PubDalit man locked in room for 3 days in Odisha, beaten with stick and denied food
A Dalit man in Odisha’s Ganjam district alleged he was locked in a room, beaten with a stick and denied food and water for nearly three days after refusing to join illegal activities. He filed a complaint against the accused and sought help from others. A Dalit man in Odisha’s Ganjam district was repeatedly thrashed and beaten with sticks, confined in a locked room for nearly three days and deprived of food and water after he was pressured by some men to participate in illegal activities. A video of the incident surfaced on Sunday shows a man repeatedly beating the youth with a stick inside a locked room. Despite the Dalit man pleading with his attacker to stop, the assault continues as others are seen present in the room. India Today TV could not verify the authenticity of the video. According to the man’s complaint, he was illegally confined for nearly three days and subjected to physical torture. He alleged that he was pressured to engage in unlawful activities and was targeted after refusing to comply. The video shows four individuals inside the room, with one of them repeatedly striking the pleading Dalit man with a stick. There was no immediate response from the police on the Dalit man’s allegations. 5 Railway cops assault deputy superintendent over train halt dispute; suspended Along with the viral video, the Dalit man submitted a written complaint to the police over the incident. In the complaint, the man claimed his life was under threat and said he had approached multiple authorities seeking protection and action. He said that he had submitted representations to President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the National Human Rights Commission, the Odisha Director General of Police and the Ganjam district administration, urging them to intervene in the matter. Ajay Nath Edited By: Prateek Chakraborty Courtesy : India Today Note: This news is originally published on https:/indiatoday.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Viral video from Ganjam sparks outrage; Dalit youth alleges 3 days of illegal confinement and brutal assault
A disturbing video purportedly showing a youth being brutally assaulted inside a locked room has gone viral from Odisha’s Ganjam district, once again raising concerns over alleged vigilante-style violence. A disturbing video purportedly showing a youth being brutally assaulted inside a locked room has gone viral from Odisha’s Ganjam district, once again raising concerns over alleged vigilante-style violence. The incident is reported to have taken place under the jurisdiction of Berhampur Sadar Police Station. As per the allegations, the victim is a Dalit youth from the Sadar police station area. He was allegedly confined illegally in a locked room for nearly three days, during which he was physically assaulted and subjected to severe torture. The viral video allegedly shows the youth being mercilessly beaten inside the room. Four individuals can reportedly be seen in the footage, while one of them is seen assaulting the victim. The authenticity of the video, however, has not yet been independently verified. Along with the video, a written complaint naming the alleged attackers has also surfaced on social media. In the letter, the youth claimed that his life was under threat and stated that he had submitted written petitions to the President of India, the Prime Minister, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), the Director General of Police (DGP), and the Ganjam district administration, seeking immediate intervention. In the complaint, the youth alleged that he was pressured to participate in illegal activities. He claimed that after refusing to comply, he was beaten, unlawfully confined for nearly three days, and deprived of food and water during the period of his alleged captivity. The allegations contained in the viral complaint and video have triggered widespread concern, with many demanding a thorough investigation into the incident. As of now, there has been no official confirmation from the police regarding the authenticity of the video or the allegations made in the complaint. Further investigation in connection with the viral video and allegations is awaited. Author Vikash Sharma Courtesy : Odisha TV Note: This news is originally published on https:/odishatv.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
The compulsion of labor: Why are the lives of tribal girls being ruined in Tamil Nadu, 1,500 kilometers away from a small village in Odisha?
The Tamil Nadu gas leak incident: A heartbreaking story of poverty, desperate migration, and the tragic deaths of 12 daughters from a small tribal village in Odisha. New Delhi: The tragic deaths at a seafood processing unit in Tiruvallur, Tamil Nadu, have exposed the pain of a highly vulnerable tribal community in Odisha’s Keonjhar district. This tragedy reflects the desperate migration that has devastated these villages of their youth, especially women. 56-year-old Bisuni Juang is illiterate. But sitting outside his mud hut, he carefully examines a pile of government documents. He tries to understand how his 16-year-old daughter, Jamini, died in Tamil Nadu, nearly 1,500 kilometers away. Since the gas leak at a factory in Tiruvallur district on June 21st, 15 people have lost their lives. Of these, 12 deceased were from Odisha’s Keonjhar district, all women. Two of the deceased, including Bisuni’s daughter, Jamini, were residents of Rangamatia village. Geographical Context Of the 68 people hospitalized, 65 are women. The five who are in critical condition and battling for life on ventilators all hail from Rangamatia. Rangamatia is a small tribal village with a population of just over 200. At least 10 women and 8 men from this village were working in the same seafood unit. This gas leak has made this small village the victim of one of the biggest incidents ever. Maps Bisuni says that some block officials came to his house and handed over Jamini’s body, simply stating that she died due to ‘gas’. The distraught father says he doesn’t know what this means; his daughter was only 16 years old and still had a full life ahead of her. Jamini, who studied until Grade 5, was the third of Bisuni’s four daughters. Her two elder sisters, aged 21 and 19, are married, while the youngest is just 14. Jamini left for Tamil Nadu about seven months ago, becoming the first member of the family to leave Keonjhar. Usually, they only visit their married daughters’ homes in nearby villages. The family has had no contact with Jamini since her departure. Until last year, the village didn’t even have mobile network; now, it has BSNL service, but Bisuni doesn’t have the money to buy a phone. The Juang community is part of a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG), and Bisuni has long struggled with extreme poverty. Her only assets include two goats and a mud house divided into two parts. Due to the lack of their own cultivable land, the tribal people of the village clear parts of the forest to grow crops and depend entirely on forest produce. Tourist Attractions According to the 2011 census, Rangamatia had 38 households and a total population of 158. Located in hilly terrain and poorly maintained roads, this village lacks drinking water or electricity. A small spring in the nearby forest is the only source of water for quenching thirst. The village has only one Anganwadi (Anganwadi) and a primary-level school. Girls like Jamini typically don’t study beyond grade 5. The nearest high school is 10 kilometers away, and reaching it is nearly impossible due to lack of money and transportation. While government records state a motorable road 1 km away, it is located on the other side of a hill. The nearest hospital is located 40 km away in the town of Harichandanpur. Unable to even reach nearby markets for employment, young people like Jamini are forced to migrate to support their families. Bisuni doesn’t even know the wages her daughter was promised there. Girls and women who go out to work are mostly unmarried. It’s usually the men of the household who go out to work after marriage. The Odisha government initially announced a compensation of ₹4 lakh for the families of the deceased, which was later increased to ₹10 lakh. However, Bisuni claims that they have so far received only ₹3,000 from the Panchayat for the funeral. Native Gumani Juang, the second victim of Rangamatia, was 15 years old according to her Aadhaar card, but her parents claim she is 19. She had gone to Tamil Nadu in November last year with a group of laborers, including her 20-year-old elder brother, Parsu. Parsu was employed at a unit in Andhra Pradesh. Gumani’s 53-year-old father, Bira Juang, was against sending her so far. But Gumani was not ready for marriage and, lured by the promise of a better life and money, insisted on going. Bira says that he last spoke to his daughter on the phone just a few hours before the gas leak. She happily told him that she had saved some money and would return home soon. Upon receiving news of the gas leak and Gumani’s critical condition, the family hired a car and set out. They had just reached Bhubaneswar when Parsu called to inform them that it was difficult to reach Gumani’s place of work. Disappointed, they returned, and later their worst fears were proven true. Bira, who owns a two-room house built under the Rural Housing Scheme and a few goats, no longer wants to let his son Parsu go out to work. He says he cannot afford to lose his last remaining child. Natural Disasters Bira Juang also makes serious allegations against an organized network that lures tribal youth like his daughter. He names Shrikant Juang from his own village, who posed as a supervisor of a unit in Tamil Nadu and convinced them to go there. Keonjhar District Labor Officer Akash Bisoi has informed that the accused, Shrikant, is currently absconding and strict legal action will be taken against him. The Keonjhar District Labor Office does not have official figures on the number of tribal laborers migrating from these interior areas, but hundreds are unofficially acknowledged to be working outside. Following the deaths in Tamil Nadu, the Odisha Labor Department ensured the return of 58 migrant laborers, most of whom were from Keonjhar district. Keonjhar District Collector Vishal Singh said the administration is conducting a thorough investigation to determine whether
Dalit cook of anganwadi alleges discrimination
Rourkela: An anganwadi centre at Dewanpali village in Bargarh district’s Jharbandh block was reopened on Thursday, a day after some villagers locked it over the appointment of a dalit woman cook (pachika). The cook, Padmini Jagat, complained on Wednesday that some villagers are campaigning against accepting her cooked food, eggs and chaatua as she is a dalit. “After discussing with the villagers, the issue has been sorted out today and the anganwadi centre has been opened,” said Sushma Patel, CDPO, Jharbandh block. Among those present were IIC, Jharband police station, Sanjay Parida; tehsildar, Jharbandh, Alekha Ghuta; and welfare extension officer, Jharbandh, Sunil Bhoi. Padmini has been working at the anganwadi centre since two months. She alleged that parents were asked not to send their children to the anganwadi centre and she was also pressurised to resign from the post of cook. Her father, Abadhuta Jagat, alleged that he was pressurised to tell his daughter to quit. 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
Dalit anganwadi worker alleges caste boycott over meals in Odisha village
The kitchen helper claimed villagers urged beneficiaries to reject food prepared by her and pressured her to resign, forcing officials to intervene after the centre was locked. BARGARH : A dalit woman appointed as kitchen helper at an anganwadi centre in Jharbandh block has accused a section of villagers of persuading beneficiaries to boycott the food prepared by her because of her caste and pressurising her to quit the job. The woman, 23-year-old Padmini Jagat, was appointed as a kitchen helper at the anganwadi centre in Dewanpali village around two months ago. She alleged that since her joining, some villagers have been asking parents not to send their children to the centre and discouraging beneficiaries from consuming meals, eggs and chhatua prepared by her as she belongs to the Scheduled Caste community. Padmini further alleged that the villagers have organised two meetings to pressurise her father Abhadut Jagat into asking her to resign from the post. The controversy escalated on Wednesday when a group of villagers allegedly locked the anganwadi centre, disrupting its functioning. The closure deprived children, pregnant women and lactating mothers of supplementary nutrition and other services provided through the centre. Padmini said she was among three candidates who had applied for the post and appointed through due process. “Soon after my appointment, some villagers tried to force my father to ask me to withdraw. However, I joined the centre and continued working. After the schools reopened recently, they again tried to intimidate us following which my father asked them to give a written letter stating that they were unwilling to send their children to the anganwadi centre because I belong to the dalit community.” Recalling the village meetings, Abhadut said, “Villagers repeatedly pressurised me and said they would seek appointment of someone else after Padmini resigned. ‘Do you want us to eat food cooked by a Ganda? How can we send our children there?’ they questioned.” Jharbandh CDPO Susama Patel said the newly-appointed helper had not informed her about such an incident. “After learning about it, I visited Dewanpali along with the local tehsildar on Thursday and held discussions with the villagers. They assured us of their cooperation following which the anganwadi centre was unlocked.” The CDPO said she will make a follow-up visit to the village to ensure that such incidents are not repeated. 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
Odisha: Mob lynches Dalit man, family accuses police of assault
The police, who arrested two persons in connection with the lynching, rejected the allegation that Nayak was assaulted after the force rescued him. Bhubaneswar: A Dalit man was allegedly beaten to death by a mob, suspecting him of being involved in a theft case in Odisha’s Khurda district, police said on Tuesday, June 30. The family members of the deceased also accused the police of assaulting Tofan Nayak (32) after rescuing him from the mob attack and taking the injured man home instead of a hospital. The police, who arrested two persons in connection with the lynching, rejected the allegation that Nayak was assaulted after the force rescued him. The incident took place at Khanat village under Banpur police station area at about 4 pm on Sunday, June 28, where the villagers allegedly tied Nayak to an electric pole and physically assaulted him by several people. He was rescued by the police at about 6 pm and handed over to his family two hours later. The family took him to a hospital. Nayak died on Monday, June 29, during treatment at Capital Hospital in Bhubaneswar. Earlier, he was admitted to Banpur Community Health Centre (CHC). The cause of death will be ascertained after post-mortem examination, the police said. Also ReadRapido driver beaten to death over Rs 8k, family left devastated Police reject allegations, CCTV footage to be examined Meanwhile, based on a preliminary investigation, the Odisha Police headquarters rejected the allegation of custodial violence by Banapur Police. “The allegation is not supported by the available materials at this stage. The Zimmanama (handing over) executed by the parents, their statement before the CHC Banapur doctor, photographs of Tofan with family members at the time of release, and available CCTV footage of the police station are being examined,” the police said in a statement. Banapaur Police Station inspector in-charge Jayprakash Parida said, “One can verify the CCTV footage of Nayak being brought to the police station. He was made to sit outside the police station and never taken to the lock-up. There was no assault on him in police custody. He was healthy when being handed over to the family, though intoxicated.” Two accused arrested The police have meanwhile arrested Pabitra Rout (51) and Sarat Kumar Swain (60), both residents of Khanat village under Banapur police station. Khurda Superintendent of Police Parmar Smit Parshottamdas said a detailed investigation into the incident is underway, and further action will be taken after the postmortem report is received. The police have registered a case of murder under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Scheduled Caste Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act based on the complaint lodged by Nayak’s wife, Sasmita. She alleged that her husband was beaten up by people at Khanta village as well as by the personnel at the police station. Bhikari Nayak, the father of the deceased, held the police responsible for the death of his son. “The police rescued him from the village where my son was being beaten up. It was the duty of the police to refer him to a hospital instead of forcing us to take my injured son home,” he said. Nayak’s mother Sachala demanded a high-level inquiry and strict action against both police personnel and villagers involved in the assault. The incident came in less than two weeks after a mob attack on two NGO workers, including a woman in Rayagada district. This is also the second mob lynching incident in Khurda district where a GRP constable was beaten to death at Balianta on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar on May 7. Courtesy : TSD Note: This news is originally published on https:/thesiasatdaily.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
A 65-year-old Dalit woman was left running around for eight months, and the Orissa High Court sharply reprimanded the police for claiming a “lost file.”
The Orissa High Court took a strong stance on the eight-month delay in filing an FIR against an elderly Dalit woman who was defrauded of ₹2.10 lakh in a land deal, completely rejecting the police’s excuse of “lost file.” New Delhi: A 65-year-old Dalit woman, who was defrauded of ₹2.10 lakh in a land deal, had to approach the Orissa High Court for justice. Despite a magistrate’s clear instructions, the police did not file an FIR in the fraud case for more than eight months. The High Court has issued a stern remark, criticizing the police for this significant delay. The court clarified that arguments such as “lost file” or “unavailability of court orders” can no longer be routine excuses to undermine the judicial process. In her June 12 order, Justice Savitri Ratho expressed deep concern over the local police’s attitude towards court orders. While hearing the case, he stated that it is possible for files to go missing, but unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident. The judge explained that he has encountered numerous cases where local police do not comply with the orders of the family court or magistrate. Despite repeated reminders and extensions, police officers remain unmoved. The timeline for this case is astonishing. The magistrate had clearly ordered the registration of an FIR in the case on August 6, 2025. However, the case was registered at the Ranpur police station eight months later, on April 24. The court noted that in such cases, the police often make the same common excuse: that the court order or warrant was lost, or that the officer concerned had recently joined duty. The court found this explanation completely unacceptable. The court argued that every police station maintains separate registers to record orders and letters received from various courts and officials, making the claim of a missing file meaningless. In light of these negligences, the Orissa High Court has urged the state’s Director General of Police (DGP) to issue necessary guidelines to his officers to ensure respect for judicial orders and their prompt implementation. The root of this entire dispute stems from a fraud that occurred in May 2025. The 65-year-old petitioner, belonging to the Scheduled Caste community, was duped into selling her land by the accused. Under the pretense of registering a sale deed with the sub-registrar, the accused extorted a hefty sum of ₹2.10 lakh from the elderly woman. However, they never executed the sale deed nor returned her money despite repeated requests. Fighting for her rights, the victim first approached the lower court, which took the matter seriously, registered an FIR, and ordered an investigation. When the police refused to listen to her complaint and took no action, she was forced to seek recourse to the High Court through advocate Umakant Sahu. On the other hand, representing the state government, Additional Standing Counsel Saroj Kumar Rout informed the court that an FIR has now been registered in the matter and Sub-Inspector Hasina Pradhan is investigating it. Despite this, the Orissa High Court continued to strongly criticize the eight-month delay in complying with the magistrate’s order and the irresponsible explanation given by the police. Rajan Chaudhary Courtesy: Hindi News
Sundargarh: Tribal and Dalit Contractors’ Association president attacked, two arrested
The president of the Tribal and Dalit Contractors’ Transport Association, Dilip Kumura, was allegedly subjected to a life-threatening attack in Odisha’s Sundargarh district. Sundargarh: The president of the Tribal and Dalit Contractors’ Transport Association, Dilip Kumura, was allegedly subjected to a life-threatening attack in Odisha’s Sundargarh district. Police have arrested two persons in connection with the incident and launched an investigation into the case. The arrested accused have been identified as Shiva Ghasi and Rukesh Khadia, both residents of Tileimal area in neighbouring Jharsuguda district. Police have booked them under various serious sections of the law and produced them before a local court. Two other individuals, identified as Biswa Majhi and Prakash Das, were initially detained for questioning but were later released after interrogation. Dilip Kumura alleges assault, death threats during return from Darlipali According to the complaint lodged by Kumura, he was returning to his residence in Sundargarh from the office of the association at Darlipali on June 11. The association is engaged in the transportation of fly ash from the NTPC Darlipali project. While on his way home, Kumura reportedly stopped by the roadside to attend a phone call. During that time, three youths — identified as Suraj Patel, Biswa Majhi and Prakash Das — allegedly arrived in a car and picked up a quarrel with him. The complaint alleges that Prakash Das took out an iron rod from the vehicle and attacked Kumura, striking him on the leg and causing serious injuries. It further states that Biswa Majhi and Suraj Patel allegedly brandished firearms and threatened to kill him. Hearing the commotion, some labourers passing through the area rushed to the spot, rescued the injured association leader and shifted him to a nearby hospital for treatment. Later that night, Kumura lodged an FIR at Bhasma police station, following which police detained Biswa Majhi and Prakash Das for questioning. During the course of the investigation, police reportedly found evidence suggesting the involvement of Shiva Ghasi and Rukesh Khadia in the assault and subsequently arrested them. By Chinmayee Dash Courtesy : Sambad English Note: This news is originally published on https:/sambadenglish.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Dalit youth dies by suicide in collectorate
Kendrapada: A 26-year-old dalit man allegedly died by suicide inside the Kendrapada collectorate on Friday purportedly after facing sustained harassment by officials over permission to sell his land to members of another caste. The deceased has been identified as Srichandan Mallick of Raitundi village under Nikirei police station. He hanged himself from the iron railings of the office of the collector at 1 pm on Friday with a towel when there were few people as office was closed due to the morning shift. The family members and Dalit activists alleged that he ended his life after facing severe mental harassment by the officials. The deceased had been running from pillar to post since the last six months to get permission from the revenue office to sell his land to other caste persons as it is mandatory under Section 22 of the Orissa Land Reforms (OLR) Act, 1960. A SC person cannot sell or transfer land to an upper caste or general category person without the written prior permission of a revenue officer. Dalit activist and former chairperson of zilla parishad, Gita Sethi alleged that Srichandan Mallick, a dalit, was forced to end his life, driven by frustration over the long delay by the revenue officer to grant him permission to transfer his property. After knowing about the incident, police rushed to the spot and seized the body and sent it to the district headquarters hospital at Kendrapada for autopsy. No suicide note was recovered. An investigation is underway to find out what prompted him to kill himself, said IIC of Kendrapada police station Suvendu Sahoo. The district administration has launched an investigation. “We will take action if any official is found guilty of wrongdoing and harassing the dalit youth,” said collector (Kendrapada) Raghuram R. Iyer. 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
BJD questions Odisha govt’s grievance redressal mechanism as Dalit youth dies by suicide
Biju Janata Dal (BJD), the main Opposition party in Odisha, has targeted the BJP government over the alleged suicide of a Dalit youth at the Collector’s office in Kendrapara. BJD MLAs Ganeswar Behera and Dhruba Sahoo alleged that the youth, identified as Srichandan Das, died by suicide at the Collector’s office as the officials concerned did to take any steps for redressal of his grievances. Das, a resident of Raytunidi village under Derabish block in Kendrapara, was found hanging at the Collector’s office on Friday. Preliminary investigation suggests that Das died by suicide by hanging himself from the railing of the staircase with the help of a cotton towel. Sources claimed that Das was under severe mental pressure over some issues related to his landed properties. He had reportedly approached the Sub-Collector’s office several times for resolution of the issues. “The Dalit youth was forced to take the extreme step as the officials did not take any step for redressal of his grievances. The incident has exposed how the BJP government, which claims to be a people’s government, has turned a blind eye to the problems of ordinary citizens. The incident raises serious questions about the administrative and security arrangements at the Collector’s office,” said Behera. Sahoo, meanwhile, raised questions over the grievance redressal mechanism of the state government. “The BJP government claims that it has resolved 96 per cent of the grievances through its grievance redressal mechanism. However, the suicide of the Dalit youth has exposed the reality,” he said. The Opposition party has sought a compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the deceased’s family and a thorough probe into the incident. “The BJD will launch an agitation if the state government does not take immediate steps to conduct a high-level probe into the incident and initiate stringent action against the culprits,” Sahoo added By Priya Ranjan Swain Courtesy : Sambad English Note: This news is originally published on https:/sambadenglish.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights