Dalit youth assaulted during religious festivals in Chhattisgarh, police fail to invoke SC/ST Act bookmark_border text_fields
The omission is significant because the Atrocity Act ensures faster trials, special courts, and victim protection, unlike general charges under the IPC. In Chhattisgarh’s Bilaspur constituency, represented by BJP MP and Union Minister Tokhan Sahu, two brutal caste-based assaults on Dalit youth have sparked outrage. The attacks, which took place on consecutive nights during Hindu religious festivals, have once again highlighted how public religious spaces can become sites of caste violence The incidents occurred on October 19 and 20, 2025, in Mahmand and Bharda villages. Both victims — one a minor — sustained serious injuries. On October 19, 16-year-old Ashutosh Barle, a tenth-grade student at Massorie Shisu Mandir Bhawan, was home for a short vacation when he decided to attend a Kali Mata Puja celebration in his village. Drawn by the music and lights, he went to the event where a DJ had been set up behind the Panchayat Bhawan. There, the accused, identified as Pradeep Maharaj, noticed him and began hurling casteist slurs. He mocked the boy’s presence at the festival before physically attacking him. Soon, his friends — Deepeshwar, Rahul, and others — joined in. They verbally abused Ashutosh and beat him with “fists and rods.” Ashutosh fainted on the spot. A villager informed his mother, who rushed to bring him home. However, the attackers followed and began pelting stones at their house. Fearing for their safety, Sarita locked herself and her younger children inside. The following night, October 20, a similar attack took place in Bharda village during the Laxmi Utsav celebration. Lokesh Kumar Jangde, a 20-year-old Dalit farmer and part-time driver, was watching the program when Amit Yadav, from the dominant caste, confronted him and questioned his presence at the event. Amit hurled abusive remarks about Lokesh’s mother and sister. When Lokesh objected, he was dragged to the edge of the pandal and beaten by Amit, Roshan Yadav, Shiva Yadav, and others. Bharda village has only one Scheduled Caste family, while the rest belong to OBC and general castes. Though an FIR was filed, the Yadav family has allegedly been pressuring Lokesh to withdraw his complaint. Despite the clear caste-based nature of both attacks, neither FIR includes charges under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. The omission is significant because the Atrocity Act ensures faster trials, special courts, and victim protection, unlike general charges under the IPC. Activist Barman alleged that officers at the Torwa Police Station mishandled the complaint. He said they even abused the victim’s family and accused the minor of attending a “higher-caste festive function,” an act he described as blatant victimblaming. Barman added that “In Ashutosh Barle’s case, the POSCO Act is also missing.” He said he hopes to convince the police to apply the correct provisions in both cases. The attacks have revived memories of Chhattisgarh’s long struggle against caste discrimination. The state was once home to Guru Ghasidas, the 19th-century saint who founded the Satnami sect to promote equality and social reform. Many Dalit communities, especially the Chamar community, follow his teachings today. The back-to-back assaults in Mahmand and Bharda reveal how caste hostility continues to define rural Chhattisgarh’s social fabric — and how systemic failures in law enforcement leave Dalit victims without the justice the Constitution promises them. Courtesy : Madhyamam Note: This news is originally published on https:/madhyamam.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
CU plans separate hostel for trans applicants
Kolkata: In a recent notification for hostel allocation, Calcutta University has asked transgender applicants to indicate their gender on the application form. The university uploaded a set of rules and regulations where it was mentioned, “Transgender students, please specify in the form by mentioning ‘TRANSGENDER’ on the right side of the form.” Officials said the university is planning separate arrangements for transgender students. Sources said the university is planning to conduct repairs across several hostels that are in poor condition. An official said, “There is a section in the admission portal for transgender students to specify their gender, and, as far as I can remember, there are some transgender students in some departments. If transgender students take admission, they may need hostel accommodation if they live far from campus.” Another official said, “We are a student-friendly university and keen to provide the most comfortable environment for them. We have girls’ hostels and boys’ hostels, but transgender students need separate arrangements, including gender-neutral washroom facilities.” Transgender activist Ranjita Sinha said: “This is a good move but we are living in a society where there is still stigma against trans people. So, the university needs to sensitise other boarders, and, in the name of making separate arrangements, trans students should not be isolated. The university should check all these matters before making separate hostel facilities.” 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 polls: Congress to launch campaign after Chhath Puja; set to address ticket distribution allegations
NEW DELHI: Congress will launch its Bihar election campaign immediately after Chhath Puja, intensifying efforts for the INDIA bloc with Rahul Gandhi leading the charge on October 29 and 30. Senior leaders Priyanka Gandhi and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge will also tour key constituencies across the state. Speaking to reporters Sunday, senior party leader KC Venugopal emphasised the momentum gained from the August Voter Adhikar Yatra, stating, “Our campaign will kick off right after Chhath Puja, with Rahul Gandhi’s visit on October 29 and 30. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Mallikarjun Kharge will also be actively touring Bihar to connect with voters.” The party is focused on fine-tuning campaign strategies and resolving internal challenges, particularly addressing allegations from some workers about ticket distribution irregularities. Former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot acknowledged this issue but urged restraint, saying, “In every election, many aspire for tickets and get disappointed when those hopes aren’t fulfilled. I appeal to all party workers to hold back grievances until the elections conclude,” as quoted by PTI. Gehlot underscored the significance of the Bihar polls, calling them a “crucial contest” under national scrutiny. “The entire nation is watching Bihar, eager to see the arrogant BJP-led NDA defeated. This is a historic opportunity for us, and party workers must realize the pivotal role they play,” he said. The Election Commission has scheduled the Bihar Assembly elections across 243 seats in two phases — November 6 and November 11 — with vote counting slated for November 14, setting the stage for a fiercely contested battle. 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
Shilpi Neha Tirkey Appointed as Observer by All India Adivasi Congress for Bihar Elections
Ranchi: State agriculture minister and Congress leader Shilpi Neha Tirkey was appointed observer on behalf of the All India Adivasi Congress to oversee and support the election campaign during the Bihar assembly election. In a letter issued to Tirkey, the chairman of the All India Adivasi Congress, Dr Vikrant Bhuria, on Sunday, appealed to her to make all possible efforts to reach out to every tribal household and group before the election as an observer to strengthen the party’s base. “Adivasi Congress is expecting your support and dedication in strengthening the hands of Congress president, Mallikarjun Kharge, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, MP and Leader of the Opposition (Lok Sabha), Rahul Gandhi,” the letter stated. After assuming the charge, Tirkey expressed her gratitude to the Congress high command for entrusting her with the responsibility. “I will devote all my efforts to ensure that every vote of the Adivasi community in the Bihar Assembly elections goes in favour of the INDIA bloc. This time, winds of change are blowing in Bihar, and a coalition govt is going to be formed in Bihar with the support of the Congress,” Tirkey said. BJP MP from Jharkhand, Deepak Prakash, who is the co-incharge of Bihar, said that there is no doubt that the NDA alliance will come back to power in Bihar. The party’s top leaders from Jharkhand will carry out an extensive campaign in Bihar in favour of the NDA alliance candidates there after the Chhatch festival is over. “You can say there is an ongoing wave in favour of the NDA alliance in Bihar. The Modi-Nitish pro-poor welfare schemes will turn out to be successful,” he said. People will go with the development that has happened in the state, especially development in the field of education, roads, electricity, and water, to mention a few, he said. “When I was a student, we waited for four to six years to sit for the graduation examination. The exams used to get postponed. People used to get older and could not go for higher education or sit for various entrance exams. All those days are gone,” Deepak Prakash explained. Students used to go out of the state. Mostly, they used to go to Delhi. Now that has stopped. The same thing has happened in the case of businessmen, he claimed. The BJP in Jharkhand will be issuing a list of candidates who will campaign in Bihar soon. 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
TNCC to invite Rahul, Priyanka to visit TN frequently for upcoming polls
Chennai: Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) has planned to invite Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi to visit TN frequently to strengthen the party ahead of 2026 assembly election. The party took a decision to this effect at an executive committee meeting. AICC Tamil Nadu in-charge Girish Chodankar and AICC secretary for Tamil Nadu and Puducherry Suraj Hegde participated in the meeting, chaired by state president K Selvaperunthagai, in Chennai. TNCC functionaries who attended the meet said it focused on strengthening the party for the upcoming election. “We feel that Rahul and Priyanka would rejuvenate cadres and draw people to Congress. We want them to visit TN frequently to increase our chances of winning more seats. We have also planned to strengthen our booths,” a functionary said. 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
Congress releasesstar campaigners’list for Bihar polls
Lucknow: Ahead of the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections, the Congress has released a list of 40-star campaigners, blending leadership with youthful energy. The list is headlined by Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and party president Mallikarjun Kharge. The list also has UP Congress president Ajay Rai. Other prominent names include Ashok Gehlot, Bhupesh Baghel, and Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu alongside veterans such as Digvijaya Singh, Adhir Ranjan Choudhary, and Meira Kumar. The inclusion of youth icons like Kanhaiya Kumar, Jignesh Mevani, and Alka Lamba reflects Congress’s push to connect with first-time voters and the younger demographic. The list also features regional heavyweights like Pappu Yadav, and Rajesh Ram, aiming to consolidate local support. Strategists like Randeep Surjewala, Pawan Khera, and Imran Pratapgarhi are expected to shape the narrative on key issues. 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
Phaltan doctor’s death institutional murder, not suicide: Rahul Gandhi
Kolhapur: Rahul Gandhi, the leader of opposition in Lok Sabha, posted a message on X on Sunday morning stating that the death of the doctor at the Phaltan sub-district hospital in Satara district exposes the “inhuman and insensitive” face of Maharashtra’s BJP-led govt. Gandhi wrote the death is “not a suicide but an institutional murder and a shameful example of crime by power-protected ideology.” “A person who was entrusted with the responsibility of protecting people from criminals, himself committed a heinous crime like rape and exploitation,” the message read, citing media reports about “BJP-linked influential people trying to put pressure on the doctor, in the past, to achieve their corrupt objectives.” He stated that the suicide, “driven by unbearable harassment and sexual assault”, is a tragedy that has shaken the conscience of civilised society. Gandhi described the victim as a promising doctor who aspired to heal the pain of others. “She became a victim of the torment inflicted by criminals entrenched within a corrupt system and power structure,” he wrote. “When people in power become the shield of criminals, then from whom should one expect justice?” the message continued. “We firmly stand by the doctor’s family in this fight for justice and want justice and not fear for each daughter of India,” Gandhi concluded. The 28-year-old doctor was found dead in a hotel in Phaltan city on Thursday night. Police discovered a note on her palm, purportedly written by her, leading to a case of rape and abetment of suicide being lodged against a police sub-inspector and a techie, both of whom are now under arrest. The opposition in Maharashtra is highlighting the doctor’s earlier letters to authorities, in which she allegedly claimed that personnel from the Phaltan Rural police station forced her to alter postmortem report and declare the accused “fit”. 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
‘Institutional murder’: Rahul Gandhi on Maharashtra doctor’s suicide case; accuses govt of ‘shielding criminals’
NEW DELHI: Leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi on Sunday condemned the alleged rape and suicide of Maharashtra doctor , calling it “a tragedy that should shake the conscience of any civilised society”. The Congress leader accused the ruling BJP government for creating an environment where “criminals are shielded by power.” “A promising doctor daughter, who aspired to alleviate the suffering of others, fell victim to the torment of criminals entrenched in a corrupt system and power structure. The very authorities tasked with protecting the public from criminals committed the most heinous crime against this innocent woman—raping and exploiting her. According to reports, some influential individuals linked to the BJP also attempted to pressure her into corruption,” Rahul Gandhi said in a post on X. Rahul said that the case revealed “the inhumane and callous face of this BJP government.” The Congress leader expressed support for the family and demanded justice for the doctor. “We stand firmly with the victim’s family in this fight for justice. For every daughter of India—no more fear, only justice,” he said. The doctor, hailing from Beed district in the Marathwada region of central Maharashtra and posted at a government hospital in Satara district, was found hanging in a hotel room in Phaltan town. In the suicide note written on her palm, she alleged that police sub-inspector Badane raped her on multiple occasions, while Bankar, a software engineer, mentally harassed her. Police have arrested sub-inspector Gopal Badane and software engineer Prashant Bankar in connection with the case. A case of rape and abetment of suicide had been registered against the duo in Phaltan in Satara district. 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
Tension grips Greater Noida as Dalit youth dies days after attack by ‘upper-caste’ men; family demands justice
Aniket, who worked as a mechanic and driver, was allegedly attacked by a group of “upper-caste” men on the night of October 15. LUCKNOW: Grief and simmering tension gripped Mohalla Ambedkar in Greater Noida district on Saturday as the body of a 20-year-old Dalit youth, who died at a Delhi hospital following an attack by a gang during his birthday celebration on October 15, was brought home amid heavy police deployment. The youth, Aniket Jatav, was allegedly attacked outside his home in the Rabupura area of Greater Noida on the night of his birthday. Police have arrested two men — Yuvraj and Jitu — in connection with the assault, while efforts are on to trace the remaining suspects, sources said. It took nearly an hour of tense negotiations in the narrow lane, crowded with mourners and onlookers, before the grieving family — demanding justice for Aniket — allowed the body to be taken for cremation. Aniket, who worked as a mechanic and driver, was allegedly attacked by a group of “upper-caste” men on the night of October 15. “He had just cut the cake when they came,” said his uncle Sumit, who also sustained injuries in the attack. His right eye was visibly swollen and bruised. Sumit alleged that the accused had been threatening Aniket for several weeks. The Rabupura police registered an FIR on October 17 — two days after the incident — naming seven “upper-caste” men. Two have been arrested, while five remain absconding. A police officer said investigators suspect that a social media post may have triggered the violence. However, according to Sumit, tensions had begun a month earlier when Aniket intervened during a local Ramleela, where a group of upper-caste men were allegedly abusing one of his friends. “They hurled casteist slurs and the situation escalated,” Sumit recalled. “Two days before the attack, they caught Aniket outside his house and hit him with a rock. Aniket slapped one of them in retaliation. They told him he had forgotten his aukat (status).” On the night of October 15, when Aniket was celebrating his birthday in a nearby field, the same group allegedly returned armed with rods and hockey sticks. “They started hitting me. I thought Aniket had escaped, but we later found him lying unconscious behind some bushes, his body soaked in blood,” Sumit said. Both men were rushed to a local hospital and later referred to Delhi for treatment. Sumit was discharged two days ago, but Aniket succumbed to his injuries earlier this week. According to Sujeet Upadhyay, Station House Officer (SHO) of Rabupura, an FIR initially registered for assault has now been amended to murder. “We are verifying the allegations of caste abuse. A case under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act has been registered, and efforts are on to arrest the remaining accused,” he said. The Jatav community of Rabupura — a large Dalit population living along the southern edge of Gautam Buddh Nagar district — resides alongside upper-caste families who, locals say, control much of the land in the area. Aniket’s father is unemployed, while his mother said her eldest son was the family’s sole breadwinner. “He worked long hours repairing motorbikes and brought home whatever he could. That money kept us going,” she said, surrounded by mourners. As the body arrived, scores of men gathered near Ambedkar Chowk, while women wailed inside the family courtyard. Throughout the day, a stream of politicians visited the family to offer condolences. Jewar MLA Dhirendra Singh (BJP) sat quietly among the mourners and later arranged a call with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who, Singh said, “assured strict action.” Leaders from the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Samajwadi Party (SP) also visited the family and pledged support. Meanwhile, opposition parties, including the Congress, strongly condemned the incident, accusing the government of failing to curb caste violence in the state. “Every week or two, we see reports of Dalits being killed in BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh. @narendramodi and his double-engine governments have completely failed to protect the lives of Dalits,” Congress spokesperson Shama Mohammad wrote in a post on X. Namita Bajpai 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
Manjhi brands Lalu anti-dalit, praises CM
Madhepura: Union minister and HAM(S) founder Jitan Ram Manjhi on Saturday described RJD chief Lalu Prasad as anti-dalit, holding him responsible for dislodging him from the chief ministership of Bihar. Addressing an election rally in Singheshwar for NDA candidate Ramesh Rishideo, Manjhi alleged that Lalu orchestrated the withdrawal of support from 35 MLAs during his tenure. “Bihar was under a reign of terror during the Lalu couple’s regime. Kidnapping and crime were at their peak. Crime became a virtual industry, and ransom amounts were decided at the CM House,” Manjhi said. He praised CM Nitish Kumar for restoring law and order. “Phenomenal development has been achieved across every field. People now have continuous electricity, elders receive Rs 1,100 pension, and women benefit from Rs 10,000 for starting their own businesses,” Manjhi said. Acknowledging the role of PM Narendra Modi, Manjhi said, “His leadership has made India the fourth largest economic power, and we expect it to be a leading nation by 2047.” Union minister Nityanand Rai reiterated the NDA’s commitment to ‘Sab Ka Saath Sab Ka Vikas’, saying that Hindu-Muslim divisions have never been part of their agenda. He urged voters to support Rishideo. 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