Section 163 imposed in Gwalior after Ambedkar statue row:Ban on organising any event on Oct 15; notices served to 50, 260 social media posts removed
Tensions are rising in Gwalior after lawyer Anil Mishra made controversial remarks about Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar, following disputes over his statue at the MP High Court’s Gwalior bench. Dalit groups have threatened strong protests on October 15, while upper-caste organisations have also announced plans to gather on the same day. Gwalior police are monitoring social media, conducting mock drills, removing 260 inflammatory posts, issuing notices to over 50 people, and registering two FIRs against Mishra one in Gwalior and another in Maharashtra. What the dispute is Dispute over installing Dr. Ambedkar’s statue at MP High Court: Azad Samaj, Bhim Army, OBC Mahasabha, and some lawyers support it; another group of lawyers opposes it. Lawyer Anil Mishra allegedly called Dr. Ambedkar a “slave-agent of the British” and a liar in a social media video, leading to FIRs. Section 163 imposed The district administration has imposed Section 163, banning protests, processions, and public ceremonies without permission. The Collector and SP held meetings with traders and local leaders, appealing for peace. It was agreed that no programs will be held on October 15, while police have warned they will act strictly to maintain law and order. No events allowed on October 15; strict action in place Section 163 is in force; no programs or protests allowed without permission. Collector Ruchika Chauhan and SSP Dharmveer Singh confirmed no events are planned on October 15. Officials urged citizens to celebrate festivals and conduct business peacefully. Cyber team is monitoring social media for inflammatory posts. Committee members instructed to warn those posting provocative content to avoid legal action. Police directed to take strict action if any unauthorized events occur; villages will also be monitored. Public representatives contacted to maintain law and order. Police meetings held at station level; locals assured cooperation to preserve peace and harmony. Mock drill conducted to handle riots and disturbances Police conducted a riot-control mock drill on Saturday at Bahodapur Police Lines. Two separate teams took part, including forces from city police stations and police lines. ASPs Vidita Dagar, Suman Gurjar, and Jairaj Kuber led the exercise along with all CSP teams. During the drill, the mock protest group pelted stones at the police. Police responded using tear gas to disperse the crowd. Constable Santosh Singh was injured after a tear gas shell fragment hit his forehead. He was taken to hospital and received two stitches. Practice wearing riot gear, always keep kit in vehicle During the riot parade, SSP Dharmveer Singh instructed all officers and personnel to keep riot kits in their vehicles and regularly practice cleaning and wearing them. He said that under no circumstances should there be a situation where one has to rush to the police line or station for riot gear. In May, lawyers snatched pipes from female police officers during the HC statue dispute In May, lawyers snatched pipes from female police officers during the HC statue dispute Dispute over Dr. Ambedkar statue at High Court Tension over statue installation began in May 2025. Senior and junior advocates of Gwalior High Court Bar argued over the issue. On May 17, 2025, a clash occurred outside the High Court. Former Bhim Army member Rupesh Ken, supporting junior advocates, was beaten by lawyers. Several protests and clashes followed over the statue. Installation of the statue was halted due to rising tension. The statue was moved to sculptor Prabhat Rai’s workshop, 15 km from the city. Two police personnel have been deployed to guard the statue. On May 11, the Bar Association hoisted the tricolor at the proposed statue site. Pushing and shoving occurred when police tried to stop the flag hoisting. Bar Association President Pawan Pathak said the flag was hoisted in memory of ‘Operation Sindoor’. Courtesy : Bhaskar English Note: This news is originally published on https:/bhaskarenglish.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Bijapur leads in sexual minority survey; Bengaluru shows least progress due to stigma, say officials
BENGALURU: Karnataka’s ongoing sexual minority survey, the first ever in India, has managed to reach only about 6,000 transgender persons so far, against an estimated 43,000 across the state, officials from the Women and Child Development Department said. While districts like Bijapur and Bagalkote have shown encouraging participation, Bengaluru Urban has recorded the least progress. “This is the first state-wide enumeration of transgenders in India,” said Mahesh Babu N, Director, Women and Child Development Department. “As per EPIC card data, there are around 43,000 transgender persons, but in 15 days, only 6,000 have been identified. Bengaluru is volatile — enumerators are often shouted at or told to go to hamams and homes to collect data,” he said. The department attributes the low turnout in urban areas to social stigma and lack of trust. “Some trans men fear that revealing their identity could disturb their family lives, as many are married and have children,” sources explained. Hospitals have emerged as safer enumeration points since people visit them routinely for treatment. Mahesh Babu said the survey will guide future welfare and skilling schemes. “This information will help channel CSR for group housing and employment programmes. The government is spending about ₹1 lakh a day on remuneration for enumerators — nearly ₹1 crore overall. The socio-economically disadvantaged members stand to gain through better policy design if they make their presence known,” he said. However, many in the community remain wary. Jaanu, a ventriloquist, said, “People don’t want to come out for fear of stigma from neighbors. My friend refused to register because she has a family. I told her it’s confidential and could help with pension or housing.” Nakshatra, a Bengaluru-based member, said, “People fear data misuse. In the past, trans women have been blackmailed by predators posing as NGOs.” Officials said participation was higher in Bijapur due to earlier pilot projects and stronger community engagement. 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
Rajya Sabha polls: Congress refuses ‘unsafe’ seat in J&K; puts ball in ally NC’s court
NEW DELHI: The Congress will not contest the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections to four seats in Jammu and Kashmir from the “unsafe” fourth seat, the party’s Jammu and Kashmir unit announced on Sunday. J&K Congress president Tariq Hamid Karra said the party’s central leadership had sought one of the two Rajya Sabha seats that will go to polls separately. However, ally National Conference (NC) offered Congress one of the other two seats, for which polls will be held under a common notification. “All the participants were of the opinion that seat four is not safe (un)like seat one or two. It was unanimously decided that we will not put up our candidate for seat number four. We will leave it to our alliance partners to see what they think about that,” Karra told reporters after a party meeting in Srinagar, according to PTI. “Since the safe seat was not offered to us, we don’t want to contest on seat four,” he added. Karra further said the Congress would open its “channels” with the NC to resolve the impasse. “The inputs from our members will be sent to our central leadership for guidance,” the J&K Congress chief stated. The NC has already named its three candidates for the Rajya Sabha polls, indicating it will use its strength in the assembly to ensure all three emerge victorious. While all three NC nominees are assured of victory even without the support of allies, the fourth candidate of the ruling alliance would need every anti-BJP vote to ensure a clean sweep. The three MLAs of the PDP and one each from the People’s Conference, Awami Ittehad Party, and AAP would have to vote for the ruling alliance’s candidate to secure the fourth seat. Last year, the Congress decided not to be part of the Jammu and Kashmir government despite the NC-Congress alliance winning the September 2024 assembly polls — the region’s first since it became a Union territory in 2019. The upcoming Rajya Sabha polls will be held on October 24. 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 elections: All eyes on seat-sharing deal; internal tussle delaying INDIA bloc’s announcement?
NEW DELHI: With the Bihar Assembly elections fast approaching, seat-sharing negotiations within both the ruling NDA and the opposition Mahagathbandhan have intensified, but while the NDA seems close to sealing its deal, uncertainties continue to plague the INDIA bloc in the state. The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Congress, and Left, partners in the INDIA bloc, have yet to finalise seat allocation, even as the nomination process for the first phase of polling ends on October 17. On Sunday, RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, along with son and heir-apparent Tejashwi Yadav, left for Delhi, triggering speculation of high-level talks with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to resolve the deadlock. The RJD recently “authorised” Prasad to decide seat distribution and candidate selection. The party holds the dominant position in the alliance, which was known as the Mahagathbandhan before the formation of the nationwide INDIA bloc. When the father-son duo, accompanied by Rabri Devi, left their residence in Patna, disappointed aspirants gathered outside, hoping for a final word on ticket distribution. At the airport, Tejashwi Yadav maintained that “all is well,” though reports suggest otherwise. Congress’s assertiveness, boosted by its recent Voter Adhikar Yatra, has annoyed the RJD, as the party now seeks to contest 70 seats like it did in 2020, despite winning only 19. A close aide of Lalu Prasad, speaking on condition of anonymity, downplayed the political tension, saying, “Lalu ji and Tejashwi ji have left for Delhi because tomorrow is the date of hearing in the land-for-jobs scam. Of course, while in the national capital, meetings with senior leaders cannot be ruled out.” He added, “Our mind is made up. We will keep for ourselves not less than half of the 243 seats. Compared with 2020, when we contested more than 140 seats, that is still somewhat of a sacrifice to accommodate new allies. It is not just for the Congress, but for all smaller parties to realise that there is a need to keep vaulting ambitions in check. Only then can a credible challenge be posed to the ruling NDA.” Congress leader Pawan Khera, however, dismissed reports of friction within the Mahagathbandhan over seat-sharing arrangements for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections, asserting that the BJP’s hopes of a rift are being “dashed.” His remarks came in response to the BJP’s claims that internal disagreements were delaying the INDIA bloc’s seat-sharing announcement in Bihar. Speaking to reporters in Ranchi, Khera said, “There is no complication or snag. Discussions will happen first, and only then will the seat announcement be made. So, the Bharatiya Janata Party’s hope that there is some complication is getting dashed. Everyone has the right to express their views, and all parties do so. There is no complication on our side.” Meanwhile, the NDA has almost completed its seat-sharing exercise. Janata Dal (United) national spokesperson Rajeev Ranjan said on Sunday there was “a huge turmoil within the Mahagathbandhan over the Chief Minister’s post,” adding confidently that “the alliance knows that the NDA will form a government in Bihar.” He dismissed Tejashwi Yadav’s claim that the JD(U) might merge with the BJP after the elections, saying, “Now he has started making prophecies. He will have plenty of time after the elections. We believe that after the elections, there are very good politicians who need to make alternative arrangements, so they have found a solution.” Ranjan asserted that the JD(U) under Nitish Kumar remains strong and united. “The JD(U) is known for its values. Just as Nitish Kumar ran the coalition government in Bihar effectively for 20 years, the party grew and flourished. Today, the party’s base has become the largest in the state. Our workers are the most dedicated, and the people’s support remains firmly with Nitish Kumar,” he said, calling Tejashwi’s remarks a “reflection of mental bankruptcy.” Within the NDA, the JD(U) is likely to contest 103 of the 243 seats, while the BJP is expected to field candidates in 102. Chirag Paswan’s Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) has demanded more than the 20-22 seats earlier offered, while allies like Jitan Ram Manjhi’s HAM and Upendra Kushwaha’s Rashtriya Lok Morcha are negotiating respectable numbers, reported news agency PTI. “Everything is fine in the NDA… seat-sharing arrangements and list of candidates will be decided by the party’s central leadership in a day or two,” a BJP leader said. On the opposition front, Congress leader Akhilesh Prasad Singh admitted that “the seat allocation is almost done, but at the last moment, some difficulties arise in all parties, these are there in the NDA as well and here too. Everything will be announced in 1-2 days.” Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Dalit IPS officer shoots himself after writing, “There is no option now…”! IAS Sonal Goyal’s emotional post raises serious questions about the system.
Senior Dalit IPS officer Y. Puran Kumar’s suicide note contains serious allegations of “caste oppression.” Sonal Goyal, a 2008-batch IAS officer, asks, “How many more lives will our system lose?” New Delhi: The suicide of Y. Puran Kumar, a senior Dalit IPS officer of the Haryana cadre, has shocked the administrative and police departments. Four days after the tragic incident, Sonal Goyal, a 2008-batch IAS officer, wrote a poignant and poignant post on the social media platform “X,” highlighting the pain and pressure that often remains buried within the system. Her post has sparked a serious debate on the mental health of officers, institutional work culture, and alleged caste discrimination. What is the whole matter? On October 7, senior IPS officer Y. Puran Kumar took his own life by shooting himself with his service revolver at his official residence in Sector 11, Chandigarh. A suicide note found behind him leveled serious allegations against the entire system. According to a Dainik Jagran report, Kumar wrote in his note, “There is no option now, I have been… for the last five years.” He reportedly mentioned severe caste-based harassment and mental torture by senior officers, which forced him to take this drastic step. IAS Sonal Goyal’s post awakens conscience On Saturday, October 11, 2025, at 5:30 pm, IAS officer Sonal Goyal expressed her pain and outrage over the incident, a post that quickly went viral. She began her statement with a couplet by renowned poet Jaun Elia: “No one comes to this world to stay forever, no one goes the way you went.” Goyal wrote, “You shouldn’t have gone this way, sir. Not only you, but no one should have to go this way.” Describing Kumar as a “capable, talented, and committed senior IPS officer,” she questioned that the passing away of someone who had dedicated the most important years of his life to serving the nation poses a grave question for both our society and the system. She emphasized that this is not a time for mere formal sympathy, but for genuine introspection. A sharp attack on the ‘system’ In her post, Sonal Goyal directly pointed out the flaws in the system. She asked: “What kind of environment have we created within our institutions? What kind of system is this where a crucial part of that system… is so ignored and unheard that it breaks down from within and, in defeat, is forced to take such extreme steps.” She further wrote in English, “Frankly, no one should ever be pushed to that edge—to feel unseen, unheard, or broken inside a system they once believed in.” (Simply put, no one should ever be pushed to the point where they feel ignored, unheard, or broken within the system they once believed in.) Appealing to the Human Side of Officers Goyal reminded that a person serving the country as an officer is, after all, a living human being. He prayed to God for the peace of the departed soul and strength to the family. He also appealed to the officers’ fraternity to collectively show the courage to bring about the desperately needed changes in the system, so that no other colleague has to leave the world in this manner in the future. He concluded his post with a very relevant and cautionary couplet by poet Nawaz Deobandi, which highlights the dangers of silence: “O you who watch the burning house, the thatched roof is yours; there is a strong wind behind you; your destiny is ahead. I was silent on his murder; now my turn has come. You too are silent on my murder; your turn is next.” The tragic death of Puran Kumar and the response of a senior officer like Sonal Goyal has sparked an uncomfortable but necessary dialogue. This incident demands a serious investigation into whether the environment within India’s prestigious civil services has truly become so toxic that an officer is forced to embrace suffocation and ultimately death rather than justice and respect. Rajan Chaudhary Courtesy: Hindi News
Ajay Rai held on way to meet family of lynched Dalit man
Lucknow: A delegation led by state president Ajay Rai was detained on their way to Fatehpur on Saturday to meet the family of Hariom Valmiki, a Dalit man who was allegedly beaten to death last week. While the Congress termed the action an attempt by the Yogi Adityanath govt to “silence voices seeking justice”, govt officials said that Rai and other leaders were stopped to maintain law and order, as section 144 was in force in parts of the district. Rai, accompanied by senior leaders including former minister Nasimuddin Siddiqui, Sitapur MP Rakesh Rathore, and several Congress functionaries, was stopped on the Lucknow-Fatehpur route. Following an argument with the police, he sat on a dharna, demanding to be allowed to proceed. The leaders were later detained and taken to the police lines. Rai said: “We were going there to provide financial assistance to the aggrieved family and express condolences. But the police stopped us midway.” TNN Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Dalit IPS officer’s death: Haryana transfers Rohtak SP, family refuses autopsy
The Punjab State Scheduled Castes Commission has taken suo motu congnisance and sought a report from Chandigarh DGP Sagar Preet Hooda. CHANDIGARH: The family members of Haryana IPS officer Y Puran Kumar has accused the Chandigarh Police of not consulting them before shifting his body to the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) for autospy. Amit Rattan, AAP MLA from Bathinda (Rural) and brother-in-law of the deceased officer, said, “The Chandigarh Police have shifted the body without asking us. Injustice is being done with the family.” Four days after Kumar’s death, the Haryana government on Saturday took first action in the case by transferring Rohtak SP Narendra Bijarniya and appointed Surinder Singh Bhoria in his place. Bijarniya, a 2015-batch IPS officer, was among the police officers named in the “final note” recovered from Kumar’s pocket. The Punjab State Scheduled Castes Commission has taken suo motu congnisance and sought a report from Chandigarh DGP Sagar Preet Hooda. Hooda on Saturday visited the residence of Amneet P Kumar, the IAS officer wife of the deseased, and said that the police requested the family to get the post-mortem done as early as possible. “The post-mortem will be conducted only after the family gives its consent,” Hooda said. Asked why the family is yet to give its consent for the autopsy, Hooda said they have some grievances. When questioned why the police have not added the names of the alleged suspects in the FIR, he said, “An SIT headed by an IG-rank officer has been formed. The autopsy will be conducted at the PGIMER, for which a board, comprising a magistrate, forensic experts, and doctors, has been set up.” After the registration of the FIR, Amneet on Friday had sought its amendment to “accurately reflect the names of all the accused.’’ In a letter to Chandigarh SSP Kanwardeep Kaur, Amneet also sought an amendment of the “diluted sections of the SC/ST Act”, which have been added to the FIR. In his eight-page “final note”, Kumar named eight senior IPS officers, including Haryana DGP Shatrujeet Kapur and Bijarniya, for allegedly harassing and maligning him. Harpreet Bajwa 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
16-Year-Old Dalit Girl Gang-Raped In Lucknow’s Banthara Area, 4 Arrested
A shocking incident occurred in Lucknow on Saturday, October 11, as a 16-year-old Dalit girl was allegedly gang-raped by five unidentified men in the Banthara area. According to police, the Class 11 student left her home at noon to visit her elder sister. Accompanied by an acquaintance on a motorcycle, she stopped near a mango orchard close to a petrol pump. It was here that five men approached the pair. Three Arrested In Gang-Rape Case Of Medical Student In West Bengal’s Durgapur Police sources said that many people, including the survivor’s male friend, were being interrogated. Krishnanagar Assistant Commissioner of Police, Vikash Kumar Pandey, reported that the men beat up her companion, forcing him to flee, before subjecting the student to brutal sexual violence. The perpetrators then threatened her with death should she report the matter, and quickly fled the scene. Police investigation, arrest The survivor relayed the incident to her brother-in-law over the phone. He immediately contacted police, who responded by registering a case and assembling several teams to pursue the suspects. Within hours, two named suspects were apprehended. Later that night, police received information of two other suspects near Haroni railway station. When approached, the men attempted to escape, and one suspect allegedly fired upon police. In retaliation, one, identified as Lalit Kashyap, was shot in the leg and later hospitalised. Police also recovered an illegal pistol. The second man managed to escape, and search operations are ongoing. Meanwhile, another suspect, Meraj, was apprehended by a different team. At the time of reporting, four out of the five accused are in custody. Hunt for the last remaining accused continues. Banthara Station House Officer, Rana Rajesh Kumar, confirmed that the survivor has undergone a medical examination and further investigation is underway. The police assert that every resource is being mobilised to ensure that those responsible are brought to justice and that the survivor and her family receive full support. Author Shuddhanta Patra Courtesy : News18 Note: This news is originally published on https:/news18.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Who Is Preeti, Jan Suraaj’s Transgender Candidate For Bihar Assembly
PollsPrashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj fielded Preeti from Bhorey, a constituency in Bihar’s Gopalganj. The 51 candidates unveiled Thursday by Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj Party showcased a sparkling collection of doctors, lawyers, retired bureaucrats and police officers. The party also fielded Preeti Kinnar, a transgender woman. Preeti has been named as the candidate from Bhorey, a constituency in Bihar’s Gopalganj. Preeti, a social activist, has been pitted against a high-profile incumbent minister of the state. The sitting MLA of Bhore is Sunil Kumar, Nitish Kumar’s minister of education. In an interview with NDTV Thursday, Kishor, a poll strategist-turned politician, said his candidates were chosen on basis of their work for the people and if they were not elected, it would reflect on the people of Bihar and not him. “If you don’t vote for such people, then it is not a burden on Prashant Kishor. This is a burden on the shoulders of the people of Bihar,” said the chief of Jan Suraaj Party, which is contesting its maiden election and is seen as a wild card. Among the candidates the party chose is well-known mathematician KC Sinha, who served as the Vice Chancellor of Patna University. The books he authored have been followed in Bihar’s schools for decades. There is also YB Giri, the candidate from Manjhi, a former Additional Advocate General of Bihar and Additional Solicitor General of India for central government cases that came up in Patna High Court. Reports said Preeti, a resident of Kalyanpur village of Bhore block, has been associated with social work for long. The party believes that her understanding of local issues will help her bring the concerns of the common man to the House of Assembly, reports said. Transgender candidates have been contesting elections for over a decade in India, but not many win. Early this year, a transgender candidate who contested the assembly elections in Delhi as an Independent secured 85 votes. Last year, all three transgender candidates who contested the Lok Sabha elections lost their security deposits, highlighting the challenges faced by the community in gaining political representation in the country. Reported by : Somu Anand Edited by : Anindita Sanyal Courtesy : NDTV Note: This news is originally published on https:/ndtv.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Bihar polls: Tejashwi new Rahul? Prashant Kishor says RJD leader could meet Amethi fate on Raghopur seat
NEW DELHI: Jan Suraj founder Prashant Kishor on Saturday took a dig at RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, saying Tejashwi would have to contest from two seats if Kishor decided to fight from Raghopur. He also predicted that Tejashwi would lose Raghopur, drawing a comparison with Rahul Gandhi’s loss in Amethi. “If I contest from Raghopur, Tejashwi Yadav will face the same situation Rahul Gandhi faced in Amethi,” Kishor told journalists. “Tejashwi Yadav, who was voted by the people of Raghopur – they made his parents the CM, and him the deputy CM. Now, the people there are in trouble, but Tejashwi doesn’t care about it. He must be scared because of this,” he added. — PTI_News (@PTI_News) Kishor’s remarks come amid recent reports that Tejashwi may contest from two seats and the talk of Kishor himself contesting from Raghopur. Raghopur has long been an RJD stronghold. Tejashwi Yadav won the seat in 2015 and 2020. The seat was earlier represented by his father Lalu Prasad Yadav and mother Rabri Devi. Kishor was speaking in Patna before launching his party’s campaign in Raghopur. “I am going to Raghopur to get feedback from the people, who want an end to the supremacy of one family. Despite being represented by Tejashwi, a second-term MLA, and earlier by Lalu Prasad and Rabri Devi, the constituency still lacks basic amenities,” he alleged. Kishor, who had earlier said he would not contest elections, recently hinted that he may do so if CM Nitish Kumar, whom he alleges has deteriorated mentally, contests this year’s elections. “If he contests, I will definitely contest against him, even confronting party leaders,” he had 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