Man gets life term for raping Dalit minor during 2020 Covid lockdown
Bulandshahr: A Pocso court in UP’s Bulandshahr has sentenced a 24-year-old man to life imprisonment and Rs 30,000 fine for kidnapping and raping a 14-year-old Dalit girl during the Covid lockdown in 2020. The girl was burnt to death about four months after the crime. On the afternoon of Aug 14, 2020, the girl went to an orchard and when she did not return by evening, her family and villagers looked for her through the night. She was found in a cane field nearby, in an unconscious state the next evening. The girl later told her family how she was abducted, forcibly sedated and assaulted. The accused was held and an FIR was registered under IPC 363 (kidnapping), 376 (rape), 342 (wrongful confinement) along with Pocso and SC/ST acts. Special public prosecutor Bharat Sharma said, “Girl had initially testified before court. She was burnt alive a few months later. Two men were convicted in a separate murder case. The trial in the rape case continued on the basis of her father’s testimony, police investigation, medical reports and other evidence.” Pronouncing the verdict Wednesday, the additional sessions judge Shagun Panwar described the crime against the minor as “heinous” and stressed the need for strict punishment. It also ordered that 50% of the fine be paid to her dependents. 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
Tamil Nadu: Dalits gain entry into temple after 50 years, IPS Shahnaz Ilyas’s initiative in the news
In Kallakurichi, Tamil Nadu, the Adi Dravidian community has been granted the right to worship in a temple after 50 years. Learn about the role of IPS Shahnaz Ilyas and her success story. Tamil Nadu. In Kallakurichi district, Tamil Nadu, members of the Adi Dravidian community have been granted the right to enter and worship in a temple after nearly 50 years. Following this initiative, which took place in the second week of September, the role of the district’s Superintendent of Police (SP), IPS Shahnaz Ilyas, is in the news. According to media reports, following the local administration’s initiative, the temple’s doors have been opened to members of the Adi Dravidian community. Members of the community will now be able to enter and worship. This move is being considered significant in ending long-standing social discrimination. According to reports, Kallakurichi Superintendent of Police (SP) Shahnaz Ilyas was honored by Tamil Nadu government minister Vanni Arasu for this initiative. Who is IPS Shahnaz Ilyas? Shahnaz Ilyas is a 2021 batch IPS officer of the Tamil Nadu cadre. She secured the 217th rank in the 2020 Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) examination. Notably, she prepared for the exam during her maternity leave and succeeded. Before becoming an IPS officer, she worked in the IT sector for about five years. Virendra Kumar Virendra Kumar has been in journalism since 2020. He is a sub-editor at Dalit Dastak. His interests include education, politics, and sports. Virendra has a keen interest in the camera and often works as a video journalist. Courtesy: Hindi News
UP Elections 2027: BSP’s focus will be on employment and reservation
Ahead of the 2027 UP Assembly elections, the BSP has prepared to make Dalit self-respect, reservation, and employment its primary issues. Akash Anand is actively involved in the campaign to connect with the youth. Lucknow. In view of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has intensified its political activities. The party is preparing to contest the elections by focusing on issues such as Dalit self-respect, reservation, and employment. Through this, the BSP aims to reunify its traditional Dalit voters and strengthen its hold among the youth. Akash Anand has been fielded for this purpose. The BSP’s strategy was launched by the party’s National Convenor, Akash Anand, with a workers’ conference held in Bulandshahr’s Anupshahr Assembly constituency. Starting October 28th, Akash Anand launched the party’s campaign with meetings in Bulandshahr. Issues of Dalit self-respect and reservation are being given prominence in the party’s strategy. Additionally, efforts are being made to engage youth by raising the issue of employment. The party is particularly targeting Gen-G (young voters). At the same time, efforts to engage Jat and Gurjar voters in western Uttar Pradesh are also part of the BSP’s strategy. Candidate Selection Based on Caste Equations The BSP is also considering caste-based factors when selecting candidates for the upcoming assembly elections. According to party sources, BSP chief Mayawati is reviewing the names of potential candidates for key constituencies and their winning prospects. Raj Kumar Courtesy: Hindi News
RIMS- Adilabad doctor, nurse, two constables booked for abetment of Dalit youngster’s suicide
A doctor, nurse and police constable were booked in Adilabad following the death by suicide of 26-year-old Rahul Kamble. His family alleged harassment and caste-based abuse, while a suicide note reportedly accused RIMS doctors and police of torture. Adilabad: A doctor, and nurse from RIMS and a constable were booked on charges of abetting a youngster from the town to die by suicide and abusing him using his caste name here on Thursday. Adilabad DSP L Jeevan Reddy said that a case was registered against Dr Sourabh, staff nurse Mamatha, II town head constable Fateh Singh under the Section 108 (abetment of suicide) of BNSS and relevant sections of the SC, ST Prevention of Atrocities Act, based on a complaint received from the father of Rahul Kamble (26) father on Thursday evening. Earlier in the morning on Thursday, Rahul died allegedly by suicide by hanging after feeling humiliated when he was allegedly reprimanded and harassed by doctors and police for video-recording negligence of staffers in providing treatment to him at RIMS on his mobile phone. He was admitted to RIMS after being bitten by a scorpion on Wednesday. A suicide note purportedly written by Rahul was recovered. In the suicide note, Rahul alleged that he was subjected to torture by police as per instructions of doctors from RIMS. Following his suicide, his family members and Dalit organizations staged a protest seeking justice and demanding action against the staffers and police at RIMS on Thursday. This protest prompted to register a case against those who allegedly drove the youngster to die by suicide. 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
Coimbatore: CB-CID begins probe in Dalit student’s death
The Peelamedu police initially arrested two of his classmates under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act COIMBATORE: The CB-CID has commenced a probe into the death of A Akilan, a Dalit student who had ended his life over caste-based taunts from his classmates. The Peelamedu police initially arrested two of his classmates under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Akilan was in Class 11 at a government-aided school in Coimbatore. The class teacher and headmaster were suspended. The CB-CID registered a case and initiated a preliminary inquiry. A team led by SP Sri Devi questioned Akilan’s parents at their house regarding the circumstances of his death. The team also inspected the school and records of the Peelamedu police’s probe. The arrested students are likely to be questioned. Courtesy : DT Next Note: This news is originally published on https:/dtnext.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Dalit Man Allegedly Killed by Wife’s Family in UP’s Muzaffarnagar Over Inter-Caste Marriage
A 23-year-old Dalit man was allegedly beaten to death with bricks in Uttar Pradesh’s Muzaffarnagar, more than a year after he eloped with and married a woman against her family’s wishes. ExploreDiversity Akshay and his 20-year-old wife, Ridhima, had been living in Noida since their marriage. Akshay returned to Muzaffarnagar on Monday and was attacked that evening. He died in hospital on Tuesday. Police arrested two people on Wednesday in connection with the killing, including Ridhima’s elder brother, Vasu, said Dinesh Baghel, Station House Officer of Khatauli police station. Police suspect the murder was premeditated and are investigating whether several people were involved in planning the attack. Police Suspect Akshay’s Movements Were Shared With Attackers According to police, Akshay, a resident of Biharipur village, returned to Muzaffarnagar on Monday morning. Later that evening, he left home on his motorcycle with a man identified as Akash, telling his family that he was going to buy medicines. The two stopped at a shop on Jansath Road in the Khatauli area. Police said three masked men arrived on a motorcycle and confronted Akshay. One of them allegedly struck him with a brick, knocking him to the ground, before the attackers repeatedly hit him on the head with bricks. Akshay’s family alleged that he was left bleeding heavily as the assailants fled. Police suspect that Akash, who was with Akshay during the attack, shared information about his movements with the assailants. He is among those detained as investigators examine the circumstances leading up to the killing. Couple Had Moved to Noida After Marriage Akshay first met Ridhima while visiting his uncle, who lived in Sarai village, around six kilometres from his home. The two developed a relationship, but their families opposed it, according to the police account. About a year and a half ago, the couple eloped. Ridhima’s family subsequently filed a kidnapping complaint, police said. The couple later married in court and moved to Noida, where Akshay found work. A police officer said Ridhima’s family allegedly continued to resent Akshay despite the marriage and the couple’s move away from Muzaffarnagar. Courtesy : TOP Note: This news is originally published on https:/theobserverpost.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
A dead body on the road, a wooden pyre, and a six-hour traffic jam… Why did anger erupt after the death of a Dalit youth in Chhatarpur?
Following the death of a Dalit youth in Chhatarpur, his family members blocked the Tehsil intersection by placing his body there. The protesters created a pyre by placing wood on the road and demanded the arrest of the accused. Chhatarpur News: A massive uproar erupted in Naugaon town of Chhatarpur district after the death of a Dalit youth under suspicious circumstances. Angry family members and locals protested by placing his body at the Tehsil intersection on Wednesday evening. The protesters created a pyre by placing wood on the road and blocked the road. This disrupted traffic on the main road and caused long queues of vehicles on both sides. The traffic jam continued for more than six hours, causing inconvenience to the public. The family members of the deceased have accused some people of beating him and forcibly administering a poisonous substance to him. They demand that the accused be immediately arrested and a murder case be registered against them. There was a dispute over wages. The deceased has been identified as Dharampal Ahirwar. He was a resident of Naya Mohalla, Ward No. 18, Naugaon, and worked as a laborer in the local vegetable market. His wife, Usha Ahirwar, stated in a police complaint that a dispute arose on October 22, 2026, over wages. According to the complaint, when Dharampal asked Jitu, alias Jitendra Sahu, and his parents for his wages, they refused. It is alleged that Dharampal was subsequently assaulted with sticks and rods, sustaining serious injuries. Dharampal then went to the Naugaon police station and filed a complaint against the accused for assault. Allegations of Pressure to Withdraw the Case According to family members, after the assault case was filed, the accused party was pressuring Dharampal to reach a compromise. On October 27, Dharampal was called to a shop under the pretext of a discussion. There, he was asked to withdraw the case. The family claims that Dharampal refused to withdraw the case. He was then again abused and beaten. It is alleged that he was forcibly administered a poisonous substance during this time. Death during hospital treatment After being administered the poisonous substance, Dharampal’s health deteriorated. He was taken to the Naugaon Community Health Center in critical condition. Doctors there, finding his condition critical, referred him to the Chhatarpur District Hospital. Dharampal died while undergoing treatment at the district hospital on the night of October 27th. Upon receiving the news of his death, the family was plunged into mourning. Upon the arrival of his body in Naugaon, anger spread among the family and local residents. They launched a protest demanding strict action against the accused. Blockade at Tehsil Square On Wednesday evening, family members, residents of the neighborhood, and other members of the community arrived at the Tehsil Square with Dharampal’s body. They placed the body in the middle of the road and protested. The angry people also built a pyre by placing wood on the road. The protesters demanded the immediate arrest of the main accused, Jeetu Sahu, and his associates and the registration of a murder case. The traffic jam disrupted traffic on the Jhansi-Khajuraho route and other connecting roads. Long queues of vehicles caused significant inconvenience to pedestrians and other travelers. Given the seriousness of the situation, Naugaon police station and additional police force were deployed to the scene. Administrative and police officials continuously engaged with the protesting family members, attempting to pacify them. Officials assured a fair investigation and action based on available evidence. Further legal action was stated to be taken based on the post-mortem report and investigation findings. However, the family members remained adamant on their demand for immediate arrest and the registration of a murder case. Pawan Bidua | Edited By: Ashish Kumar Mishra | Pawan Bidua’s journalistic journey began in 2018 with V News Cable Network in Chhatarpur. He subsequently held consecutive positions as a district bureau chief for India News National and MP-CG. He covered the sensitive and risky reporting of the COVID period on the ground. Pawan Bidua completed his B.J.M.C. from Dr. Harisingh Gour University and his LLB from Pt. Motilal Nehru Law College. Courtesy: Hindi News
Man sentenced to life imprisonment for raping Dalit minor in Barabanki
Lucknow: A special Pocso court in Barabanki sentenced a man to life imprisonment for raping a 13-year-old Dalit girl who later became pregnant. The judgment was delivered on Wednesday, nearly five years and 11 months after the case was registered. Special Judge Pran Vijay Singh convicted Lallu alias Wasim, also imposing a fine of Rs 60,000 and directing that the full amount be paid to the survivor. According to the prosecution, the girl’s mother, a resident of a village under Asandra police station limits, filed a complaint on Nov 18, 2020. She alleged the assault occurred around 10 months earlier when her daughter had gone out to graze goats. The accused, a resident of the same village, allegedly raped the minor and threatened her into silence, preventing disclosure to family members. The case surfaced after the girl became pregnant. The prosecution said the accused later gave her medication to terminate the pregnancy. Her health reportedly worsened at home, after which the family came to know about the alleged assault. Police investigated the complaint and filed a charge sheetunder relevant provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. During trial, the court recorded the victim’s statement and heard testimony from seven prosecution witnesses. After hearing both sides and examining evidence, the court held the accused guilty and ordered life imprisonment along with the compensation fine forame to the survivor. 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
A New Faith Cannot Guarantee Equality – OpEd
Tamil Nadu’s April 2023 Assembly resolution seeking Scheduled Caste protections for Dalit Christians did not alter eligibility, as only Parliament can amend the existing restriction and a state cannot unilaterally set it aside. Effective progress requires a sustained legal and legislative strategy rather than repeated political declarations that leave the statutory barrier unchanged. The Church’s role is to surface neglected experiences, insist on reliable evidence and practice the equality it seeks from the state, while distinguishing religious freedom to change faith from the persistence of caste-based burdens that a new religious identity does not automatically erase. (UCA News) — A baptism can mark a new beginning. It cannot make neighbors forget a family’s caste or guarantee children the opportunities denied to their parents. That distance between religious belonging and social acceptance lies at the heart of India’s latest controversy over affirmative action. For the Church, the question reaches beyond whether Christians qualify for particular benefits. It concerns how a society committed to equality should respond when inherited disadvantage survives a change of faith. The immediate dispute concerns Tamil Nadu, a southern Indian state, and its reservation category for specified disadvantaged Muslim communities. India’s reservation system sets aside places in education and public employment for designated disadvantaged groups. The Supreme Court held that conversion to Islam, together with a person’s previous caste status, does not automatically establish membership of a notified Muslim backward community. That distinction matters. A ruling on eligibility within a particular classification should not be mistaken for evidence that conversion eliminates social disadvantage. Nor does the judgment mean that Christians and Muslims are excluded from every reservation category. A persuasive response must address the legal distinctions accurately while asking whether the existing framework adequately serves the people it is meant to protect. The court also reiterated a restriction with direct consequences for Christians. Paragraph 3 of the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950 confines Scheduled Caste recognition to people professing Hinduism, Sikhism or Buddhism. Scheduled Castes, or SCs, are communities officially recognized as having suffered historic caste exclusion, including untouchability. Many people from these backgrounds identify as Dalits. Christians and Muslims remain outside this category, regardless of their ancestral caste. This boundary has a history, and that history shows it can change. The 1950 presidential order drew substantially on a colonial classification that excluded Indian Christians. It generally limited recognition to Hindus, with a narrow exception for specified Sikh communities. Parliament widened Sikh eligibility in 1956 and included Buddhists in 1990. These changes did not make every Sikh or Buddhist eligible. They removed religious barriers for otherwise qualifying members of listed communities. The question, then, is not whether every convert should automatically receive a reservation benefit. Governments need evidence, defensible classifications and safeguards against misuse. Existing beneficiaries deserve protection from arbitrary decisions. But a religion’s teaching about equality cannot substitute for examining its followers’ circumstances. Christianity’s affirmation of equal dignity does not demonstrate that a Christian family has escaped caste prejudice. The same distinction applies to Muslims. Religious ideals and social realities are not interchangeable. The Church should pay particular attention to the evidentiary question. In 1985, the Supreme Court dismissed a challenge brought by Soosai, a Christian cobbler from a Scheduled Caste background in Tamil Nadu. The court did not establish that caste necessarily disappears after conversion. It found insufficient evidence of comparable continuing disabilities to sustain the constitutional challenge. An unsuccessful petition was not proof that discrimination had ended. There is a practical lesson here. Advocacy needs more than declarations of solidarity. Church institutions should support rigorous research, accessible legal assistance and careful documentation of exclusion. Dalit Christians must help determine what is studied, whose experiences are recorded, and which remedies are sought. They should not be invited merely to endorse arguments prepared on their behalf. Their knowledge is essential to getting those arguments right. That work must begin close to home. The Church cannot credibly argue that caste survives conversion while dismissing questions about caste within Christian institutions as inconvenient or divisive. Parishes, schools, religious communities and leadership bodies should examine who receives opportunities, who exercises authority and who remains unheard. A defense of equality becomes convincing when it includes a willingness to listen, admit failure and change. Christian solidarity must also reach beyond Christians. The immediate Tamil Nadu dispute concerns Muslims, making it a test of whether the Church’s concern rests on principle or institutional interest. Supporting fair assessment does not require endorsing every application or promising automatic eligibility. It means insisting that disadvantage be examined rather than assumed away. Justice requires scrutiny, not shortcuts, and concern for people who do not share our faith. Tamil Nadu should carefully assess grounds for judicial review while renewing the legislative effort concerning Dalit Christians. In April 2023, its Assembly adopted a resolution seeking Scheduled Caste protections and benefits for them. That expression of support did not change eligibility. Parliament can amend the existing restriction; a state government cannot simply set it aside. Political promises need a sustained legal and legislative strategy, not another cycle of declarations. The Church’s task is neither to denounce courts nor to defend its members alone. It is to bring neglected experiences into public view; insist on reliable evidence and practice the equality it asks the state to uphold. Religious freedom protects the right to change one’s faith. Social justice asks what burdens remain afterwards. The law must distinguish between categories, but public debate must not lose sight of people. A new religious identity should not be mistaken for proof that an old injustice has ended. By Dr. Fr. John Singarayar The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official editorial position of UCA News. About Dr. Fr. John Singarayar, SVD, is a member of the Society of the Divine Word, India Mumbai Province, and holds a doctorate in Anthropology. He is the author of seven books and a regular contributor to academic conferences and scholarly publications in the fields of sociology, anthropology,
Life imprisonment for raping a Dalit girl
Barabanki. The special POCSO court on Tuesday concluded its hearing in the rape case of a Dalit girl in the Asandra area and sentenced the accused to life imprisonment. A fine of ₹60,000 was also imposed. This entire amount will be given to the victim. According to the prosecution, a woman from a village in Asandra filed a report on November 18, 2020, stating that about 10 months ago, her 13-year-old daughter had gone to graze goats when she was raped by Lallu, also known as Wasim, from the same village. The accused threatened the girl so much that she did not even tell her family. When the girl became pregnant, Lallu administered an abortion medication. The incident came to light after the girl’s condition deteriorated at home. The investigating officer filed a charge sheet against Lallu in court under the POCSO Act and the SC/ST Act. The girl’s statement was recorded during the hearing. The prosecution presented seven witnesses in this case. After hearing arguments from both sides, Special Judge Pran Vijay Singh sentenced Lallu alias Wasim. Courtesy: Hindi News