Case registered against six people of Dalit community for trying to occupy land
Bhadohi (UP), (language) A case has been registered against six people of Dalit community in Bhadohi city of Uttar Pradesh for trying to occupy the land of a person and threatening to implicate him in a false case under the Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe (SC/ST) Act. Superintendent of Police Abhimanyu Mangalik said that on the complaint of the victim Vishal Singh, a case has been registered in the city Kotwali on Tuesday against Rampur resident Dase Harijan, Jhoril Harijan, Manju Harijan, Rajkumar Harijan, Raju Harijan and Shiv Pujan Harijan under sections 324 (4) (mischief with intent to damage property), 351 (3) (criminal intimidation) and 191 (2) (punishment for giving false evidence or statement) of the Indian Penal Code (BNS). He said that Vishal Singh, a resident of Carpet City area of City Kotwali area, has six biswa land in Rampur area where these six people of Dalit community allegedly demolished the boundary wall of the land with the intention of occupying it. He said that later these accused threatened Vishal Singh to implicate him in a case under SC/ST Act. Courtesy : Hindi News
‘Saheli Smart Card’: Women, Transgender Commuters To Get Free Bus Travel As Delhi Government Plans To Roll Out Smart Card From August 15
Delhi government will be rolling out the ‘Saheli Smart Card’ for women and transgender people, allowing them to travel the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) and cluster buses for free of cost. According to sources, the Saheli Smart Card scheme is expected to be rolled out on August 15, Independence Day. New Delhi, July 8: Delhi government will be rolling out the ‘Saheli Smart Card’ for women and transgender people, allowing them to travel the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) and cluster buses for free of cost. According to sources, the Saheli Smart Card scheme is expected to be rolled out on August 15, Independence Day. The scheme is meant to replace the ‘Pink Ticket’ system which was launched by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led government. Pink passes were given to the resident women of Delhi and bus operators were compensated according to the number of tickets sold. “Women and transgender persons residing in Delhi aged 12 and above will be able to travel free of cost on DTC and Cluster buses,” according to the source. Ban on End-of-Life Vehicles: Delhi Govt To Make Changes to Vehicle Policy, To Scrap Only Polluting Vehicles. The ‘Pink Ticket’ scheme was launched by AAP in 2019. According to the Delhi government’s own data, a total of 100 crore pink tickets had been issued to women till the end of January 2023. By November 2024, over 150 crore pink tickets were issued. “In 2022, free travel for women via Pink tickets contributed to nearly 32 per cent of the total number of passengers travelling in a month,” the statement said. “In 2019-20, Delhi buses had a ridership of more than 160 crores. Due to COVID in the years 2020 and 2021, it dropped to 71 crores in 2020-21, slightly recovering to 93 crores in 2021-22. Since April 2022 till today, it has reached nearly 125 crores, almost 75 per cent of the pre covid numbers,” the statement added. However on March 29, the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government had claimed that the scheme had been mismanaged, along with the whole Delhi Transport Corporation, which led to a loss of Rs 70,471 crore. Delhi Govt Plans to Relieve Fire Service of Inspection, Issuing NOC Tasks. “They (AAP) turned a profitable department into a loss-making one. DTC suffered a loss of Rs 70,471 crore. There was an operational loss of Rs 14,198 crore. Buses were run on only 468 routes out of 814. Money was spent only on advertisements. Even the Rs 233 crore received from the Centre was not spent. There used to be 4344 buses, but during their tenure, the number reduced to 3937,” Delhi CM said in the Assembly. CM Rekha Gupta was referencing a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) which suggested that due to the government’s mismanagement and negligence, crores of rupees from Delhi taxpayers have been wasted. This report is now being referred to the Committee on Government Undertakings with instructions to submit its report within three months. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Courtesy : LatestLY Note: This news is originally published on https:/latestly.com/ and is for use by the non-military/non-commercial community, especially those in the human rights sector.
One state, 8 crore voters, one big fight: Bihar’s ballot battle explodes; SIR controversy explained
NEW DELHI: A storm is brewing in Bihar’s political landscape months ahead of the assembly election as Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls is facing fierce opposition from INDIA Bloc. Opposition parties in the state have alleged that the SIR is designed to “benefit NDA” in the elections, a charge the Election Commission has denied. The controversy has now landed in Supreme Court, which will hear petitions on July 10 challenging the exercise by EC. Bihar Bandh RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav and Congress’s Rahul Gandhi joined the Bihar Bandh rally on Wednesday in Patna to oppose SIR. Speaking at the Bihar Bandh rally, Yadav said, “Today, the Bihar Bandh has been called to address how the Election Commission has become ‘Godi Aayog’. NDA is losing, so they are using the Election Commission. Preparations have been going on to remove the names of Bihar’s poor people from the voter list under the directions of Modi ji, Amit Shah and Nitish Kumar ji.” “This is a conspiracy to cut off the votes of almost crores of voters, who belong to the poor community, who are standing at the bottom steps of society like the Dalits, backwards class, or extremely backwards class,” Yadav added. SIR: What is it and why now? SIR is a door-to-door verification drive by the Election Commission to be conducted across Bihar to update its electoral rolls. This is the first such intensive revision in the state since 2003. Under this drive, over 8 crore people will be asked to fill out forms with photographs and address proof. Over 3 crore people, who are estimated not to have been listed in 2003, will be asked to provide additional documentation. According to the official notification of EC released on June 24, new voters born after 1987 are required to furnish their parents’ birth details, provided the parents weren’t listed in 2003. INDIA bloc raises alarm The political storm was triggered after opposition INDIA bloc alleged that this drive is designed to “benefit the ruling NDA.” They also accused the poll panel of trying to “wrongfully delete” the voters’ names who are unlikely to vote for the ruling dispensation. The opposition INDIA bloc, led by Tejashwi Yadav, moved the Supreme Court against the SIR. A protest march led by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was also organised on Wednesday. — ANI (@ANI) Amid this, a clause that states EROs “will refer cases of suspected foreign nationals to the competent authority under the Citizenship Act, 1955” is also under the radar. — ANI (@ANI) Their concerns include: Timing & targeting: Why is this massive revision being done only in Bihar and just before state elections? Exclusionary tactics: Over 3 crore people face tougher documentation if their names didn’t appear in the 2003 rolls. Youth under scrutiny: Voters born after 1987 must prove parental citizenship history. ID limitations: Aadhaar and MNREGA cards are reportedly not accepted as valid proof. Citizenship clause fears: EROs can flag “suspected foreign nationals” — a clause feared to be misused, especially in Seemanchal. The timing of SIR opposed “Why has this exercise been ordered only in Bihar when in 2003 a similar revision of electoral rolls was undertaken for the entire country? And why just before the assembly polls? If it was so urgent, why was the work not started immediately after last year’s Lok Sabha elections,” RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav said. General secretary of CPI(ML) Liberation Dipankar Bhattacharya, while criticising the move, said that EC has opted for a “logistical nightmare”. He added that it is almost impossible to complete the drive by July 25. On opposition bloc’s Bihar Bandh, BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad said, “Today, the opposition parties have called a Bihar Bandh against the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. Bihar LoP and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, Congress leader and Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi and other leaders of the INDIA bloc have come down to the streets… I want to bring to the attention of the country some important issues. In our country, citizens of India vote to form MPs and MLAs. Also, they cast their votes from where they live. So what is their problem if a revision of voter lists is done?” Voices from the ground: Errors, confusion, and chaos In Muzaffarpur, a resident claimed her son’s address was bizarrely listed as a shamshaan ghat (cremation ground), while her daughter-in-law’s address was left blank, according to a news report from PTI. EC stands its ground Meanwhile, the Election Commission said that 2.88 crore voters, nearly 36.5%, have been covered in the door-to-door exercise. It also rejected the opposition’s allegations, saying that the revision is “lawful and constitutional.” Supreme Court steps in The apex court is scheduled to hear multiple petitions, including a joint plea by Congress, NCP (Sharad Pawar), Shiv Sena (UBT), Samajwadi Party, JMM, CPI, and CPI(ML) on July 10. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/ and is for use by the non-military/non-commercial community, especially those in the human rights sector.
Snubbed? Security stops Pappu Yadav, Kanhaiya Kumar from entering Rahul, Tejashwi’s van
NEW DELHI: A video from Wednesday’s Bihar Bandh protest seemingly showed Congress leaders Kanhaiya Kumar and Pappu Yadav being stopped from boarding a protest vehicle carrying Rahul Gandhi, Tejashwi Yadav and other senior INDIA bloc leaders in Patna. The leaders were participating in the ‘Bihar Bandh’ rally, organised to oppose the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) decision to carry out a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls ahead of the state assembly elections. — PTI_News (@PTI_News) Visuals from the protest show Kumar and Yadav being stopped by security from joining the truck carrying Gandhi, Tejashwi and other top Mahagathbandhan leaders. Meanwhile, responding to the incident, Pappu Yadav said it was not an “insult.” “I fell and got hurt. One leader from each party was present there, but this is not an insult. Nothing is greater than the public; it is acceptable to be insulted for them, not just once but even a million times,” the Purnia MP said while talking to news agency ANI. — ANI (@ANI) Earlier in the day, several opposition leaders gathered at the Sachiwalay Halt railway station, where Congress workers blocked railway tracks and shouted slogans such as “Chunav Aayog hosh mein aao” (Election Commission, come to your senses). Among the prominent faces at the protest were CPI general secretary D. Raja, CPI (ML) Liberation leader Dipankar Bhattacharya, Bihar Congress President Rajesh Ram, and Sanjay Yadav. Independent MP from Purnea, Pappu Yadav, also took part in the demonstration. At the centre of the protest is the ECI’s June 24 notification announcing the SIR of Bihar’s electoral rolls. The ECI maintains that the revision is in line with Article 326 of the Constitution and Section 16 of the Representation of People Act, 1950. These provisions define who is eligible to vote and the grounds for disqualification. However, critics, including Swaraj India member Yogendra Yadav and the Association for Democratic Reforms, argue that the move violates universal adult suffrage. They have filed a petition in the Supreme Court, which is set to hear the on Thursday. To counter rumours, the ECI issued a statement last, affirming that no changes have been made to the SIR process and dismissing claims of manipulation. The Election Commission also shared Article 326 on social media, highlighting that every Indian citizen aged 18 or above is entitled to vote unless legally disqualified. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/ and is for use by the non-military/non-commercial community, especially those in the human rights sector.
Rahul joins protest march, targets EC against roll revision
Patna: Leader of opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Wednesday alleged that the special intensive revision (SIR), ahead of the Bihar assembly elections, was just an extension of the “Maharashtra model” of “fudging electoral rolls”. His remarks drew sharp criticism from BJP, who said that Rahul was allegedly attempting to pressure the judiciary ahead of a key Supreme Court hearing over the issue. Rahul had come from Delhi to join the protest march, which began from the Income Tax roundabout. The march was meant to reach the office of the chief electoral officer, Bihar, when the police stopped it near the assembly. On being stopped, the leaders addressed the gathering there. He alleged that the election commissioner was not only “stealing” votes but also the future of the younger generation. He warned that the law wouldn’t spare the EC for indulging in such an act. Leading the opposition’s protest march in Patna, Rahul alleged that the “Maharashtra assembly elections were rigged to favour the BJP and now attempts are on to repeat the same in Bihar, though in a different manner.” RJD’s Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, CPI-ML and CPI general secretaries Dipankar Bhattacharya and D Raja respectively and VIP’s Mukesh Sahani, joined the protest. “Maharashtra me janadesh chhina, ab Bihar me matadhikar—tarika naya, sajish purani (In Maharashtra, the people’s mandate was snatched and now in Bihar, attempts are being made to rob the right to vote. The method could be new, but the conspiracy is old),” Rahul alleged, waving a copy of the Constitution. He said the EC’s job is not to work for the BJP but to protect the Constitution, which it is not doing. According to Rahul, the scene changed after the BJP made certain changes in the selection process of the EC. “Earlier, the BJP (ruling party), opposition parties, and the Chief Justice would together select the Election Commissioner, but now the thing has changed,” Rahul said, warning they would have to face the consequences. Alleging the SIR is an attempt to disenfranchise the poor voters, Tejashwi warned of revolution over the issue. Bhattacharya claimed the people of Bihar are in the mood to teach a lesson to the 20-year-long NDA BJP-Nitish govt this time, but the Election Commission is engaged in misleading the public and conspiring in voter selection. Reacting sharply, senior BJP leader and former Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad questioned the motive behind the protest, asking if the opposition is trying to pressure the judiciary by such tactics. “All these leaders have approached the Supreme Court, which is their right, and when the hearing is scheduled for tomorrow, why are they engaging in street politics today to exert pressure?” he said. Deputy CM, Samrat Choudhary, said Rahul came here only for a picnic. “Rahul came here just for a picnic; he has nothing to do with Bihar’s problems,” Choudhary alleged. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/ and is for use by the non-military/non-commercial community, especially those in the human rights sector.
Change of chief minister whispers grow louder as Shivakumar meets Priyanka
Bengaluru/New Delhi: Amid increasing speculation over a possible change in chief minister and a cabinet rejig, deputy chief minister and president of the Karnataka Congress unit DK Shivakumar Wednesday met Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in the national capital. With Lok Sabha opposition leader Rahul Gandhi occupied with poll rallies in Patna ahead of elections in Bihar, Shivakumar met Priyanka at the residence of former Congress national president Sonia Gandhi. Sources say the meeting, which lasted about 30 minutes, focused on the political climate in Karnataka. Shivakumar refused to divulge details of the meeting, merely saying he “visited the place”. Asked if he met Sonia, he said, “I did not meet Sonia Gandhi.” He admitted that he had sought an appointment with Rahul. “Let us see. I have asked for time from his office to meet him on Thursday, if he is back by then,” he said. The meeting comes at a time when murmurs are intensifying within Congress of Shivakumar possibly replacing Siddaramaiah as CM as part of a rotational agreement. While both have denied any formal arrangement, talk of a mid-term switch — in Nov — continues to persist within party ranks. It is said Shivakumar, credited with playing a pivotal role in the party’s resounding assembly victory in 2023, is pushing for the top post based on an “understanding” that he would take over midway through the five-year term. But dismissing reports of cabinet changes, Shivakumar, said, “No cabinet reshuffle is on the cards. The chief minister and I are meeting central ministers to discuss various state issues.” He also supported Congress national general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala’s meetings with MLAs, saying, “Feedback from legislators is primarily to strengthen party organisation in Karnataka. Even the state unit was contemplating changing faces at the district level of the party.” He went on to say: “We formed teams and sent them to all 31 districts to make changes in the district Congress committees. We want to make changes in at least 20 of the 31 districts and give opportunities to fresh faces.” He said another AICC general secretary, Vijay Inder Singla, had also visited Karnataka to review progress on setting up 100 party offices. “We will request Rahul and Mallikarjun Kharge to inaugurate these 100 new offices,” he said. Meanwhile, in Bengaluru, Surjewala denied reports of a meeting between Rahul, Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah in Delhi as “purely imaginary”. He said, “I have no knowledge of any such meeting of Rahul with the Karnataka CM and deputy CM. Yes, the CM and deputy CM are in Delhi to raise issues concerning people of Karnataka and the state govt.” Deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar occupied a suite reserved for the CM at the new Karnataka Bhavan in Delhi’s Chanakyapuri, triggering political chatter. CM Siddaramaiah had used the suite on an earlier visit but shifted to an annexe building citing poor ventilation. Sources say Shivakumar sought Siddaramaiah’s consent to use the vacant suite. Shivakumar dismissed any political significance, saying: “The CM post is not vacant. There is no need to discuss such issues now.” Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/ and is for use by the non-military/non-commercial community, especially those in the human rights sector.
Rising atrocities against tribals & Dalits in Bihar a grave concern: CM
Ranchi: A day after five members of a family were burnt alive in election-bound Bihar, Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren, who is looking after his ailing father Shibu Soren at a Delhi hospital, said he cannot keep quiet when Dalits and poor people are tortured. In the Bihar incident, a mob lynched five members of a tribal family and later burnt them alive in Purnia late on Sunday night charging them with witchcraft. Taking to X, Hemant appealed to his Bihar counterpart, Nitish Kumar, to stake strict action against the perpetrators. “I urge the Chief Minister of Bihar, Shri @NitishKumar ji, to issue directives to take appropriate steps to swiftly apprehend the culprits and ensure they receive the most stringent punishment. The continuously increasing atrocities on tribals/Dalits in Bihar are a matter of grave concern.” In Ranchi, Hemant’s party JMM, too, expressed shock and grave concern over the situation. Mounting pressure on BJP, which is part of alliance govt led by Nitish Kumar (JDU) in Bihar, JMM’s general secretary Supriyo Bhattacharjee said, “Whatever happened in Purnia is part of the spree of attacks on the poor, tribals, marginalised and minorities in places wherever BJP is directly or partly in power. Bihar is the latest example.” He added that BJP, which is trying to allegedly throw many out of Bihar’s voters’ list through the ECI’s special amendment drive ahead of the election in the neighbouring state, is also using such violent tactics to silence voters, who are against the saffron party. The JMMM leader also questioned the role of the police in the entire episode. “The harrowing incident that happened with the family lasted for several hours — from beating them at one place to burning the five at different place and dumping bodies at another location. What was Bihar police doing all these while?” he said. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/ and is for use by the non-military/non-commercial community, especially those in the human rights sector.
Shivakumar, Siddaramaiah to meet Rahul Gandhi today amid fresh push to change CM
Bengaluru/New Delhi: Chief minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy, DK Shivakumar, are set to meet Congress MP Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi Wednesday night, amid fresh demands from Shivakumar’s supporters for a leadership transition in Karnataka. The meeting comes at a time when tensions within the Congress state unit have resurfaced, with several MLAs publicly backing Shivakumar to take over the chief minister’s post later this year. Shivakumar told reporters in New Delhi Tuesday, “The CM, AICC general secretaries, and I will hold a meeting to discuss party-related matters.” Asked if the meeting would deliberate on making Siddaramaiah the chairman of the party’s OBC committee — seen by some as a possible soft exit strategy — he said: “Siddaramaiah is a prominent leader of the backward classes, and the party is making use of his leadership skills. The national-level OBC committee meeting scheduled for July 15 will be held under his leadership in Bengaluru.” He said that although Siddaramaiah may not formally head the committee, the meeting would be conducted under his leadership due to his stature and contribution to the OBC movement. “Congress is making use of his leadership and capabilities,” Shivakumar said. Asked about growing calls within the party for his elevation, Shivakumar said, “The CM post is not vacant. So, this is not the right time to talk about it.” The latest push for a change at the helm comes despite repeated denials from Congress’ high command and Siddaramaiah himself, who has asserted he will complete a full five-year term. Shivakumar, too, has previously said he has no choice but to support the CM. But several legislators, especially from Bengaluru south district, have reignited the debate. “All our district MLAs want Shivakumar to become CM. There’s no discrepancy about it. High command should decide,” Channapatna MLA CP Yogeeshwara said Tuesday. “We, the MLAs, are demanding it… I want Shivakumar to become CM.” HA Iqbal Hussain, Ramanagara MLA and a staunch Shivakumar supporter, even suggested a change could happen within months. “Yes, I’m saying it. Some functionaries are hinting at revolutionary political developments after Sept. A decision will be made within 2-3 months,” he said. He went on to say: “You all know what our strength was before this govt was formed… His (Shivakumar’s) strategy and programmes are history now. The high command is aware of the situation, and we are confident it will take an appropriate decision at the right time.” Senior Congress MLA and former minister Tanveer Sait, who is from Siddaramaiah’s home district Mysuru said the party must be open to transition. “I feel leadership can’t be stagnant. New leaders must come and grow. Whenever the opportunity is given, it’ll happen,” he said. Calls for a new CM come amid multiple meetings between Randeep Singh Surjewala, AICC general secretary in charge of Karnataka, with Congress MLAs to quell dissent. “The KPCC chief and I have spoken about this… Everyone can have ambitions and desires. I don’t want to say anything more,” Surjewala said. Siddaramaiah will join Shivakumar in Delhi on Wednesday. Shivakumar is scheduled to meet defence minister Rajnath Singh ahead of the meeting with Rahul. It is unclear whether they will meet Singh jointly or separately. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/ and is for use by the non-military/non-commercial community, especially those in the human rights sector.
Rahul Gandhi to lead Bihar Mahagathbandhan protest: Tyres burnt, roads blocked; what the electoral roll row is about
NEW DELHI: The Mahagathbandhan alliance on Wednesday kicked off a “Bihar Bandh” protesting against the ongoing special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls by the Election Commission. Opposition leaders, including Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav, will lead a protest rally in Patna and plan to encircle the Chief Electoral Office in the state capital. Earlier, the former deputy chief minister said that the opposition had called for the Bihar Bandh to vent their ire against the ongoing voter list revision ahead of the upcoming assembly elections. “We will enforce a ‘chakka jam’ on July 9. Both the Election Commission and the government will be targeted by the Opposition. It is quite surprising that the EC is changing its orders every hour. As a result, BLOs and other officials engaged in the verification exercise are confused,” Tejashwi said. Why is the opposition protesting ? The Opposition has alleged that the Election Commission, through its special intensive revision of electoral rolls, is snatching voting rights from migrants, Dalits, Mahadalits, and poor voters, calling the campaign a “conspiracy to block votes” ahead of the Bihar Assembly Elections, which are due in three months. Train halted, tyres Burnt Workers from the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and CPM burnt tyres and blocked roads in support of the Bihar Bandh on NH-30 in Patna’s Maner. Party workers were seen raising banners and shouting slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Bharatiya Janata Party, and the Election Commission. Meanwhile, RJD’s student wing blocked train tracks and NH-82 in Jehanabad. RJD workers also stopped the Namo Bharat train in Darbhanga. “We have called this Bandh against the Election Commission, which is working as per someone’s agenda… The public is tired of the government. RJD and the entire INDIA alliance have called for the Bandh,” an RJD worker said. Supporters of Independent MP Pappu Yadav also stopped an express train in Narpatganj, Araria. Also read | Bharat Bandh today: Public services likely to be hit; 10 things to know about nationwide strike ‘SIR a normal exercise’ The poll body has claimed that the exercise is a standard procedure to update the voter list before every election as mandated by law. It has also undertaken a drive to weed out foreign illegal migrants from the electoral rolls in six states, starting with Bihar. The poll panel reminded the constitutional provision that says only Indian citizens can vote. “The Constitution of India is supreme. All citizens, political parties, and the Election Commission of India follow the Constitution,” EC said in a statement. The poll panel already has nearly 78,000 booth-level officers (BLOs) and is appointing over 20,000 more for new polling stations, it said. More than one lakh volunteers will be assisting genuine electors, particularly the old, sick, persons with disabilities, poor, and other vulnerable groups during the special intensive revision. Out of the existing 7,89,69,844 electors, 4.96 crore electors, whose names are already in the last intensive revision of the Electoral Roll on January 1, 2003, have to “simply verify so, fill the Enumeration Form and submit it.” The enumeration form should be filled between 25 June and 26 July, after which the draft voter list will be published on 1 August 2025; the period for filing claims and objections will be from 1 August to 1 September, and the final voter list will be published on 30 September. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/ and is for use by the non-military/non-commercial community, especially those in the human rights sector.
Punjab: Dalit youth brutalised on suspicion of helping lovers elope, paraded half naked, face shaved and blackened, video goes viral
A Dalit youth was brutally beaten up, paraded half naked with his face blackened on suspicion of helping a couple elope in Seeda village; police arrested one accused, search for others continues. New Delhi: A case of brutality against a Dalit youth has come to light in Seeda village on the border of Ludhiana. According to the police, the villagers not only beat the youth on suspicion of helping the lovers elope, but also forcibly shaved his head and beard-moustache, blackened his face and paraded him half naked in the village. According to a report in Telegraph India, the incident took place on Tuesday, but the matter gained momentum after its video went viral on social media. In the video of the incident, the accused can be clearly seen using casteist abuses and brutalising the victim. The police said that the victim has been identified as Harjot Singh. It is alleged that Harjot Singh had helped his friend and a young woman to elope and get married. Both of them got married on June 19, after which there was tension in the village. On Tuesday, Harjot was in a salon in the village when some people reached there and dragged him out. The accused beat him brutally, shaved off his beard and moustache, blackened his face, tore his clothes and paraded him around the village in a semi-nude state. According to the police, the accused also made a video of this entire act and shared it on social media. The accused have been identified as Gurpreet alias Gopa, Simranjit Singh alias Simma, Sandeep alias Sam, Rajveer and Ramdeep alias Kaka. Meharban police station in-charge Inspector Paramdeep Singh said that Simranjit Singh has been arrested, while the search for the remaining accused is on. He said, “This is not just a physical assault, but a barbaric attack on human dignity. We are investigating the matter in depth and will arrest all the culprits soon.” The police on Saturday registered an FIR under sections 115(2), 127(2), 351 of the Indian Penal Code, besides the IT Act and the Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The victim’s family has demanded the strictest punishment for the accused and justice. Courtesy: Rajan Chaudhary, Hindi News