She Trained With a Secret & Fought Closed Gates To Become India’s First Trans Woman Cricket Umpire
Rithika Sri from Salem, Tamil Nadu, once feared losing her cricket dream if she revealed her truth. Today, she is India’s first trans woman cricket umpire, officiating matches and aiming for the BCCI panel. Rithika Sri’s journey to the cricket field began with a late-night IPL broadcast and a dream she initially kept hidden. Photograph: (AI-assisted image) There is a particular kind of courage required to stand at the crease in a white coat, arm raised, the eyes of twenty-two players on you, knowing that every call you make will be scrutinised, and that getting there at all was in itself a battle that had nothing to do with cricket. That is the world Rithika Sri inhabits every time she walks onto a ground in Tamil Nadu’s Salem, Namakkal, or Coimbatore. At 31, she has become India’s first trans woman cricket umpire, officiating league fixtures and association matches across the State. But before the white coat, before the “ma’am” from players who now address her with ease, there was a gate — and a security guard who would not let her through. An unlikely beginning Rithika’s love affair with cricket umpiring was born not in Tamil Nadu but in Punjab. In 2019, she was working at a BPO company in Mohali under her birth name, Muthuraj, when she found herself riveted to the IPL on television. The athleticism of the players was one thing; what arrested her attention was the stillness of the umpires — their authority, their calm. She went online, researched the pathway, and discovered a clear ladder: district panel, state panel, BCCI panel. Then the pandemic came. Job opportunities dried up for outsiders in Punjab, and she returned to her hometown of Salem. But what looked like a setback became a turning point. A mentor who said ‘Yes’ Back in Salem, Rithika tracked down Jayaraman, the chairman of the Salem District Association’s umpire committee, through an online search and he offered her a chance. For months, she trained, made errors, felt discouraged, and considered giving up. She also carried a secret — her gender identity — terrified that revealing it would cost her the only professional dream she had allowed herself. It was Jayaraman’s wife who eventually broke the silence for her, after observing Rithika over time. The umpire committee chairman’s response, when he learned the truth, was decisive. If the government extended opportunities to the third gender, he said, why wouldn’t he? Cricket He encouraged her to build her qualifications first, transition when she felt ready, and return to the field. It was the kind of acceptance that changes a life. In 2024, Rithika underwent gender-affirming surgery in Coimbatore and, through Jayaraman’s reference, was introduced to Ramesh, the umpire committee chairman of the Coimbatore District Cricket Association, who welcomed her immediately. ‘Cricketers call me ma’am’ Her debut as a trans woman umpire was not without turbulence. At one ground in Coimbatore, security personnel stopped her at the entrance. She had official credentials and told them she was there to officiate, but they turned her away regardless. It was a moment that could have ended everything. Instead, it hardened her resolve. The Coimbatore Cricket Association intervened, ensured she had access, and made clear that she was to be treated with the same respect as any umpire on their panel. The players caught up quickly. “Cricketers call me ‘ma’am’,” Rithika said. “I am happy and grateful.” A door opened by policy Rithika’s historic achievement was also enabled by a consequential institutional reform. The Tamil Nadu Cricket Association introduced an “Other” gender category in its State Panel Umpire examination application — an administrative change that may seem minor on paper but carried enormous weight in practice. Without that third box to tick, the formal pathway would have remained closed. Rithika, who holds a diploma in mechanical engineering and was raised by a single mother alongside six siblings, now officiates matches organised by local clubs, corporates, and district associations. On the field, she is known for calm, firm decision-making — the very qualities that first drew her to the white coat. Eyes on the horizon Her ambitions are clear and unambiguous: state-level recognition, a place on the BCCI panel, and eventually, the IPL and international stages. The road is long, but Rithika Sri has already demonstrated that the longest distances can be covered one decision and one step at a time, whether it is a raised finger on the field, or the daily but important act of showing up as exactly who you are. By Avantika Krishna Edited By Khushi Arora Courtesy : The Better India Note: This news is originally published on https:/thebetterindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Telangana CM Revanth demands a special Parliament session to pass women’s quota bill
He also warned all parties against politicising the women’s reservation Bill. HYDERABAD: Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Thursday demanded that the Union government immediately convene a special session of Parliament to introduce and pass the women’s reservation Bill for providing 33 per cent quota in the legislative bodies. Addressing the gathering after paying floral tributes to a statue of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi on his death anniversary near the Secretariat, the CM said that the INDIA bloc is ready to support the women’s reservation bill in Parliament. He emphasised that women’s reservation in legislative bodies should be enacted Revanth asked the Centre to take inspiration from Rajiv Gandhi, who he said introduced women’s quota in local bodies during his tenure as prime minister to empower them politically, and ensure implementation of 33 per cent women’s reservations in the legislative bodies. He also warned all parties against politicising the women’s reservation Bill. Recalling the “yeoman services rendered by great visionary Rajiv Gandhi who introduced information technology to the nation and earned it global recognition”, he said: “It was Rajiv Gandhi who ushered in the era of technology in the country. He also steered the country onto the path of development through liberalised policies.” He also recalled that Sonia Gandhi took a courageous decision of fulfilling the statehood dream. “Telangana is maintaining an inseparable bond with the Gandhi family. People will remember and cherish the Gandhi family as long as Telangana exists,” he added. 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
Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan elected Speaker of 16th Kerala Assembly
Of the 140 members, pro tem Speaker G Sudhakaran, the returning officer for the election, abstained from voting. Of the 139 votes polled, Radhakrishnan, fielded by the UDF, secured 101 votes. THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Senior Congress leader Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan was elected Speaker of the 16th Kerala Legislative Assembly on Friday. Of the 140 members, pro tem Speaker G Sudhakaran, the returning officer for the election, abstained from voting. Of the 139 votes polled, Radhakrishnan, fielded by the UDF, secured 101 votes. While the LDF’s AC Moideen received 35 votes, the BJP’s BB Gopakumar polled three votes. Radhakrishnan, 76, has been a member of the Legislative Assembly since 1991. An eight time MLA, he served as Home Minister in the 2011-2016 Oommen Chandy government. He later handled the Forest, Transport, Sports, Cinema and Environment portfolios for the remainder of the ministry’s tenure. In the 2026 Assembly election, he won from Kottayam with a margin of nearly 36,000 votes. 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
‘Blood and animal flesh on the body…’ Delhi woman gang-raped and forced to convert; 4 accused arrested
A case has come to light in Delhi in which a Dalit woman was gang-raped. Blood and flesh were also thrown at her. Four people have been arrested in this case. New Delhi: A shocking incident has come to light in the national capital. A 23-year-old Dalit woman was abducted by some men in Delhi’s Batla House area. The woman alleges that she was gang-raped and brutally tortured. According to the woman, the men also tried to force her to convert. The woman complained that in 2021, she was in contact with a man named Sahil through social media. She later learned his name was Faheem. The accused told her that he was from a wealthy Hindu family and wanted to marry her. Gang rape and pornographic video made: The woman stated that in 2022, the accused called her to Batla House, where other people were present. She was gang raped there. Furthermore, he, along with his friends, made a video of her and blackmailed her. The woman was then taken to Meerut, where she alleged she was sexually assaulted again. The woman described her ordeal: The woman stated that Faheem and his relatives were involved in illegal arms dealing. To intimidate her, Faheem would pour blood on her. Furthermore, he would throw animal meat on her. She also alleged that a man named Tasleem Maulvi tortured her afterward. Four accused arrested: Southeast Delhi Police registered an FIR in the gang rape case and have arrested four accused. Police stated that the woman was first gang raped in the Batla House area. An FIR was registered in this regard at the Jamia Nagar police station. Four people have been arrested in connection with the gang rape of the woman. It should be noted that in 2025, Gurugram police arrested Faheem and confiscated his phone. Edited By: Shilpa Srivastava Courtesy: Hindi News
Casteist language in census forms! NCSC issues notice to Punjab government on complaint
The main issue concerns words included in Punjab’s official list of Scheduled Castes, which are associated with the Valmiki community of sanitation workers. These words have been in use for a long time, but the community now considers them derogatory. New Delhi/Chandigarh – The National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) has taken cognizance of a complaint regarding the use of allegedly casteist words in the official list of Scheduled Castes being used in the upcoming census. The Commission has directed the Punjab Census Director and the Principal Secretary of the Social Justice and Empowerment Department to submit a detailed action taken report (ATR) in this matter within 15 days. The Commission’s recent notice states that it has taken cognizance of a complaint submitted on May 6 by Hardeep Singh Gill, Vice Chairman of the National Commission for Safai Karamcharis. The complaint describes certain words used in both English and Punjabi in the Punjab government’s Scheduled Caste list (specifically Entry No. 2 relating to the Valmiki community) as casteist and derogatory. The Commission has informed both officials that if a response is not received within the stipulated time, it may, invoking the powers of a civil court under Article 338 of the Constitution, issue summons to the concerned officials to appear before it either personally or through a representative. The main issue concerns the inclusion of words associated with the Safai Karamchari community (Valmiki/Balmiki) in the official list of Scheduled Castes in Punjab. These words have been in use for a long time, but the community now considers them derogatory. These words are included in the proforma being used during the preparation of the 2027 Census. Census Operations Director Navjot Khosa has clarified that this list is not new. It has been in existence for decades, and the same proforma was used in the 2011 Census. It is used only for caste enumeration, not to insult anyone. The National Commission for Scheduled Castes has taken this complaint seriously and initiated an investigation. Community representatives have demanded the removal of these words and action under relevant provisions. Geetha Sunil Pillai Courtesy: Hindi News
₹730.51 crore diverted from Scheduled Caste Welfare Fund in Maharashtra to ‘Chief Minister Majhi Ladki Behen Yojana’, activists say “This is caste-based financial violence.”
Allegations are that funds reserved for SC/STs are routinely being diverted to other projects to suit political expediency. Mumbai – The Maharashtra Government’s Social Justice and Special Assistance Department issued a government order on May 20th approving the use of funds allocated under the Scheduled Caste (SC) Component Scheme for the Chief Minister Majhi Ladki Behen Yojana. Under this decision, a provision of ₹3000 crore has been made for the financial year 2026-27, of which a total of ₹730.51 crore (₹365.2550 crore each month) is being distributed to the Women and Child Development Department for March 2026 and April 2026. The order clearly states that, in accordance with the Finance Department’s circular dated 09.04.2026, the framework for fund distribution for the financial year 2026-27 has been prepared and submitted. Accordingly, the Finance Department has obtained approval for this. Under this budget head, for the “Chief Minister Majhi Ladki Behen” Scheme (2235-D767), an amount of ₹365.2550 crore for the month of March 2026 and ₹365.2550 crore for the month of April 2026 for female beneficiaries, totaling ₹730.51 billion, has been approved by the government for distribution through the budgetary fund distribution system to the Secretary, Department of Women and Child Development, as the administrative head of the department. This move was criticized on Twitter and other social media platforms. Critics and opposition leaders termed this move as a misuse of funds meant for the welfare of a particular class. Human rights advocate Priyadarshi Telang reacted sharply to the issue, stating that funds reserved for SC/STs, from the ministry to the district collectorate level, are routinely being diverted to other projects tailored to suit political expediency. He alleged that Dalit and tribal settlements are deliberately being deprived of amenities such as roads, drainage, drinking water, schools, and basic sanitation. Telang said, “Using crores of rupees of SC/ST welfare funds to build roads for influential institutions or to fill gaps in other departments is not merely an administrative lapse but a systematic attack on constitutional justice.” He termed the siphoning of ₹730.51 crore from the SC/ST component fund for the Ladki Behen Yojana as “blatant opportunism” and described it as caste-based fiscal violence. He demanded that the Maharashtra government enact a stringent law to prevent such diversion, providing for jail terms for erring officials and politicians. Telang asked whether those who appeal to Dalit votes in the name of social justice, especially the Maharashtra Congress, will demand the restoration of rights for SC/ST communities and oppose the fund diversion? Activist Rajendra Patode called it a loot. In his post on x, he wrote, “The ₹730.51 billion allocated for the ‘Ladki Behen Yojana’ for Scheduled Castes was diverted today! Through reclassification, reserving ‘open categories’ for ‘reserved categories’ without making appointments, the Chief Minister’s pilgrimages, the division of the Scheduled Castes and Tribes Commission, caste and religion registration in the census, and voter re-verification programs, the state government has once again looted the ₹730.51 billion reserved funds for education, scholarships, fellowships, the ‘Swadhar’ scheme, employment, health, water supply, housing, and development works for Scheduled Castes and Tribes.” In February, Maharashtra Social Justice Minister Sanjay Shirsat expressed dissatisfaction with his own government’s policies, reiterating that his department’s funds were being used for schemes like “Ladki Behen,” which was unacceptable. He also stated that due to the financial burden, the government would not increase the promised amount of ₹1,500 under the “Ladki Behen” scheme to ₹2,100. Geetha Sunil Pillai Courtesy: Hindi News
Who is Veera Pasi, the “unsung hero” of the 1857 revolution, whose statue Rahul Gandhi unveiled in Rae Bareli?
Rahul Gandhi unveils Veera Pasi’s statue in Rae Bareli: Learn about the glorious history of the unsung Dalit hero of 1857 and the full dynamics of Dalit vote bank politics ahead of the UP Assembly elections. Uttar Pradesh: Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, on Wednesday unveiled the statue of Veera Pasi, the “unsung hero” who fought the British during the 1857 rebellion, in Rae Bareli. This is not the first attempt by political parties in Uttar Pradesh to woo the Pasi community through their legends. However, Gandhi’s move in his constituency is considered significant ahead of next year’s UP Assembly elections. On the same day, he also addressed a “Bahujan Swabhiman Sabha” in memory of Veera Pasi. At the event, Gandhi said that while we remember Veera Pasi and Dr. Ambedkar, their ideology is not being properly defended, as the Constitution is being constantly attacked before our eyes. Who was Veera Pasi? In the 19th century, Veera Pasi was the most trusted companion and commander of Rana Beni Madhav Bakhsh Singh, the ruler of the Shankarpur estate in modern-day Rae Bareli. This Dalit warrior, belonging to the Pasi caste, was born on November 11, 1835, into a poor family in Lodhwari village, Rae Bareli district. After losing his parents in his childhood, he went to live with his sister. In the local dialect, a brother living with his sister’s family was called “Veerna,” which later changed to “Veera.” Impressed by his extraordinary physical strength, Singh recruited him into his army. With his loyalty and bravery, he soon became one of his most trusted associates. According to local folklore, when Singh was captured by the British during the 1857 rebellion, Pasi displayed indomitable courage and rescued him safely from prison. The British government, in a panic, announced a hefty reward of 50,000 rupees for Pasi’s capture or information about his whereabouts. Although Veera Pasi’s name is not prominently recorded in history books, his legacy lives on in Rae Bareli and its surrounding areas. The Pasi community lives in large numbers in these areas, and their oral traditions have preserved this hero. Folklore also says that Pasi attained martyrdom while protecting Singh from the British army. Dalit History and Politics in Uttar Pradesh In recent years, political parties in Uttar Pradesh have begun to prominently commemorate Dalit icons of the past and their contributions to the freedom struggle. A clear example of this was provided by Samajwadi Party (SP) MP from Faizabad (Ayodhya) Awadhesh Prasad, while taking oath in the Lok Sabha after the 2024 general elections. During his oath, he specifically mentioned two prominent figures from the Pasi (Dalit) community: “Veerangana” Uda Devi and “Maharaja” Bijli Pasi. Uda Devi was part of the royal guard of Begum Hazrat Mahal of Awadh and actively participated in the 1857 rebellion. She is credited with mobilizing the common people to take up arms against the British. In recognition of this historical contribution, the Samajwadi Party celebrated Uda Devi’s death anniversary on a grand scale at its party headquarters in November 2022. The Bijli Pasis, who ruled parts of Uttar Pradesh during the medieval period, are considered one of the most prominent Dalit symbols. The Yogi Adityanath-led BJP government in Uttar Pradesh has announced plans to develop Bijli Pasi’s fort in Lucknow as a tourist destination. In December 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also paid a heartfelt tribute to Maharaja Bijli Pasi. Chief Minister Adityanath echoed the Prime Minister’s sentiments, describing him as a brave warrior from Lucknow who openly challenged foreign rule to protect India’s eternal traditions. Dalit leaders and academics in Uttar Pradesh clearly believe that historians have largely “ignored” the community’s great men. Ajay Kumar, Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology at Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, says that mainstream history writing has often neglected the contributions of Dalits, tribals, and other marginalized communities. According to Professor Kumar, these communities have long strived to reclaim their historical and cultural heritage in response to this neglect. This process is not limited to rediscovering the past, but is also a powerful means of reviving identity, self-respect, and political consciousness. He further explained that since these communities traditionally had very few written records, their history was passed down from generation to generation through folklore, folk songs, memories, and oral traditions. These oral traditions became the most important carriers of their social experiences, struggles, and collective consciousness. SP leader Manoj Paswan, who belongs to the Pasi community, also openly supported Professor Kumar’s views. He said that it was Kanshi Ram who brought Dalit heroes to the forefront and appealed to the community to learn to be proud of their history rather than be ashamed of it. Paswan believes that Dalit leaders played a vital role in the country’s freedom struggle. Despite this, unlike upper caste heroes like Mangal Pandey, they did not receive the place they deserved in history books, and now there is a dire need to correct this historical mistake. The Pasi Community and Uttar Pradesh’s Dalit Vote Bank The Pasi community constitutes approximately 7 percent of the state’s total Scheduled Caste population. This figure makes them the second largest and most influential group among Dalits in Uttar Pradesh, after the Jatavs. Although they also have a significant presence in other Indian states, their largest population resides in Uttar Pradesh. When the Samajwadi Party (SP) performed remarkably well in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, winning 37 seats, the party benefited significantly from this community. Five Pasi candidates fielded by the SP won, while only three Pasi candidates from the BJP managed to win their seats. The Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), once a strong force in Uttar Pradesh politics, is now steadily losing its support base. The BSP’s total vote share in the 2017 assembly elections was 22.23 percent, which fell to 12.88 percent in the elections held exactly five years later. Interestingly, this remaining vote share is roughly proportional to the Jatav-Ravidasi Dalit population, which has been
Dalit Woman Assaulted, Denied Drinking Water In Odisha Village
Puri: In a shocking incident, a Dalit woman was allegedly denied access to drinking water and assaulted by some villagers in Kanas area of Odisha’s Puri district.Odisha Culture Blog Showing signs of caste-based discrimination, the incident reportedly took place at Karmala village under the jurisdiction of Gadisagoda police station in the district. It was alleged that the woman had gone to a local matha to fetch drinking water but she was prevented from doing so by some villagers. They claimed that the place would become impure if she entered. The villagers allegedly shut the gate of the matha and prevented her from entering to collect water. When the woman protested, she was reportedly abused with certain remarks about her caste and physically assaulted. The incident triggered widespread outrage after a video appeared on social media. Following the incident, the woman reportedly lodged a complaint at the Gadishagoda police station. She has also approached the State Commission for Women seeking justice. The family members of the woman alleged that they are being warned by some villagers not to continue living in the village. Courtesy : Odisha Bytes Note: This news is originally published on https:/odishabytes.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
In Gujarat’s Sabarkantha, Violence, Discrimination and Social Boycott are Pushing Dalit Families to Flee
Representatives of the community, who submitted a memorandum, alleged that people are being mentally, physically and economically harassed, leaving them with no option but to consider leaving their native village. In Gujarat’s Sabarkantha, Violence, Discrimination and Social Boycott are Pushing Dalit Families to Flee Dalit villagers from Rupal and Prantij gather at the Collector’s office at the district office in Himmatnagar. Photo: Dhiraj Leua New Delhi: An exodus may be imminent in some Gujarat villages, where members of the Dalit community have alleged they are increasingly facing harassment, intimidation and violence at the hands of upper-caste communities and OBC communities. “It will happen, if not today, then very soon,” says Somabhai, a resident of Rupal village in Gujarat’s Sabarkantha district, alleging that the upper-caste communities do not wish to see their community prosper. On May 18, members of the Dalit community from villages in Sabarkantha district submitted a memorandum to the Resident Additional Collector at the district office in Himmatnagar demanding immediate intervention and protection from such atrocities. In it, Dalit villagers from Rupal village have alleged that despite repeated requests and appeals to the local administration, they continue to face harassment at several levels. They feel that the administration has failed to provide justice and a sense of security to the community, which now finds itself facing an effective social boycott within the village. Representatives of the community alleged that people are being mentally, physically and economically harassed, leaving them with no option but to consider leaving their native village. In the memorandum, the community clearly writes that if a lasting resolution is not reached within the next seven days, families from the Scheduled Caste community may be forced to migrate. Dalit leaders submit a memorandum to Krishna A. Vaghela, Resident Additional Collector, at the district office in Himmatnagar seeking protection from atrocities. Photo: Dhiraj Leua The allegations emerging from Rupal village are part of a wider and deeply entrenched pattern of caste violence and discrimination in Gujarat, a state often projected as a ‘model of economic development’, but where Dalit communities continue to report systemic exclusion, intimidation and violence. According to official data, thousands of cases of crimes against Scheduled Castes have been registered in Gujarat over the past decade, ranging from assault and social boycott to rape and murder. While the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data cited in the Gujarat assembly showed that more than 9,000 cases of crimes against Dalits were reported in the state between 2016 and 2022 alone, rights groups and Dalit activists argue that the actual number is likely much higher due to underreporting, pressure on victims to “settle” disputes locally, and fear of retaliation from dominant caste groups. Dhiraj Leua, a teacher and activist from Rupal village, believes that the police and administration have no will to protect them. “Does the government not have mechanisms to ensure our safety? Thakors (an upper-caste community) don’t let us build good homes, they don’t let us sport moustaches, they don’t let us ride motorcycles or cars. Why can’t we be allowed to live?” he asks, speaking to The Wire. Like Leua, others from his community have become accustomed to anti-Dalit slurs, caste based abuse which have become a daily affair. However, what made them write to the Resident Additional Collector, was a recent incident where members of the Thakor community tried to run a Dalit man over with a tractor. Bystanders filmed this, preventing the Thakors from crushing the Dalit man. “After that, we couldn’t take it anymore. We cannot die everyday just because they think we are lesser humans than them,” Leua says. He notes that in several instances when members of the Scheduled Caste community approach police stations to file FIRs against their oppressors, they are instead booked in counter cases themselves. “First we are harassed and when we go to claim our rights, we are slapped with cross FIRs with POCSO Act cases, attempt to murder, attempt to rape to break our spirit” he said. Caste violence in Gujarat has drawn national attention several times in the past, from the flogging of Dalit men by cow vigilantes in Una, 2016, to recurring reports of segregation in villages, denial of access to temples, separate utensils in schools and economic boycotts targeting Dalit families. However, according to data tabled in Rajya Sabha, the conviction rate in cases of atrocities against Scheduled Castes between 2018 and 2021 was a mere 3.065 %, much lower than the national average. According to data reported in response to a query under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, acts of discrimination in urban Gujarat are extremely high as well. Ahmedabad city reported 189 cases – the highest number in the state – of atrocities against SC people in 2022. The state recorded a total of 1,425 such cases. From 2018 to 2021, only 32 cases out of the 5,369 registered cases were proved against the accused. In at least 1,012 registered cases, the accused were acquitted, even when the charges were as serious as murder and rape. Researchers studying caste violence have also linked such attacks to assertions of social and economic mobility among Dalit communities, arguing that upward mobility often triggers backlash from dominant caste groups seeking to preserve traditional hierarchies. In many villages across Gujarat, activists say the threat of social ostracisation, denial of work, and violence continues to function as a mechanism to discipline Dalit assertion and maintain caste control. In nearby Prantij town, too, the Scheduled Caste community is mustering the courage to call out their oppressors. Gujarat MLA from Vadgam and Working President, Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee, Jignesh Mevani recently took to Instagram to highlight the issue, where he said that the Dalits in Prantij felt below pests and claimed to be treated in an extremely inhuman manner. Mevani, who is also convener of Rashtriya Dalit Adhikar Manch, said that the police and administration just register cases for formality and then forget about the issue and this leaves Dalits in a very
Brutality in Delhi: Dalit girl trapped by posing as Hindu, bathed in blood, threatened with pieces of meat, married at gunpoint
Delhi Crime News: A heartbreaking incident has come to light from Delhi’s Jamia Nagar area. A Dalit girl was lured by posing as Hindu on social media. She was then held hostage and gang-raped. The accused subjected the girl to horrific atrocities to force her to convert. Blood and pieces of flesh were thrown at her to frighten her. Police have registered an FIR in this case and arrested four accused. New Delhi: A horrific and chilling incident has come to light from the Jamia Nagar area of South East district. A 23-year-old Dalit girl was held hostage and gang-raped, but she was also forced to convert. The mastermind behind this entire conspiracy is an illegal arms supplier named Faheem. He lured the girl by posing as a Hindu on social media. To intimidate and demoralize the victim, the accused would throw animal blood and pieces of meat at her. Serious questions have also been raised about the police’s approach in this case. Initially, the police were reluctant to register a case. Now, Delhi Police has filed an FIR and arrested four people. How did Faheem, posing as “Sahil” on Instagram, weave a web of lies? This entire story began on social media in 2021. The accused, Faheem, concealed his identity and created a fake profile on Instagram under the name “Sahil.” He described himself as a boy from a very wealthy Hindu family. The victim fell for his deception, and they began communicating. The accused even promised to marry her. In 2022, the accused invited the girl to meet him in Delhi’s Batla House area. Upon arriving, the girl discovered that Sahil was actually Faheem. Faheem and his associates then held the girl hostage and gang-raped her. The victim’s descriptions in her complaint are chilling. According to the victim, Faheem and his relatives are involved in illegal arms trafficking. The accused subjected the girl to mental and physical abuse. Animal blood was smeared all over her body to frighten her. Furthermore, pieces of meat were thrown at her to completely terrify her. Following this, a cleric named Tasleem tortured the girl and forced her to convert to Islam. How were they being targeted by threatening to kill their innocent daughter? The brutality of the accused did not stop there. After gangraping her in Batla House, the accused also made an objectionable video of the victim. She was continuously blackmailed using this video. The accused also took her from Delhi to Meerut and gangraped her there as well. When the victim tried to resist, they threatened to kill her young daughter. For the safety of her daughter, the victim endured this hell for two years, from 2022 to 2024. How did a raid by the Gurugram police change the entire case? The turning point in this case came in 2025. The Gurugram police arrested the main accused, Faheem, in another case. The police confiscated his mobile phone, which contained incriminating videos and photos of the victim. When the victim was assured that the videos had been deleted from the accused’s possession and could not be leaked, she mustered the courage to approach the police. She then contacted the Delhi Police. Which five people are named in the FIR, and what action did the police take? According to South East Delhi DCP Hemant Tiwari, an FIR was registered in this case at the Jamia Nagar police station on May 14, 2026. The victim has named five main individuals in her complaint. The FIR names Faheem, Khurshid, Zaid, Azim, Taleem, and Nafees. Police have taken action and arrested four of the accused so far. Another accused is currently in Meerut jail in connection with a separate case. Police are preparing to bring him to Delhi on a production warrant from the court. Edited by: Deepak Verma About the Author Deepak Verma, Deputy News Editor, Works as Deputy News Editor in the digital newsroom of News18 Hindi. He has over a decade of experience in journalism. Courtesy: Hindi News