Rahul Gandhi to address Cong’s ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ event in Indore today
Indore: Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi will visit Indore on Saturday for a Congress programme “Chhatron Ki Goonj”, which seeks to highlight issues related to education, recruitment and unemployment. The campaign focuses on question paper leaks, education costs and alleged irregularities in govt recruitment. Four editions have been held so far in Kota, Dehradun, Prayagraj and Pune. The Indore event was earlier scheduled for Sept 12 and was postponed by a week. The district administration denied permission to use Nehru Stadium, citing a pending court matter. Indore Mayor Pushyamitra Bhargava said a high court order allows the stadium to be used only for sports or state-level govt events. Congress then leased 12,000 square metres of land in front of Regional Park from Indore Development Authority for Sept 17 to 19, at a fee of Rs 10.08 lakh. Another charge of around Rs 4 lakh was imposed by local authorities as the land was used in violation of lease terms before the prescribed dates. Congress paid the amount. The party has named the venue “Bharat Jodo Maidan”. It claims about 1.5 lakh students have registered, but around 15,000-20,000 are expected to attend at the venue. “We will make arrangements on wide screens for youths unable to attend the event in areas around the venue,” Congress state chief Jitu Patwari told reporters. Patwari accused BJP of delaying permissions, a charge the party dismissed. He alleged that organisers were repeatedly asked to pay for the ground. Describing the programme as non-political, he said: “The administration can impose as many difficulties as it wants; we accept them.” Congress said police security conditions require organisers to deploy at least 1,500 volunteers, including 500 women. Police may restrict entry if the gathering exceeds the approved capacity. The party said the conditions also barred the display of objectionable or provocative pictures, banners, posters or hoardings, and prohibited inflammatory or derogatory remarks against any religion, caste, community or political or non-political organisation that could hurt anyone’s religious sentiments. 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
Kerala HC seeks State response on transgender post-operative aid
Transgender Person in Kerala Seeks Assistance for Post-Op Treatment Kochi, The Kerala High Court on Thursday sought the State government’s response to a plea by a transgender person over the non-payment of financial assistance for post-operative treatment.Try Time Trackers Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas gave the Government Pleader time to get instructions and the court posted the case for further hearing on October 8. The petitioner said he comes from a financially poor background and is currently unemployed. He had undergone Sex Reassignment Surgery and he was initially given Rs 62,563 as financial assistance for the surgery. After the Sex Reassignment Surgery, he applied for financial assistance for post-operative care and treatment, relying on a government order issued on November 14, 2018. The government order provides Rs 3,000 per month for 12 months to transgender persons who have undergone Sex Reassignment Surgery. The total assistance under the scheme is Rs 36,000 and the petitioner said he received Rs 15,000 for five months but the remaining Rs 21,000 for seven months was not paid. He said he made repeated requests to the authorities for the remaining amount but there was no payment coming forth. He has now approached the High Court seeking directions to the government officials to release the balance amount. The petitioner has also contended that the denial of the assistance violated his fundamental rights under Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution. He relied on a Supreme Court judgment in Jane Kaushik vs. Union of India in support of his argument.Stream History Documentaries The petitioner has sought an order directing the authorities to release the remaining Rs 21,000. As an interim relief, he has also sought a direction to the authorities to consider a representation submitted before the Director of Social Justice. The petitioner also pointed out that he had learnt from others in the transgender community that funds released for their benefit were sometimes not fully utilised and subsequently lapsed, resulting in beneficiaries being deprived of the intended assistance. The High Court has now sought the State’s response before considering the matter further and the case will now be heard on October 8. Courtesy : The Hawk Note: This news is originally published on https:/thehawk.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Six police officers suspended in Firozabad after a pregnant Dalit woman died during police action
The death of a 28-year-old pregnant Dalit woman in Firozabad, Uttar Pradesh, has led to serious allegations against the police. The family alleges that during a scuffle with police who had arrived to take her husband for questioning in a theft case, the woman was pushed or kicked in the stomach, causing her health to deteriorate. Six police officers have been suspended in connection with the case. According to a report in Maktoob Media, the incident occurred in Labhaua village, under the jurisdiction of the Shikohabad police station. According to Gaurav Kumar, the husband of the deceased, Anjali Verma, a police team led by Sub-Inspector Dharampal Singh arrived at their home around 11:45 pm on Sunday night. The police had come to arrest Gaurav in connection with a theft at a local grocery store. According to the family, Anjali, who was approximately eight and a half months pregnant, resisted the arrest of her husband. The family alleges that during this time, the police officers pushed or kicked Anjali in the stomach, causing her to fall. The police then took Gaurav with them. Following the incident, Anjali’s condition deteriorated and she was taken to the government hospital in Shikohabad. On Monday morning, she gave birth to a son, but her condition worsened after delivery. She was taken to a private hospital in Firozabad, where doctors declared him dead. The newborn’s condition was also reported to be critical and he was referred to Agra for further treatment. Following the incident, protests erupted in the village, with villagers demanding action against the police officers. Based on a preliminary investigation, Firozabad Superintendent of Police Aditya Langhe suspended six police officers: Sub-Inspectors Dharampal Singh and Satyapal Singh, Head Constables Mohan Singh and Arvind Kumar, and Constables Bhavtosh Kumar and Kuldeep Kumar. The responsibility for conducting an impartial investigation into the matter has been assigned to Shikohabad’s Additional Superintendent of Police and IPS officer Jaibind Kumar Gupta. However, the police have denied the allegations of assaulting the woman. According to the official statement from Firozabad police, Gaurav was brought to the police station on the evening of September 13th for questioning in connection with case number 724/2026 and was released to his family the following morning after questioning. Police say Anjali was taken to the hospital by her family for delivery, where she died during delivery. Police also stated that the post-mortem revealed no external injury marks. Political leaders have also demanded action in the case. Samajwadi Party National General Secretary and Rajya Sabha MP Ramji Lal Suman, after meeting the victim’s family, staged a protest at the Shikohabad police station, demanding a murder case against the allegedly responsible policemen and a fair investigation. Azad Samaj Party chief and MP Chandrashekhar Azad also demanded an investigation into the case, legal action against those found guilty, and financial assistance to the family. Courtesy: Hindi News
UP: Allegations of discrimination against Dalit engineers in the power department, SC/ST Commission demands high-level investigation from CM Yogi
Following a complaint from the UP Power Officers Association, the SC/ST Commission has taken a firm stance, recommending an impartial investigation to the Chief Minister regarding the alleged double standards faced by Dalit engineers in the power department. Lucknow: The issue of alleged discrimination against Dalit engineers working in the Uttar Pradesh Power Department (DISCOM) is gaining momentum. Baijnath Rawat, Chairman of the Uttar Pradesh Scheduled Caste/Tribe (SC/ST) Commission, has written a letter to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on this serious issue, demanding a high-level and impartial investigation into the matter. In the letter, written on Wednesday, Rawat specifically mentioned a memorandum submitted by UP Power Officers Association President RP Kane and other officials. The association alleged that Dalit engineers have been facing persistent discrimination for several years and that service rules are being selectively enforced in certain cases. However, this letter from the Commission’s Chairman does not independently confirm these allegations. Nevertheless, the letter urges the Chief Minister to investigate the facts stated in the association’s memorandum and appeals for appropriate and strict action based on the findings of the investigation. Regarding this controversy, the UP Power Officers Association issued a statement stating that it has submitted detailed records of more than a dozen Dalit engineers working in various state power companies to the Commission. The organization claims that different criteria have been applied in the cases of these officers. To prove its serious allegations, the association has presented several documents to the Commission. Association President RP Kane, Acting President Awadhesh Kumar Verma, Vice President PM Prabhakar, and office bearers Harishchandra Verma and Mukesh Babu expressed hope that an investigation will soon be initiated to establish the true facts. The organization clarified that its primary objective is not to create any conflict with the government or the department, but to protect the rights of its engineers under constitutional and legal provisions. Rajan Chaudhary Courtesy: Hindi News
Dalit youth sacrificed on the altar of casteism: Fact-finding report on Kosa honor killing exposes nexus between police and feudal lords
Brutal honor killing of Dalit youth in Kosa, Janjgir-Champa: Fact-finding report reveals sensational nexus between police and feudal lords Chhattisgarh: On September 15th, a state-level seminar was organized at the XISA Center in Raipur against hate speech, hate campaigns, and targeted violence. As part of this collaborative effort, a detailed report on the murder of a Dalit youth in Kosa, Chhattisgarh, was released by Harsh Mander, National Convenor of Caravan-e-Mohabbat, and in the presence of the fact-finding team. This multi-organizational report exposes the dark truth of a brutal honor killing that occurred under the jurisdiction of the Mulmula police station in Janjgir-Champa district. This horrifying incident occurred in Kosa village of Janjgir-Champa district, where 25-year-old Dalit youth Amit Kumar Bhandari suddenly went missing on the night of June 27, 2026. Two days later, on June 29, 2026, his body was found lying face down in a deserted grove near the village’s Amha pond. The deceased’s head and chest bore fatal injuries and clear marks of brutality, indicating a premeditated murder. According to the independent investigation team’s fact-finding report, the murder was rooted in an inter-caste love affair. The deceased Amit Bhandari (Satnami community) had been in a love relationship with Santoshi Singh, a Kshatriya woman from the same village, for the past seven to eight years. Angered by this relationship, the girl’s family had previously threatened Amit. This brutal murder was a direct result of the prevailing upper-caste dominance in society and the violent feudal mentality against Dalits. The report raises serious questions about the functioning of the local police and their caste biases. For two months after the incident, the police attempted to protect the real culprits and cover up the case. The police and cyber cell of Mulmula police station illegally detained and brutally beat the deceased’s elder brother, Amrit Bhandari, his wife, Lakshmi, and friend, Vinod. The police attempted to discredit the deceased’s sister-in-law and threatened her with electrocution, pressuring her to falsely confess to the murder. The case gained momentum following the activism of Dalit rights organizations, field visits by a fact-finding team, and an intensive social media campaign. Growing public pressure forced the police chief to form a Special Investigation Team (SIT). Finally, on September 9, 2026, the police uncovered the murder and arrested Santoshi Singh, her brother Bajrang Singh, and Pappu Singh Kshatriya. The police investigation established that Bajrang Singh, upon seeing Amit, who had come to meet Santoshi on the night of June 27th, lost his temper and brutally murdered him with a shovel. Pappu Singh and Santoshi then conspired to dispose of the body and mislead the police. For more facts and detailed context related to this incident, please see the “Kosa Words” report below. Rajan Chaudhary Courtesy: Hindi News
The High Court has sought a report from the Punjab government on the death of a Dalit laborer, raising demands for a CBI investigation.
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has taken a firm stance on the suicide of a laborer in Sangrur who confronted Minister Harpal Singh Cheema over the drug issue, and demands for a CBI investigation have gained momentum. New Delhi: The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Wednesday summoned a detailed status report from the Punjab government regarding the suicide of Dalit laborer Gulzar Singh. The court scheduled the next hearing for October 6th and directed the state government to submit complete details of the investigation. While emphasizing the need for a fair investigation, the division bench also questioned how, based on the current circumstances and facts, the state Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema could be implicated in the case. The court’s direction came during the hearing of a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by the chief spokesperson of the Scheduled Caste wing of the Shiromani Akali Dal. The petitioner has questioned the functioning of the Punjab Police and demanded that the investigation be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or another independent agency. An FIR in this matter is currently registered at the Didba police station in Sangrur district. The case has been filed under Section 108 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Sections 3(1)(r) and 3(1)(s) of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, naming five local residents, including the village sarpanch. According to the petition, the entire controversy began on September 6th when Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema visited Turbanjara village in Sangrur to lay the foundation stone for development projects. During this event, Gulzar Singh expressed his anguish over his son’s drug addiction and directly questioned the minister about the spread of ‘chitta’ (synthetic drugs) in the area. It is alleged that following this incident, police personnel arrived at Gulzar Singh’s home that evening and questioned him. Following this, the panchayat members threatened him and used casteist slurs against him. On September 7th, the Panchayat reportedly summoned Gulzar Singh and put him under intense pressure to apologize unconditionally to the minister. Hurt by this humiliation and pressure, he consumed poison. The next day, on September 8th, he died while undergoing treatment at a hospital in Ludhiana. His family alleges that the administration hastily cremated his body without their consent. The family and the petitioner claim that Gulzar Singh, in his video-recorded dying declaration, had blamed Minister Cheema and the village sarpanch for his death. This incident has created a major political storm across Punjab. The Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and Shiromani Akali Dal have united and are continuously demanding the resignation of Minister Harpal Singh Cheema. Recently, Congress leaders organized a large protest march towards the minister’s residence in Chandigarh, which the police had to disperse using water cannons. Meanwhile, National Commission for Scheduled Castes Chairman Kishore Makwana also visited Sangrur and met with the victim’s family, assuring them of justice. Rajan Chaudhary Courtesy: Hindi News
TN Dalit scholar in Malaysia fears Rohith Vemula-like fate over funds
A Dalit PhD scholar from Tamil Nadu in Malaysia, Bharathidasan Raman, alleges a scholarship dispute is risking his academic future. He has invoked Rohith Vemula’s memory, fearing similar institutional pressure, a claim the TN government disputes. Dalit Scholar Alleges PhD at Risk Over Scholarship Row A Tamil Nadu Dalit research scholar pursuing his PhD in Malaysia invoked the memory of Rohith Vemula in an emotional appeal, alleging that a prolonged dispute over an overseas education scholarship has now put his research and academic future at risk. Bharathidasan Raman, a native of Usilampatti in Madurai district, Tamil Nadu, and a PhD scholar at the National University of Malaysia, said in a tearful video that the delay in receiving financial assistance under the Annal Ambedkar Overseas Higher Education Scholarship has left him struggling to continue his research and facing the possibility of losing his academic enrolment. The scholar alleged that, after he raised concerns over the non-release of scholarship funds, officials began questioning his research requirements and the materials he had sought funding to purchase. He said the situation had created pressure at a stage when his PhD itself was at risk. Invoking Rohith Vemula, whose death in 2016 became a national flashpoint over caste and the treatment of Dalit students in higher education, Bharathidasan said he feared facing similar institutional pressure. The comparison is being made by Bharathidasan himself; the circumstances of his case and Vemula’s case are not identical. Political Row Erupts, Govt Disputes Claims The allegations triggered a political confrontation in Tamil Nadu, with Leader of Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin backing the scholar and demanding that his education not be disrupted. DMK president MK Stalin also intervened and offered support for the continuation of Bharathidasan’s education. The Tamil Nadu government, however, disputes the scholar’s account of the scholarship issue. Social Justice Minister Vanni Arasu said the government had approved Bharathidasan’s scholarship for three years and had already released financial assistance. According to the government’s version, further payments were linked to the submission and verification of expenditure records and supporting documents. Bharathidasan disputed that explanation and maintained that he submitted the required documents. ‘More Than Money’: Academic Future in Jeopardy The latest allegations of harassment have not been independently established, and the government has not accepted the student’s account. The controversy is significant because the Annal Ambedkar Overseas Higher Education Scholarship is intended to enable students from disadvantaged communities to pursue postgraduate and research education abroad. Bharathidasan said the consequences are already extending beyond finances and threatening his research career. For a Dalit student who says he fought his way into overseas research, the message in his latest appeal is stark: the scholarship dispute, he says, is no longer merely about money; it is about whether he can remain in the PhD programme he worked to reach. (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Asianet Newsable English staff and is published from a syndicated feed.) Courtesy : Asianet News Note: This news is originally published on https:/asianetnews.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Jaggareddy Welcomes Padayatra Supporting Rahul Gandhi as Prime Minister
Hyderabad: A padayatra undertaken by AP high court advocate Venkateswarlu from Kanyakumari to Kashmir, with the objective of seeing Congress leader Rahul Gandhi become the Prime Minister of India, reached Sangareddy district headquarters on Thursday. On the occasion, TPCC Working President T. Jaggareddy welcomed the yatra, felicitated Venkateswarlu, and expressed solidarity by joining the march. Venkateswarlu has already covered around 1,590 kilometers across four states as part of his journey. Speaking on the occasion, Jaggareddy said that the aspiration for Rahul Gandhi to become PM is widely shared among ordinary people across the country and that the same sentiment is being reflected throughout the padayatra. Jaggareddy said that during the yatra, Venkateswarlu has been interacting with people from different walks of life, including those at hotels, roadside tea stalls, farms, and industrial establishments, gathering their views on national issues and leadership. The PCC working president said, Venkateswarlu has so far met nearly 30,000 people and shared his experiences from the journey. He said that many of those he interacted with expressed the belief that Rahul Gandhi should become the country’s PM. The padayatra, which began in Kanyakumari and will conclude in Kashmir, is expected to cover approximately 4,500 kilometers. During the journey, Venkateswarlu aims to meet more than two lakh people and collect their opinions. During his yatra, Venkateshwaralu wants to educate the public about the sacrifices made by Rahul Gandhi’s family for the nation and to highlight Rahul Gandhi’s efforts and campaigns for the people of the country. Venkateswarlu embarked on the extensive walk with the belief that Rahul Gandhi’s leadership is essential for ensuring the welfare and prosperity of the people. Jaggreddy also promised that upon completion of the padayatra, he would personally take Venkateswarlu to meet Rahul Gandhi. A large number of Congress leaders, party workers, and supporters participated in the programme held in Sangareddy. 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
Bihar family performs teen’s ‘last rites’ after she marries Dalit boyfriend
PATNA: In a shocking display of anger over an inter-caste marriage, a family in Purnia allegedly performed the symbolic funeral of their 18-year-old daughter after she eloped with her boyfriend and married him in court. The family prepared an effigy carrying her photograph, took out a funeral procession through the locality and performed symbolic last rites after the woman admitted in a local court that she had married the man of her choice. The incident took place at Chapay village in the Town police station area of Purnia on Tuesday. Riya, a Part-I college student allegedly eloped with 24-year-old Minal Kumar on September 8 and married him in a court. Her father, Manoj Kumar Goswami, had subsequently approached Maranga police and filed a missing complaint, fearing that his daughter had been abducted. According to villagers, Riya and Minal had been in a relationship for around three years. Their houses are reportedly only about 100metres apart. The two initially saw each other while Riya travelled to college and gradually began meeting and talking. Two days ago, police reportedly recovered Riya from Delhi and produced her before court, where her statement was recorded. When she reportedly spoke in favour of Minal and said she had married him voluntarily, her father was deeply upset. He then decided to symbolically end his relationship with his daughter through a funeral ceremony. By Monday night, preparations for the unusual ceremony had begun. According to the villagers, the family made an effigy of Riya and prepared a poster carrying her photograph. Villagers were invited the next morning to participate in the procession. The effigy was then carried out from the house on a bier in a funeral procession through the village. People reportedly raised the Hindu funeral chant “Ram Naam Satya Hai”, before Manoj performed the symbolic cremation. The family also said it intends to perform rituals associated with death, including shraddha and pind-daan between the 10th and 13th days. Manoj said the family had already arranged Riya’s marriage with a man from Bhagalpur who works as a government teacher. According to him, the match had been finalised for Rs 6 lakh and the wedding was scheduled for November. “We had started preparing for the marriage. In the meantime, my daughter ran away and married of her own choice. Now what will I tell the other family? How will I face them?” he said. Expressing his anguish, Manoj added, “I educated my daughter, brought her up and she has left us with our heads bowed. May God ensure that no one gets a daughter like this. We are no longer in a position to show our faces to anyone.” The family has now said that Riya is “dead” to them and that they will have no relationship with her. Villager Awadhesh Kumar said members of the community had previously attempted to resolve the dispute. Both sides were reportedly called to a meeting and asked to settle the matter socially. “We had held a meeting earlier and called both sides. We told them to come to a social-level solution. We asked them to live as they had earlier and separate the two, but that did not happen,” Awadhesh said. He added that the community wanted young girls to understand what could happen if they took such a step. 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
HC seeks status report in Dalit labourer suicide case, asks how can Cheema be implicated
Chandigarh: The Punjab and Haryana high court on Wednesday sought a comprehensive status report from Punjab govt by Oct 6 in connection with the death of Dalit labourer Gulzar Singh, who allegedly consumed poison after being “pressured“ to apologise for confronting state finance minister Harpal Singh Cheema over the spread of “chitta“ (synthetic drugs). A division bench gave the directions on a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Shiromani Akali Dal’s Scheduled Caste wing chief spokesperson seeking a CBI probe into the matter. The bench directed the state to conduct an exhaustive investigation but also questioned how Cheema could be implicated at this stage. The next hearing is on Oct 6. The PIL has sought transfer of the investigation of the FIR registered at Dirba police station in Sangrur from Punjab Police to CBI or another independent agency. The FIR, filed under Section 108 of BNS and Sections 3(1)(r) and 3(1)(s) of SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, named five locals, including village sarpanch. The petition claims Gulzar Singh confronted Cheema during his Sept 6 visit to Toorbanjara village in Sangrur to lay foundation stone for development works, questioning him about “chitta“ circulation while citing his son’s addiction. Police personnel allegedly visited Gulzar Singh’s home that evening to question him about his remarks. The petition alleges that panchayat members intimidated him and subjected him to caste-based slurs. Gulzar Singh allegedly consumed poison on Sept 7 after being summoned before the panchayat to tender an unconditional apology. He died at a Ludhiana hospital on Sept 8. His family alleged authorities hurriedly cremated him without their consent and demanded action against everyone named in his dying declaration. The petition says Gulzar Singh’s video-recorded dying declaration allegedly named minister Cheema and village sarpanch as responsible for driving him to take the extreme step. The case has led to a political storm, with Congress, BJP and SAD demanding Cheema’s resignation, a Congress protest march towards the minister’s Chandigarh residence meeting with police water cannons and National Commission for Scheduled Castes chairman Kishor Makwana visting Gulzar’s family in Sangrur. 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