwar said that a case has been registered against the accused under relevant sections of the Indian Justice Code and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. He also clarified that the case will be transferred to Latehar police for investigation as the incident took place there. Former minister denied the allegations Meanwhile, Krishna Nand Tripathi, former minister of important departments like Rural Development, Labor, Employment and Training and Panchayati Raj, has completely rejected all the allegations against him. He has described this FIR as done out of “revenge”. Tripathi said in his defence, “I just asked my bodyguards to be more vigilant, got the road cleared and then left for the Circuit House. I did not beat or abuse anyone. Everything is clearly visible in the CCTV.” He further said, “When my bodyguards could not get the car out of the jam and I got the road cleared myself within a minute, they felt insulted. That is why they have lodged this FIR.” Police Men’s Association condemned After this incident came to light, the Latehar Police Men’s Association has strongly condemned it. The association has written a letter to the state’s Director General of Police (DGP) and called it an attack on the honor of the uniform. Association president Karan Singh wrote in his letter, “If a leader feels that a bodyguard is unfit for his duty, he should complain about it to senior officials, not attack him. There is clear evidence of the incident in the CCTV footage.” At present, the police have started investigation after hearing the arguments of both the parties. Now everyone’s eyes are on the police investigation and CCTV footage, which will make it clear what the truth is. Rajan Chaudhary Courtesy : Hindi News
H’bag’s Hathiya Baba temple: Where travellers worship a Dalit priest’s statue
Hazaribag: In one of the greatest examples of complete faith, breaking caste barriers and untouchability, travellers pray in front of statues of an elephant and a Dalit man at a temple in Hazaribag district. The temple is situated adjacent to the GT Road in the Mahuatand village of Chouparan block on the Jharkhand-Bihar border and is around 69 km away from the district headquarters. From truck drivers to families travelling through this area on the GT Road, people never forget to bow their heads at the temple for a safe journey. It all started in 1973 when an elephant was killed after it was hit by a speeding truck. Following the death of the elephant, a series of accidents occurred at the same spot. Locals were baffled, and as a result, the then officer-in-charge of Chouparan police station, R Singh, took the help of a local fortune teller called Mahru Bhagat. He allegedly told the police officer that the accidents were happening at the same spot because the spirit of the dead jumbo was creating trouble. As suggested by the fortune teller, it was decided that a temple should be built near the accident site with a statue of an elephant in it. Soon, a temple was built and a statue of the elephant was placed in it. In addition, the fortune teller, Bhagat, who was quite popular in the area because of his fortune-telling, was made the priest of the temple, despite being from the Dalit community. 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.
Jharkhand High Court Raps BIT Mesra Over Dalit Student’s Death, Grants ₹20 Lakh To Kin, Issues Guidelines To Prevent Ragging In Colleges
The Jharkhand High Court has awarded Rs.20 Lakh as compensation to be paid by BIT Mesra, Polytechnic College, to the parents of a 3rd semester student, who was allegedly subjected to casteist slurs in the name of Harijan/Dalit and multiple violent assaults leading to his death. Terming the incident as a “brutal assault”, Justice Sanjay Prasad came down heavily on the College over their negligent attitude and poor administration, including their failure to maintain required discipline which resulted in the tragic death of the student The court also pulled up the college for not building a proper boundary wall, failing to keep operational CCTV cameras, giving false information to parents of the deceased that he had consumed excessive alcohol in order to conceal the incident, and their abject failure to provide proper medical treatment to the deceased in the College Dispensary. It said, “Article 21 is the Right to Live is a fundamental right guaranteed under the Constitution of India and this right to live cannot be taken away by the negligence and administrative failure of the concerned College Authorities or State Authorities concerned and there should not be any gap or casual approach.” The Court also issued preventive guidelines to be adopted by Government and Private College Authorities in order to prevent ragging and assaulting of students: Tie up with good government and private hospitals with ambulance facilitates; Establish dispensaries in all schools and colleges with one male and female doctor, equipped with necessary kits and medicines; All engineering and technical institutions to have at least two male and female doctors with proper first aid kits; Maintenance of necessary security personnel with functional CCTV cameras inside and outside the classrooms and at the main doors of hostels; Establishment of a grievance cell to monitor students and to maintain coordination between needy students and college administration; Creation of website or portal for redressal of grievances of students and parents; and, Preparation of Standard Operation Procedure to maintain security system for movement of students. It further said: “… this Court directs the Principal Secretary, Higher Technical Education, Govt. of Jharkhand and Director General of Police, Govt. of Jharkhand to prepare a comprehensive SOP for the entire Engineering and Medical Colleges and all the Technical Institutes imparting Graduate Degree and Post-Graduate Degree and Diploma to the students to prepare SOP by keeping medical dispensaries/medical hospital in the College premises near the hostel so that they may be able to get the timely treatment in case of emergency or need of an hour or for any other medical exigency or requirement”. The court further directed the authorities to prepare SOP for the entire Technical Institutes, Medical, Engineering and Technical Institutes, MBA Colleges imparting education, with hostel facilities having over 1000 boys. The court directed the authorities to impress upon the Deemed Universities like BIT MESRA and others to have tie-up with the local administration and the reputed Government Hospitals as well as private Hospitals in the State or the concerned Districts where such Colleges are situated and running. Background It is alleged that the deceased student was “brutally assaulted” inside the college premises and later outside by a mob of 10–15 individuals with belts, shoes, and kicks in November 2024. It was alleged that he later became unconscious and the college authorities informed his family that he was unwell due to excessive wine consumption and allowed them to take him home. However, his condition worsened the following day and he subsequently passed away while receiving treatment. Based on witness statements and confessional records, four accused— who were current and former students of the college, were booked under BNS Section 103 (murder) r/w 3(5) (common intention) . They were also booked under provisions of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act for intentionally abusing and insulting a member of Scheduled Caste in public. The accused moved the High Court in separate appeals challenging the trail court’s orders rejecting their bail pleas. At the outset, the Court noted that the College Administration had misled the parents of the deceased in order to conceal the assault committed by the appellants and had also refrained from naming any doctor for treating the deceased at the medical dispensary. It said the College authorities have remained negligent and they have shown no control over the administration in the College and even the boundary wall of the College is not so satisfactorily constructed in the College, as not only the students of the College but also the staff and security personnels of the College are able to scale the boundary wall of the College campus. At some place, it shows that they have left the place insecure for the movement of the students and anti- social elements at risk.” “Had the University Authorities had taken prompt action and pay medical attention towards the treatment of deceased Raja Paswan, his life could have been saved. But, as a result of their sheer negligence and neutral approach, they let off their hands by sending the student with their parents instead of taking them to the good Government Hospital with the mature faculty and security personnels of the College. Hence, the College administration shall remain cautious in future,” the Court added. The court was told that the college had taken several steps in the aftermath of the incident, the Court however said that it was not “fully sufficient” noting that the SOP by the college did not establish hospital/clinic having at least two male, two female doctors when over 1000 students are residing at the hostels of BIT MESRA campus. It further remarked”This Court further finds that there are several instances of commission of suicide by the students in premium institutions like IITs, NITs, AIIMS and various Engineering and Technical Colleges and despite the guideline issued by the UGC and the Hon’ble Supreme Court, the College Administration have not been able to curb the menace of harassment and ragging meted out to the students by the fellow senior students