Tamil Nadu SIR: 1,857 Dalit voters removed from electoral rolls in Manjolai
In Manjolai, a hill hamlet under the Ambasamudram Assembly constituency in Tirunelveli district, the Election Commission of India has removed 1,857 voters In Manjolai, a hill hamlet under the Ambasamudram Assembly constituency in Tirunelveli district, the Election Commission of India has removed 1,857 voters from the electoral rolls during the recent Special Intensive Revision (SIR). According to official records, Manjolai earlier had 1,906 registered voters. After the revision, only 49 names remain, with election officials categorising the rest as residents who have permanently migrated out of the area. A ground-level investigation by South First, however, contradicts this claim. Residents assert that Manjolai continues to be their permanent place of residence, even though many have temporarily relocated to the plains for work after the shutdown of the tea estate, which was the community’s primary source of livelihood. Villagers told South First that they have not changed their permanent address and that their Aadhaar cards, ration cards, and earlier voter IDs all continue to reflect Manjolai as their place of residence. Temporary migration for survival, they argue, cannot legally or morally be treated as permanent relocation. Residents have questioned the basis on which their voting rights were withdrawn, pointing out that no individual applications were submitted seeking deletion or transfer of votes. They warn that the mass removal of voters has effectively disenfranchised an entire Dalit community that has lived and voted in Manjolai for generations. The deletions, they say, raise serious concerns about electoral fairness, procedural transparency, and the right to vote, especially for marginalised communities dependent on seasonal or migratory labour. Subash Chandra Bose Courtesy : TSF Note: This news is originally published on https:/thesouthfirst.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Jamia students back Dalit Professor suspended over exam question on atrocities against Muslims
Students of the Department of Social Work at Jamia Millia Islamia have issued a strong statement expressing solidarity with Prof. Virendra Balaji Shahare, who was suspended by the university administration over an end-of-semester examination question asking students to “discuss the atrocities against Muslim minorities in India,” calling the action an “erosion of academic freedom and intellectual autonomy, and an impermissible narrowing of scholarly discourse.” In their statement, the students asserted that the professor had committed “no wrongdoing” and maintained that the question cited as the basis for complaints was fully aligned with the prescribed syllabus. They said the syllabus explicitly mandates critical engagement with issues such as marginalisation, discrimination, violence, and structural injustice, and added that a copy of the syllabus was attached to their statement to substantiate the claim. “Penalising an academic for facilitating critical engagement undermines the very foundation of social science education,” the students said. The students argued that Jamia formally offers courses in Dalit and Minority Studies, Social Inclusion, Human Rights, and Social Justice, disciplines that are premised on critical inquiry and structural analysis. In this context, they said, the action against Prof. Shahare represents an erosion of academic freedom and intellectual autonomy, and an impermissible narrowing of scholarly discourse. The statement strongly criticised the university’s invocation of Statute 37(1) to suspend the professor, calling it “arbitrary, excessive, and legally untenable.” According to the students, the statute allows suspension only in exceptional circumstances involving prima facie evidence of grave misconduct, and solely as a temporary measure pending inquiry. They maintained that setting an examination question approved through institutional mechanisms does not amount to misconduct, negligence, or “unbecoming conduct” under the statute. Highlighting that examination papers undergo multiple levels of moderation and approval, the students questioned why only Prof. Shahare had been singled out. “No questions have been raised against moderation committees, departmental vetting processes, or the Controller of Examinations, who bears statutory responsibility for the conduct of examinations,” the statement said. The students also raised concerns about caste-based discrimination, noting that Prof. Shahare is a Dalit academic, stating, “The suspension reflects a disturbing pattern where individuals from marginalised communities bear the brunt of punitive action, while systemic accountability is evaded,” they alleged. The students described the reported mention of filing a police FIR against the professor as a “dangerous and unjust escalation,” warning that it could set a precedent for criminalising pedagogy. “Academic disagreements or public discomfort cannot and must not be converted into criminal liability,” the statement said. The students demanded immediate and permanent revocation of Prof. Shahare’s suspension, withdrawal of any legal action, a public apology from the university, assurances against scapegoating faculty from marginalised communities, and a reaffirmation of Jamia’s commitment to academic freedom and constitutional values. “We stand with our professor. We reject this injustice. And we will continue to speak until it is corrected,” they asserted. Similarly, students of the Department of Political Science at Jamia Millia Islamia condemned the suspension and demanded its immediate revocation, stating that “institutions of higher learning must address internal disagreements through transparent, proportionate, and procedurally fair mechanisms.” The students warned that such action affects not only the faculty member concerned but also the academic environment and students’ right to a free and critical learning space, adding that dialogue, not punitive measures, must remain the guiding principle of university governance. Virendra Balaji Shahare, was the paper setter for the BA (Hons) Social Work Semester-I examination titled Social Problems in India for the academic session 2025–26. The suspension comes after Prof. Shahare included a question asking students to “discuss the atrocities against Muslim minorities in India” in the examination paper he set, sparking outrage among students, fellow teachers, and rights groups/ The university stated that it had received several complaints from various sources regarding the content of the question paper. In its order dated December 23, 2025, the university stated that the competent authority had taken a “serious view” of what it described as the professor’s negligence and carelessness. Acting on the instructions of the competent authority, Jamia said Prof. Shahare had been placed under suspension pending further orders. The Jamia Millia Islamia unit of the Fraternity Movement has demanded the revocation of the teacher’s suspension, calling it a move to defend academic freedom. The order further stated that a police FIR would be filed “as per rules” in connection with the matter. Invoking Statute 37(1) of the Statutes of the University, the Vice-Chancellor ordered disciplinary action, stating that the alleged negligence amounted to an act “unbecoming” of a faculty member. Earlier, several student organisations, including AIDSO, AIMSU, AIRSO, AISA, DISSC, MSF, the Fraternity Movement, SFI, and SIO, in a joint statement condemned the suspension, stating that the examination question asking students to “discuss the atrocities against Muslim minorities in India” was clearly syllabus-based and academically legitimate. They called the university’s decision to suspend him and file a police FIR an unprecedented, disproportionate, and dangerous attack on academic autonomy, democratic functioning, and Jamia’s historical legacy of critical inquiry. They also demanded the immediate revocation of the suspension and withdrawal of all punitive proceedings. Courtesy : Maktoob Media Note: This news is originally published on https:/maktoobmedia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Protest over the killing of a Dalit youth in Bangladesh: Bajrang Dal, VHP burn effigy of Bangladesh, demand action
Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) activists staged a protest at Sarju Pandey Park in Ghazipur on Thursday. The protest was against the alleged killing of a Dalit Hindu youth, Deepu Das, in Bangladesh. The activists also burned a symbolic effigy of Bangladesh during the protest. Activists of the organizations alleged that Deepu Das was murdered by radical organizations active in Bangladesh. They also questioned the role of the interim government there. The protesters said that the incident has created an atmosphere of fear among the Hindu community living in Bangladesh. The protest was organized to express the concerns of the Hindu community and to demonstrate social solidarity. The organizers said that the program was completely peaceful and its purpose was to express their feelings in a democratic manner. A large number of activists and common people from the city, block, and district levels participated in the protest. Several prominent activists were present at the protest, including Bajrang Dal District President Vipin Srivastava, District Convenor Ravi Raj, and Convenor Ratan Ji. Among them were Bechu, Dharmendra Kashyap, Omkar Rai, Amit Rai, Kripa Shankar Rai, Sudhakar Rai, Anand Tiwari, Omprakash Pandey, Pradeep Verma, Chandan Pandey, Deendayal Ji, City President Anurag Chauhan, Vinod Bajrangi, Brijesh, Harsh Singh, Hemant Tiwari, and Akhilesh Singh. Hundreds of other activists were also present. The organizers appealed to the Hindu community to maintain unity and continue to raise their voices for the victims. Shashi Kant Tiwari Courtesy: Hindi News
Brother of Dalit migrant worker lynched in Kerala urges ban on Sangh Parivar organisations
The brother of a Dalit migrant worker from Chhattisgarh who was lynched by BJP–RSS members in Kerala’s Palakkad has appealed to the Indian government to ban such Sangh Parivar organisations, which he said “consider themselves nationalist and religious while killing people in the name of caste and religion.” In a video message, Shashikant Baghel, the brother of Ram Narayan Baghel, introduced himself as a resident of Karhi in Chhattisgarh and said his brother was brutally beaten to death on December 17 by alleged Sangh Parivar goons. “The Sangh Parivar calls itself patriotic, but what kind of patriotism is this, beating their own people by branding them as Bangladeshis and still claiming to be nationalists?,” he asked. He said that he had appealed to the Kerala government for justice and staged protests with the support of various organisations, saying, “With their help, I fought with the Kerala government for justice for my brother.” Earlier, Kerala’s political parties condemned the lynching, describing him as a “victim of the Sangh Parivar’s hate politics” and warning that mob lynchings, once associated with Sangh Parivar strongholds in North India, occurring in Kerala as well marked a shocking reality and a clear manifestation of a poisonous, racist ideology. Police have arrested five people, including four BJP workers, in connection with the case. Those arrested are Ananthan (55) of East Attappallam; BJP–RSS workers A Anu (38) of Attappallam Kallankadu, C Prasad (34) and C Murali (38) of Attappallam Mahallikadu; and K Bibin (30) of East Attappallam. Meanwhile, the Kerala government announced a minimum compensation of ₹10 lakh for the family of Ram Narayan, who had arrived in Palakkad just four days earlier in search of work and was staying with a relative near Attappallam under Walayar police limits when he lost his way and got stranded in the village. The post-mortem report confirmed that the cause of death was severe head injury. As the family initially refused to claim the body, Revenue Minister K Rajan held discussions with them and assured compensation of “not less than ₹10 lakh.” The Chief Secretary was tasked with implementing the Tehseen S. Poonawalla guidelines, Section 132 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita was added to the case, and ₹10 lakh was sanctioned from the Chief Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund. Ram Narayan is survived by his wife, two young children, and his mother. Courtesy : Maktoob Media Note: This news is originally published on https:/maktoobmedia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Clash between two Dalit groups in Kaili village: Dispute over harassing a mentally challenged youth, several injured
Kharkhoda. A violent clash broke out between two Dalit communities in Kaili village of the Kharkhoda police station area on Friday night at around 8 pm. The dispute started with a minor argument over harassing a mentally challenged young man, but quickly escalated into a major conflict. According to the information, Rakesh, a young man from the Jatav community, was going somewhere for some work. At that time, some youths from the Valmiki community started arguing with him and harassed him. Rakesh’s family and community members came to his defense, and a fight broke out between both sides with sticks and clubs. The fight quickly escalated, creating a tense situation. Several people from both sides were involved in this fight. According to local sources, two people were seriously injured in the clash and were immediately admitted to the medical center in Kharkhoda. The injured are undergoing treatment, and their condition is reported to be stable. According to local residents, the increasing tension in the village caused people in the surrounding areas to remain confined to their homes out of fear. Villagers demanded that the police increase security and restore peace quickly. The Kharkhoda police station in-charge confirmed the incident and said that there was no firing in the area. Only a physical altercation took place, and the police have registered a complaint from the concerned parties and initiated legal action based on the medical reports. The station in-charge appealed to both sides to maintain peace. Local administration and police officials are now continuously monitoring the village. The police aim to ensure that no further violent activity takes place and that mutual peace is restored between the two communities. The villagers also appreciated the promptness of the police and said that agreements and awareness at the community level are also necessary to prevent such incidents in the future. The administration has warned that strict action will be taken against anyone who engages in violence or disturbs public peace. Thus, this incident in Kaili village of Kharkhoda highlights the tension between communities in the region and makes the need for maintaining security and peace even more crucial. Rafiq Ahmed Courtesy: Hindi News
Atrocities against Dalit Hindus in Bangladesh are tragic: Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Commission Chairman Brij Lal says India will not remain silent
Uttar Pradesh Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Commission Chairman Brij Lal arrived in Unnao to attend an event. During his interaction with the media, he made a strong statement regarding the atrocities being committed against Hindus, especially Dalits, in Bangladesh. He described these incidents as extremely tragic and worrying, and said that they would not be tolerated at any cost. Referring to the partition of India, Brij Lal said that in the 1946 Constituent Assembly elections, approximately 95 percent of Muslim brothers in undivided India had voted in favor of Pakistan. Pakistan was created on the basis of religion. At that time, Babasaheb Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar had suggested an exchange of population to Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, but this could not happen. He said that Dalit leader Jogendra Nath Mandal, whom Jinnah had made the first Law Minister of Pakistan, had assured that Dalits would be safe in Pakistan. Because of this, a large number of people from the Dalit community stayed there. The Commission Chairman further said that most of the Hindus who are being persecuted in Bangladesh and Pakistan today are Dalits. When Jogendra Nath Mandal returned to India from Pakistan on October 8, 1950, there was a stampede among the Hindus there. At that time, a large number of people were settled in districts like Assam, Bengal, Pilibhit, and Kheri. Sharing his experience, Brij Lal said that he himself had been the Superintendent of Police of Pilibhit and had witnessed the suffering of that period firsthand. Taking a dig at political parties, Brij Lal said that candle marches are held for the events in Gaza, but when Hindus are burned alive or brutally murdered in Bangladesh, many political parties remain silent. He called this extremely unfortunate. The Commission Chairman clarified that India is not remaining silent on this issue and will take appropriate action. Courtesy: Hindi News
UP officer who raped 10yo Dalit girl and agoat tied at her house found dead in jail
Meerut: A 59-year-old assistant development officer (ADO) in the agriculture department in Bulandshahr’s Shikarpur block, who was accused of raping a 10-year-old girl and then a goat tied at her house in 2024, died of “cardiac arrest” in jail on Thursday, which happened to be his birthday. The case was scheduled for court hearing on Jan 6. “The accused was in prison for almost a year. He was a heart patient and was undergoing treatment in Delhi and Meerut while in judicial custody. He complained of chest discomfort yesterday in prison and died on the way to hospital. His autopsy report has confirmed death due to cardiac arrest, and the body has been handed over to his family,” jailor, Ashok Kumar, said on Friday. The crime dates back to Aug 13, last year, when the ADO reached a Dalit man’s house for an inspection. Finding his young daughter alone at home, he forcibly dragged her to a room and sexually assaulted her. Before leaving, he also had unnatural sex with a goat tied inside her home and a neighbour caught the barbaric act in his phone camera. The accused was later arrested and an FIR under BNS section 65 (2) (rape on a woman under 12 years), section 3 (2)(5) of SC/ST Act, section 5M/6 of Pocso Act and section 11 of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act were registered against him. He remained in jail after the court rejected his bail plea. ADGC Varun Kaushik said, “His crime was heinous. Fourteen witnesses have testified in court until now. The girl had identified the accused in court. A medical examination of the goat was also conducted, which confirmed the assault. We presented strong evidence in court to prove him guilty.” 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
Foxconn expansion: Karnataka chief minister accuses Centre of credit chori
Bengaluru/New Delhi: A war of words has broken out between the state govt and the Centre over credit for Foxconn’s rapid expansion, with chief minister Siddaramaiah Friday accusing union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw of “stealing Karnataka’s success”. The CM questioned why BJP’s “double-engine govts” had failed to match Karnataka’s industrial performance after Vaishnaw linked Foxconn’s expansion in the state to the Centre’s Make in India programme. Vaishnaw’s remarks followed a Facebook post by Lok Sabha opposition leader Rahul Gandhi, who shared a news report titled “Foxconn hires 30k staff at new, women-led unit” and praised Karnataka for creating a manufacturing ecosystem capable of scaling quickly. In his post, Rahul Gandhi said, “30,000 staff hired in just eight–nine months – the fastest factory ramp-up seen in India so far…” He described the expansion as “transformative job creation”, noting that around 80% of the workforce were women aged 19–24. “Karnataka is setting an example by creating an ecosystem where manufacturing can grow at this scale and speed,” he said, adding, “This is the India we must build: jobs with dignity, and opportunities for all.” In his response, Vaishnaw said, “Thanks, Rahul Gandhi, for acknowledging the success of PM Narendra Modi’s ‘Make in India’ programme. As you have noted, we are becoming a producer economy as we implement our PM’s vision.” Responding on X, Siddaramaiah said, “If Make in India is truly a success, why can’t BJP’s ‘double-engine’ states match what Karnataka has delivered?” “When you have no achievements to show, you steal others’ success and take the credit,” he added. Foxconn, the world’s largest contract manufacturer of Apple devices, has its second-largest facility outside China at Devanahalli near Bengaluru. Once fully operational, the plant is expected to produce up to 20 million iPhones a year. Over the past 12 months, iPhones worth $22 billion have been assembled in India, accounting for nearly 20% of Apple’s global iPhone output. Quotes Thanks, Rahul Gandhi, for acknowledging the success of PM Narendra Modi’s ‘Make in India’ programme (reflected in Foxconn’s expansion). As you have noted, we are becoming a producer economy as we implement our PM’s vision -Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union minister If Make in India is truly a success, why can’t BJP’s ‘double-engine’ states match what Karnataka has delivered? When you have no achievements to show, you steal others’ success and take the credit -Siddaramaiah, chief minister 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
Haryana: 12-year-old Dalit boy held captive and given electric shocks on suspicion of theft, case registered against 10 people
Palwal: Humanity shamed in Palwal: Minor returning home on the night of December 10th was held captive and tortured, also accused of sexual assault, case registered under SC/ST Act. Palwal: A shocking incident that shames humanity has come to light from Palwal, Haryana. Ten members of a single family have been accused of holding a 12-year-old Dalit boy captive for hours and brutally torturing him. The family committed this inhumane act after accusing the child of theft. The police have taken action in the matter and registered a case. What is the whole matter? This heartbreaking incident took place on the night of December 10th. The victim child, who works carrying lights at weddings to help his family financially, was returning to his village Banchari from Hodal town that night. According to the police, at around 11:30 pm, he was coming home with two other children when a car started following them. The people in the car were allegedly intoxicated. Frightened, the children started running. In an attempt to save himself, the victim boy jumped into the premises of a house, while his companions ran towards the village. The family living in the house where he jumped caught him, mistaking him for a thief. After that, what they did to the child before informing the police was horrific. The brutality inflicted on the child The police said that the accused allegedly tied the child’s hands and feet and repeatedly gave him electric shocks. Not only that, the victim minor told investigators that he was also sexually assaulted. The child has suffered serious burn injuries and is currently undergoing treatment in the hospital. The family held him captive for several hours and later called the police. Police action In this case, the police have registered a case against 10 members of the family. The accused have been booked under the following sections: Voluntarily causing hurt, Wrongful confinement, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, and Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act. According to the latest information, one accused has been arrested so far in this case, while the three main accused are still absconding. What happened in court? The three main suspects, who are currently absconding, had filed an anticipatory bail application on Monday. The case was heard in the Sessions Court on Wednesday. During the hearing, the medical report related to the minor’s injuries was presented, after which the court adjourned the hearing. The next hearing in this case will be held on January 8. Rajan Chaudhary Courtesy: Hindi News
The Truth Behind the Death of the Dalit Girl: Tortured Over Fees, Then the College Itself Wrote the Exam Papers to Cover Up; FSL Report Exposes the Deception
A new twist in the suicide case stemming from a fee dispute; forensic investigation exposes the college administration’s claims, handwriting in the answer sheet found to be someone else’s, SIT adds new charges. Bhiwani/Chandigarh: A shocking revelation has emerged in the suicide case of a 22-year-old Dalit college student in Loharu, Bhiwani district of Haryana, last year. The investigation by the police’s Special Investigation Team (SIT) has revealed that the handwriting on the answer sheet of the exam in question does not belong to the deceased student. This revelation has exposed the claims of the college administration. New Sections Added After FSL Report The Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) report has confirmed that the handwriting on the answer sheet does not match the student’s handwriting. Based on this scientific evidence, the SIT has added new charges against college director Hanuman and his son Rahul under sections 338 (Forgery of valuable security or will, etc.), 336 (Forgery – making false documents with intent to cause harm or defraud) and other relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). What is the whole case? The deceased student’s family had alleged that the college administration did not allow her to sit for the BA (5th semester) examination due to non-payment of fees. The family also claimed that the accused Rahul used to harass the student over the phone, which led her to commit suicide. The college authorities, however, had rejected these allegations, claiming that the student had appeared for the examination. But now the forensic investigation has changed the narrative. SIT Submits Report to Court The SIT, led by DSP Vikas Kumar of the State Crime Branch, filed its status report in the Bhiwani court on December 5. The DSP stated in the report, “On August 13, the student’s 5th-semester answer sheets and her diary were sent to the forensic lab in Delhi for handwriting matching and authenticity verification. On September 8, we received the FSL (Forensic Science Laboratory) report, which clearly stated that the handwriting on the answer sheets did not match that of the deceased.” Following the receipt of the report, new sections such as 338, 336, and 340 (using forged documents) were added against Hanuman and his son Rahul in the FIR registered on December 27, 2024 (which was earlier under sections 108, 3(5), and 238-B of the BNS). The investigation in the case is still ongoing. SC Commission’s intervention changed the direction of the investigation Earlier, the former investigating officer (IO), DSP Vivek Chaudhary, had claimed in his report that the student had committed suicide fearing that her parents would find out about her alleged ‘relationship’ with the accused Rahul. He had tried to give a clean chit to college director Hanuman, his son Rahul, daughter Sanju, and Principal Sarita. However, an application was filed on March 23 to acquit the accused, which the National Commission for Scheduled Castes took suo motu cognizance of. On May 14, the commission found the previous investigation unsatisfactory and procedurally flawed. The commission had clearly ordered that the student’s answer sheets, hall ticket, and call details be examined by the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL). The commission had directed that no closure report would be filed in court until the forensic results were received. Only after this was the investigating officer changed and a fresh investigation began. Demand to cancel the bail of the accused The student’s lawyer, Rajat Kalsan, said that he has today argued in court for the cancellation of the bail application of the accused father and son and demanded that the police also investigate the role of the college owner. The deceased girl’s father said that the FSL report has exposed the college management’s false claim that his daughter was allowed to sit for the exam. He demanded, “The police should investigate who sat for the exam in my daughter’s place, and strict action should be taken against all those involved in this conspiracy.” Rajan Chaudhary Courtesy: Hindi News