The search for livelihood has robbed him of his existence; a Dalit son from Telangana is searching for proof of his Indianness in Dubai’s dungeon.
An Indian laborer who went abroad 8 years ago is now forced to languish in a Dubai jail due to the lack of a passport and other documents; his Dalit family has appealed for help. Dubai/Hyderabad: A man who went abroad with dreams of a bright future is now struggling behind bars to prove his citizenship. The case concerns a Dalit laborer from Telangana who has been stranded in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for nearly two decades. He has been jailed for illegally staying, but ironically, he has no documents left to prove his Indian identity. Now, his family is running around government offices to bring him back. What is the whole matter? 59-year-old Mandula Rajanna, a resident of Madhapur village in the Son Mandal of Nirmal district in Telangana, went to the UAE in 2007 in search of livelihood. There, he started working in a construction company. But circumstances led him to flee the company after just a year and has been living there as an illegal resident ever since. Rajanna belongs to the Scheduled Caste (SC) and hails from a remote village in the erstwhile Adilabad district. Being illiterate, he has no educational records. Today, 18 years later, when he wants to return home, proving his citizenship has become a herculean task. Neither Rajanna nor his family has a copy of his passport. His name is also not on the voter list. When he left India 18 years ago, Aadhaar was not mandatory, which is why he didn’t have an Aadhaar card. Lack of Documents and the System’s Fault According to Rajanna, when he arrived in Sharjah in 2007, biometric registration wasn’t in place. Employer companies often kept workers’ passports, and this is exactly what happened to Rajanna. The company he worked for later closed down, and no trace of his passport (either original or photocopy) was found. Debt Burden and the ‘Gold Loan’ Trap A major reason for Rajanna’s illegal stay was debt. Rajanna, a father of two, had taken a loan under the ‘Gulf Gold Loan System,’ prevalent in Telangana. Under this system, people borrow gold in tolas (tolas) and are required to repay the excess weight as interest. Rajanna had borrowed 4 tolas (tolas) of gold and was required to return 6 tolas (tolas). Unable to repay the loan on time due to employment problems, he did not take advantage of the amnesty schemes announced by the UAE government from time to time and continued working there secretly. Through hard work and odd jobs in the desert, he repaid his debt. Meanwhile, his children, Nitish and Nikhita, grew up, but Rajanna himself found himself in trouble with the law. Only a passbook is his support. Rajanna is currently in jail on charges of illegal residence. Indian Embassy officials visited him at the detention center, but they demanded a copy of his passport or other proof of citizenship for his release, which Rajanna was unable to provide. Now, his wife, Lakshmi, has appealed for help. She has contacted the Chief Minister’s Grievance Cell in Hyderabad and the Nirmal District Collector to help prove her husband’s Indian citizenship. Ironically, the family has only a bank passbook (with a photo) in Rajanna’s name as proof. Now, it remains to be seen how the administration will help this poor laborer return to his homeland. Rajan Chaudhary Courtesy: Hindi News
Karnataka Honor Killing Case: Dalit Husband’s Anguish After Pregnant Wife’s Murder, Father Destroyed His Own Daughter’s World
Caste Pride Destroyed a Happy Family: Husband Vivekananda’s Painful Revelation After Pregnant Daughter’s Murder, Read the Full Story of the Hair-Raising Incident in Dharwad, Karnataka. New Delhi: “Manya’s father and my father were friends for a very long time,” Vivekananda Dhoddmani’s voice trembles as he says this. It is difficult for 22-year-old Dalit youth Vivekananda to understand how the wall of caste became so high that a father took the life of his own 20-year-old pregnant daughter. Two weeks have passed since this heartbreaking incident, but the question remains the same. Everything was fine until the friendship, but as soon as Vivekananda and Manya got married and crossed social boundaries, things changed. Speaking to the Indian Express with teary eyes, Vivekananda says, “I had a dream that perhaps one day my child would play in Manya’s father’s lap. I never imagined that the poison of caste would blind a father to such an extent that he would become his daughter’s murderer.” An Incident That Shook the Entire State Incidents of caste violence or ‘honor killings’ have occurred in Karnataka before, but the brutality with which pregnant Manya was murdered has shaken the entire state. While Dalit organizations have protested against it, Lingayat groups have also strongly condemned it and observed a ‘Repentance Day’. Currently, Manya’s father Prakashgouda Patil and his relatives Veerangouda Patil and Arunagouda Patil are in police custody. They have been booked under charges of murder and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Government and Administration Take Strict Action Considering the seriousness of the case, on January 4, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced that a fast-track court and a special public prosecutor would be appointed to hear the case so that the victim gets justice as soon as possible. He also said that his government would consider bringing in special legislation to curb evil practices like ‘honor killings’. In Inam Veerapur village in Dharwad district, where both Vivekananda and Manya lived, the administration has increased security. Dharwad SP Gunjan Arya said that eight CCTV cameras have been installed for surveillance at the police station level. Vivekananda and his family have been provided with 24-hour security. To maintain peace in the village, the police have held meetings with the villagers and are also taking the help of local religious leaders. The love story that ended tragically Vivekananda, a final-year BA student, says that he and Manya met three years ago when Manya was in pre-university. At the time of the murder, she was an engineering student. Inam Veerapur is a small village with about a hundred houses. Here, 60% of the population belongs to the Lingayat community, while 25% are from the ST (Talwar group). There are only six houses belonging to the Dalit Madiga community, to which Vivekananda belongs. Being from the same village, they knew each other since childhood, and their families were also acquainted. Vivekananda said that when he expressed his love, Manya accepted it, but due to the circumstances in the village, they could not meet often. Elopement and police negligence A year ago, when Manya’s father got wind of their relationship, restrictions began. Manya’s family wanted her to marry someone else. Fed up with the harassment, Manya decided to leave home. The couple eloped, got married in a temple, and registered their marriage. When Manya’s father filed a missing person report, the couple appeared before the police and stated that they had married of their own free will. Vivekananda recalls that Manya’s father had also threatened them at the police station, but he thought it was said in anger and that everything would be fine with time. Two constables from the Hubli Rural Police Station have been suspended following Manya’s murder. SP Arya acknowledged that there was negligence on the part of the police and that they should have anticipated the possibility of an attack. The ‘Dark Evening’ and the Unfinished Exam After the marriage, fearing threats, the couple started living at a relative’s house in Haveri city. Vivekananda started working at a shop. He says those were some of the happiest days of their married life. Manya was very happy, but even the news of her pregnancy did not soften her family’s hearts. On December 21, when this heartbreaking incident occurred, they had come to the village to update their Aadhaar cards. The hospital had advised that Manya’s records should include her husband’s name. Besides, Vivekananda had to take the Railway Recruitment Board’s ‘Group D’ exam in Dharwad the next day. Around 5 PM, when Manya was at Vivekananda’s parents’ house, Prakashgouda Patil and his relatives attacked. Vivekananda was not there at the time. When he returned, he saw the attackers assaulting Manya and his parents. Vivekananda was chased away, but by then, the father had taken his daughter’s life. Vivekananda’s parents were also injured in the attack and had to spend two days in the hospital. Irony: The very tradition they followed took their lives The greatest irony in this entire incident is that Vivekananda’s family followed the Lingayat traditions. Vivekananda says, “I was given Linga initiation in my childhood. We follow the principles of Basavanna (the founder of Lingayat beliefs), and we don’t even cook non-vegetarian food at home.” Despite this, caste pride destroyed a happy family. Rajan Chaudhary Courtesy: Hindi News
Dalit woman raped after being lured with marriage promise: Physically abused for three years, police arrest the accused
A case of rape has come to light in the Manikpur police station area of Pratapgarh, where a Dalit woman was raped after being lured with a promise of marriage. A case was registered three years later, after which the absconding accused, Adarsh Singh, was arrested by the police. Adarsh Singh, a resident of Miria village, frequently visited his relative’s shop. During this time, he met a Dalit woman who worked at the shop. Gradually, their conversations increased, and the accused trapped the woman in a love affair, promising to marry her. It is alleged that Adarsh Singh physically exploited the woman for about three years under the pretext of marriage. When the woman pressured him to marry her, the accused refused, citing that it was an inter-caste marriage. Following this, the victim filed a complaint at the Manikpur police station regarding the incident. Based on the complaint, the police registered a case against the accused, Adarsh Singh, under various serious sections, including rape and the SC/ST Act. The accused had been absconding since the case was registered. A police team led by Sub-Inspector Amarnath Singh took action and arrested the absconding accused, Adarsh Singh, near the Upper Primary School in Khamsara. After the arrest, the accused was brought to the police station for questioning, and after legal proceedings, he was produced before the court. The police said that a fair investigation of the case will be conducted, and further action will be taken. Manu Kumar Singh | Pratapgarh Courtesy: Hindi News
Attempted abduction of Dalit teenager in Meerut: Mother attacked with a sharp weapon for resisting, condition critical
An attempt was made to abduct a minor Dalit girl in the Sardhana police station area of Meerut on Thursday morning. When the girl’s mother resisted, she was attacked with a sharp weapon, leaving her seriously injured. She has been admitted to a private hospital in Meerut, where her condition remains critical. According to the victim’s family, the incident occurred around 8 am on Thursday. The woman was going to the fields with her 17-year-old daughter to cut sugarcane. Near the canal, some young men from the same village stopped them. It is alleged that the youths misbehaved with the mother and daughter, and when they resisted, they started verbally abusing and assaulting them. It is alleged that the accused used casteist slurs and attacked the woman on the head with an axe. The woman was seriously injured in the attack and fell unconscious on the spot. After this, the accused abducted the minor girl and fled the scene. Upon receiving information about the incident, family members and villagers reached the spot. They admitted the injured woman to the hospital. The woman’s condition remains critical in the hospital. Based on the complaint filed by the victim’s family, the police have started an investigation into the matter. CO Ashutosh Kumar said that a case has been registered based on the complaint. The search for the accused is underway, and they will be arrested soon. Ajay Kumar | Sardhana, Meerut Courtesy: Hindi News
Samajwadi Party leader says Yadavs are not Hindus, triggers row
He alleged that the current BJP-led central government has organised the most atrocities against Dalits. New Delhi: Samajwadi Party leader Shivraj Singh Yadav sparked controversy with his “Yadavs are not Hindus” comment as he slammed the caste system and criticised how it puts Shudras at the bottom of the hierarchy. He rejected the Hindu identity due to the caste-based discrimination in Hindu texts, citing the scripture, Manusmriti. “I do not follow a religion that treats a human being as lower than a dog,” he said. Yadav, a close aide of Akhilesh Yadav, was addressing a public meeting called “PDA Patshala” in the Dandiyamai village of Sirsaganj Assembly Constituency in Uttar Pradesh, an event for Dalits, backward classes, and minorities. “Brahmin, we are not. Kshatriya, we are not. Vaishya, we are not. Now, which one is left? Shudra.” “So if we are Hindus, I’m just saying, because being Hindu is not mandatory. Like I say on every platform, I am not Hindu. I am Shivraj Singh Yadav, and I am a human. I am not Hindu. Because the religion that makes a human lower than a dog, I don’t follow that religion at all, never,” he added. Yadav alleged that the current BJP-led central government has organised the most atrocities against Dalits and backward classes. He further explained the PDA (Pichhda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak) concept, stating that nearly 90 per cent of the population, which is comprised of Dalits, backward classes and minorities, are constantly overpowered and excluded, while a small group controls the system. Several leaders from the Yadav community have publicly distanced themselves from the Hindu identity, different to the Dalits themselves, who reject the religion through conversions to Buddhism, Christianity or Islam. The socialist party is known for accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party of being anti-Dalit and anti-backwards class, with Akhilesh Yadav also claiming that there has been an apparent rise in atrocities under the government. Meanwhile, BJP Andhra Pradesh spokesperson Dr Vinusha Reddy accused Yadav of taking part in identity politics “to break Hindu unity.” He said that the party’s remarks showed where its vote bank is, for which the party “would do anything.” Shivraj Singh Yadav later issued a clarification, denying that he said he was not a Hindu, and said the virality of the comment was a “BJP conspiracy.” “I never said that I am Yadav but not a Hindu. I will take them (the BJP) to court in this matter. The viral video is part of BJP’s conspiracy. When BJP sees that its secrets are being exposed, they resort to such tactics to set a narrative like this…” Courtesy : Telangana Today Note: This news is originally published on https:/telanganatoday.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Man jailed for life for rape of dalit girl
Trichy: A 35-year-old man was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Trichy mahila court on Tuesday for the abduction and sexual assault of a six-year-old dalit girl on Jan 31, 2021. M Neerkathalingam, from Trichy district, abducted the girl playing near her home and sexually assaulted her. The chargesheet was filed on April 2, 2021. Following a trial, sessions judge D Shanmugapriya pronounced the sentence. Neerkathalingam received life imprisonment under the Pocso Act with a fine of Rs 2,000 and another life term under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act with a fine of Rs 1,000, alongside 10 years rigorous imprisonment under IPC Section 366 (kidnapping) and one year under Section 342 (wrongful confinement), each with fine of Rs 1,000. The court ruled that all sentences be served concurrently. Trichy police commissioner N Kamini praised the Fort police team for the investigation leading to the conviction. 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
Identity crisis leaves Telangana Dalit migrant languishing in UAE jail
A Telangana man from a Dalit community has been jailed in the UAE for illegal stay and is struggling to prove his Indian nationality due to lack of documents. His family has approached authorities seeking help to bring him home. Dubai : A poor man hailing from the Dalit community in Telangana has been languishing in jail in the Gulf, struggling to prove that he is an Indian national in order to return home and reunite with his family after nearly two decades. Mandula Rajanna (59), a native of Madhapur village in Soan mandal of Nirmal district, came to the UAE in 2007 to work for a construction company. A year later, he ran away from the company and became an illegal resident in the country. Illiterate and belonging to a Scheduled Caste, Rajanna, who hails from a remote village in the erstwhile Adilabad district, is facing a difficult task in establishing his nationality to make his way back home. Neither Rajanna nor his family possesses a copy of his passport. His name does not figure in the voter list. When he left India 18 years ago, Aadhaar was not mandatory and many vulnerable people in rural areas were not registered. Having never attended school, he has no educational records, and the absence of voter identity documents has further complicated efforts to prove his Indian citizenship. According to Rajanna, there was no biometric registration when he landed in Sharjah in 2007. His passport was taken into possession by the company that employed him, a common practice at the time. After he fled the firm and it later shut down, there was no trace of either the original passport or a copy. Debt-ridden and a father of two, Rajanna had borrowed money under the Gulf gold loan system, which was popular in Telangana, where youth pledged gold in tolas and were required to return a higher weight as interest. Rajanna borrowed four tolas of gold and was required to repay six tolas. Owing to employment difficulties, he failed to clear the loan on time and continued to stay in the UAE illegally. Although the UAE authorities announced several amnesty schemes allowing foreigners to leave the country voluntarily without punitive action, Rajanna did not avail himself of them. After years of toiling in deserts and doing odd jobs, he eventually cleared his debt. In the meantime, his children, Nitish and Nikhita, grew up. Rajanna was later arrested for illegal stay. Officials from the Indian Embassy visited him at the detention centre but asked him to submit a passport copy or other relevant documents, which he was unable to provide. His wife, Laxmi, has approached the Chief Minister’s grievances cell in Hyderabad and the District Collector in Nirmal, seeking assistance in proving her husband’s Indian nationality. The only document the family possesses is a photo passbook of a bank account in Rajanna’s name. Courtesy : Telangana Today Note: This news is originally published on https:/telanganatoday.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Congress Tamil Nadu election alliance: Power sharing demands & DMK relations
Amidst speculation over Congress considering other options for the upcoming assembly election in Tamil Nadu, Girish Chodankar, AICC member in charge of party affairs in the state, rules out Congress moving close to TVK, but pushes for sharing of power. “DMK has been our most trusted ally for a long time. We should be treated as equals,” he tells TOI. Excerpts: When will DMK and Congress poll committees begin discussions? You should ask DMK. On Dec 3, our five-member team met DMK president M K Stalin, suggesting that alliance matters be settled by Dec 15 so that we can campaign aggressively on the ground. BJP is our challenge. We are running after DMK. The ball is in their court. Did AICC member Praveen Chakravarty’s meetings with TVK president Vijay have the approval of Rahul Gandhi and the Congress leadership? I don’t know why Rahul Gandhi’s or Mallikarjun Kharge’s names should be dragged into state-level issues. Maybe (Chakravarty) went there to sign a film with Vijay or to promote a movie or an advertisement because he is in that business too. God knows whether it was some business they discussed or if they were going to have idli or dosa. Why can’t two people meet and not discuss politics? I don’t think DMK has any issues with it. Are some sections in Congress pushing for an alliance with TVK? We have a democratic process and listen to every voice that comes from the ground as well as leaders. I hear a lot of voices from the grassroots wanting an alliance with TVK. Some sections say we should go with DMK. They are our oldest allies. I cannot hear only what I like; I should listen to all. Are you posturing to pressure DMK to agree to your demand for power-sharing? We don’t need to do that. Every political party has its policies and programmes, a manifesto and a vision. We have served this state. Everyone remembers Kamaraj’s rule. Naturally every political party strives for power. The cadres too expect it. Congress cadres have been working for 58 years without power. Now at least we are giving them some hope. Is there a tentative proposal for 38 seats and three cabinet berths? Some have proposed that we must have one seat in every district. That’s how the 38 was arrived at. Some say 41 seats, because that’s the number we got last time. We will soon let you know the exact number. Will Congress leave the alliance if DMK does not agree to sharing power? The DMK has been our most trusted ally for a long time. This alliance cannot be broken like that. We will discuss it with mutual respect. What we are asking is respect and dignity. We should be treated as equals. And it will happen. All should open their minds and accept changes. Will Rahul speak to Stalin ‘Anna’? Why are you involving my leaders in one state’s talks? When the committee is constituted, it is empowered to talk, negotiate and resolve issues. Did Rahul speak to Vijay in the wake of Karur stampede? Rahul called Vijay after the stampede. Rahul is a kind-hearted person. He spoke to the CM too then. Who are your main rivals in the election? Our main rival, our national rival, is the RSS-sponsored BJP. It is also the enemy of Tamil Nadu and the country. AIADMK is not our national enemy. But when an election comes, we have to fight everyone. What about TVK? We will have to fight TVK too. It’s a political battle. We will have to see first whether TVK is going to contest as TVK. Why do you say that? Nobody is sure whether TVK will contest as TVK. The Karur stampede is going to be a key election issue. Who would you blame for it? The investigation is on. We will not make this a political issue. Congress MP Jyothimani said infighting in Congress was distressing. Jyothimani is a bit emotional about the party, she is a dedicated worker. There are some issues in her district, not at the state-level. A former district president allegedly used some foul language against her. PCC has sent him a show-cause notice. TNCC member Surya Prakashan resigned from his post accusing TNCC chief of turning the party into a “slave camp of DMK”. That is a wrong accusation. He (Selvaperunthagai) was instrumental in forming village committees of the party. He has a good equation with the chief minister. It is not that he listens only to DMK. He listens to the AICC leadership. How do you see infighting in Congress? There is Infighting in your journalism groups. Infighting is in every group, every political party … see AIADMK, see BJP – their state president was removed. Infighting is part of a democratic process, and our party has strong democratic rules. Sometimes it is constructive, sometimes it isn’t. Issues must be discussed within the party. 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 groups hold silent protest rally condemning honour killing
Hubballi: Members and functionaries of Dalit organisations, and seers of various mutts held a silent protest in Hubballi on Monday, condemning the honour killing of Manya Patil in Inam Veerapur village of the taluk. They marched from Siddharoodha Math to Dr BR Ambedkar Circle with black bands on their hands and displayed placards condemning Manya’s murder. Hundreds of organisation leaders and members participated. They held a meeting at Ambedkar Circle, demanded that the guilty be punished, and submitted a petition to the tahsildar’s office staff. “All communities must condemn the murder unanimously. Such acts will stop only when people are educated and cultured,” opined Basavananda Swamiji of Rudrakshi Math. Shadakshari Swamiji of Adijambava Math in Hiriyur, former MLA Veerabhadrappa Halaharavi, Siddheshwar Swamiji of Koppal, leader Vijaya Guntral, and others addressed the gathering. Community leaders from Vijayapura, Yadgir, and Gadag districts also participated in the protest march. 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
Three booked for hurling caste abuses, assaulting Dalit hotel owner in TN’s Dharmapuri
After Sampathkumar stated he was from Annal Nagar in Harur, Velmurugan allegedly hurled caste abuses and attacked Sampathkumar with a broomstick handle. DHARMAPURI: Two persons were arrested by the Morappur police under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act for attacking a 62-year-old SC man on Saturday. Police are on the lookout for one other suspect involved. On Saturday, the victim — A Sampathkumar (62), a retired TNSTC bus driver who currently works in a spinning mill near Tiruppur — had gone to a hotel on the Dharmapuri-Morappur Road for dinner. Sampathkumar asked the hotel proprietor, B Velmurugan (47), if idlis were available. When Velmurugan said only one idli was available, Sampathkumar asked how so, as it was only 7:30 pm. Velmurugan then questioned Sampathkumar about his nativity. After Sampathkumar stated he was from Annal Nagar in Harur, Velmurugan allegedly hurled caste abuses and attacked Sampathkumar with a broomstick handle. K Ramalingam (48) and M Settu (45) also pushed Sampathkumar and attacked him. Sampathkumar then sought treatment at Morappur primary health centre (PHC) and later admitted to the Harur government hospital for treatment. He then reported the incident to Morappur police, who register a case against the three caste Hindus under sections of the BNS and SC/ST (POA) Act. Meanwhile, Velmurugan’s wife, V Lakshmi (37), also registered a complaint against Sampathkumar. She stated in her petition that Sampathkumar arrived inebriated and refused to pay for the food he ate and verbally abused her. Further, she also claimed that she was attacked and Velmurugan had defended her and urged the police to take action against Sampathkumar. Morappur police also registered a case against Sampathkumar. On Sunday, police arrested Velmurugan and Ramalingam, and the duo was remanded. Police are searching for Settu, who is absconding. 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