Moradabad News: Promise to restore lost respect of Dalits, backward and minorities on formation of SP government in PDA Jan Chaupal Thakurdwara.
Samajwadi Party organized PDA Jan Chaupal in Faridnagar village on Wednesday. The workers demonstrated with copies of the Constitution, taking a pledge to protect it. The chief guest of the program, area MLA Nawab Jan Khan and District President Jaiveer Singh Yadav, while addressing the program, said that the party’s national president and former Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav is constantly fighting for the rights of minorities, Dalits and backward classes. It was due to their struggle and pressure that the government had to take the decision to conduct caste census. He alleged that the BJP and its government want to abolish the Constitution. It insults the Constitution maker Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar. In the program, SP leaders announced that the lost respect of Dalits, minorities and backward classes will be restored if the SP government is formed in the state. Party’s assembly constituency president Naveen Kumar Yadav, city president Irfan Ansari, former block chief husband Ejaz Ansari, head husband Atiq Qureshi etc. were present in the program. Courtesy : Hindi News
Made an elderly Dalit wear Ghaghra-Choli, then burnt him alive… Married woman did this to run away with her lover
A shocking incident came to light in Jakhotra village of Patan district of Gujarat, where Suresh Ahir found the half-burnt body of his wife Geeta. Investigation revealed that Geeta and her lover Bharat had conspired to kill a Dalit man named Harji and burn him as Geeta. Patan: A heart-wrenching case came to light in Patan district of Gujarat, which surprised even the police. The case is of village Jakhotra. Where, a man named Suresh Genga Bhima Ahir woke up in the morning on hearing the crying of his three-year-old child, but he did not find his wife Geeta nearby. When he reached the back of the house while searching for his wife, he found a half-burnt body there, seeing which he was shocked. This body was wearing orange and purple Ghaghra-Choli, there was also a silver anklet on the feet. These were the same clothes that belonged to his 22-year-old wife Geeta. Refusing chicken in the temple proved costly for a Dalit monk, a bully bleeds him with a trident, case registered under SC-ST Act After three decades, the marks of ‘red terror’ are removed from Bastar and Kondagaon: What does this new beginning in Chhattisgarh mean? Suresh thought his wife had committed suicide and he informed the police. But within a few hours of investigation, the case took a complete turn. The post-mortem report revealed that the body was of a 56-year-old Dalit man Harji Debha Solanki, who was a resident of Vauwa village (7 km from Jakhotra). Initially, it was considered a case of caste violence and Congress MLA Jignesh Mevani also raised it on social media, because a week before this, a Dalit was also killed in Amreli. Conspiracy of lovers blinded by love The investigation revealed that Geeta had hatched a conspiracy with her lover Bharat Lubha Ahir. Both of them together planned to kill Harji and make him look like Geeta, so that both of them could start a new life by showing Geeta as dead. Bharat saw Harji, a weak man, walking alone in Vauwa village. He tried to kill him by dragging him into the bushes and strangulating him and then brought him to Jakhotra in an unconscious state on a bike. At night, along with Geeta, they dressed Harji in his clothes and burnt him alive by pouring petrol on him. Tried to escape, but got arrested Both of them fled via Santalpur, Radhanpur and reached Palanpur railway station in Banaskantha, from where they were trying to escape to Jodhpur. But with the help of mobile location and CCTV footage, the police caught them at 4 am on Wednesday. The post-mortem revealed that Harji had died of burning, that is, he was alive when he was set on fire. Petrol pump workers also stated that Geeta had taken petrol from there in a can. Patan SP VK Nai said that if Harji had not been identified, Geeta and Bharat had not been caught on time, then this case could have been closed as a suicide. About the author Rahul Mahajan After studying journalism from Himachal Pradesh University, he has been active in digital and electronic media for more than 9 years. He started his journey from ETV and Network 18 to Times Internet. He has keen interest in politics, crime and positive news. Courtesy : Hindi News
MP Khandwa gangrape-murder case: Limits of brutality crossed with tribal woman, questions raised on women’s safety system in the state
The Congress delegation met the family members of the deceased. The delegation included Shobha Ojha, Vijayalakshmi Sadho and MLA Jhuma Solanki. They demanded a compensation of Rs 25 lakh from the government and a government job for a family member. Bhopal. The incident of gangrape and murder of a tribal woman in Khalwa police station area of Khandwa district of Madhya Pradesh has shaken the entire state. This incident, which shames humanity, not only raises questions on law and order, but also exposes the government’s insensitivity towards the safety of the tribal society. The deceased woman was 45 years old and she was the victim of brutality by two youths of her own village – Sunil and Hari. The brutality was done by catching her on the way while returning from the field On Friday night, after a wedding ceremony in the village, the woman had gone to drop her relatives to the field. The farm was just half a kilometer away, but she did not return home overnight. The next morning, when the family went out to search for her, a woman told them that the victim was in the shed behind her house. On reaching there, she was found unconscious. On regaining consciousness, she told her son and daughter-in-law, “Something wrong has happened to me, now I will not survive… Sunil and Hari did it forcefully.” She died shortly after. Statement given before death, intestines and uterus were out According to the son and daughter-in-law of the deceased, the condition of the woman was very critical. There was excessive bleeding from the private part and the uterus was out. The postmortem report also confirmed that the intestines were out, the uterus was torn and the body was soaked in blood. According to the doctors, a hand or some object was inserted in the private part, which damaged the internal organs and caused death due to excessive bleeding. Police sent the accused to jail The police had taken both the accused into custody on Saturday itself and on Sunday night they were taken to the crime scene to confirm the crime scene. Both the accused were produced in the court on Monday and taken on two-day police remand. Khandwa SP Manoj Kumar Rai said that the clothes of the accused and the deceased and other evidence found from the crime scene have been sent for FSL investigation. It has also been said that this case will be registered in the category of marked crime and taken to the fast track court. According to Congress leaders, the victim could not even get first aid. The government ambulance did not come, and the family had to take the body to the district hospital in a private vehicle. This incident exposes the poor health system of the state. Congress team met the victim’s family The Congress delegation met the family of the deceased. The team included Shobha Ojha, Vijayalakshmi Sadho and MLA Jhuma Solanki. They demanded a compensation of Rs 25 lakh from the government and a government job for one member of the family. Shobha Ojha alleged that “the administration is trying to convert the rape case into murder. Looking at the condition of the crime scene, it is doubtful how the incident could have happened there.” Vikrant Bhuria targeted the government National President of Adivasi Congress and MLA Dr. Vikrant Bhuria said in a press conference in Delhi, “MP is becoming the rape and liquor capital. A 45-year-old tribal woman was gang-raped and her uterus and intestines were removed with an iron rod. This is not just murder, but a blot on the face of civilization.” Bhuria further said that “Prime Minister Modi should ensure before coming to Bhopal Mahila Sammelan on May 31 that how will the sisters be protected in Madhya Pradesh?” Courtesy : Ankit Pachauri, Hindi News
Andhra Pradesh: 3-year-old Dalit innocent raped, angry villagers demolish accused’s house
Three-year-old Dalit girl raped and murdered in Kadapa, villagers furious, accused arrested. Kadapa, Andhra Pradesh – A man named D. Rahmatullah has been arrested for allegedly raping and murdering a three-year-old Dalit girl in YSR Kadapa district. The horrific incident took place during a relative’s wedding in Kambaldinne village, where the girl was attending with her parents. According to police reports, Rahmatullah lured the girl to a secluded spot behind the Kalyan Mandapam, where he allegedly raped and strangulated her to death. Angry villagers caught hold of Rahmatullah and handed him over to the police. This did not calm the anger of the villagers, so on May 24, villagers demolished his house in his native village Moragudi, declaring that he had no right to live in the community. The incident triggered a massive protest outside the Jammalamadugu Government Hospital, where villagers demanded hanging for the accused. Kadapa District Collector Dr Sridhar Cherukuri and Superintendent of Police EG Ashok Kumar met the victim’s family to express condolences and assured all possible help. The administration announced financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh, a residential plot and a government job for the family. Additional Superintendent of Police Prakash Babu confirmed the arrest and said the case was registered under the Scheduled Castes/Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. Investigation is underway. Courtesy : Rajan Chaudhary, Hindi News
West Bengal: Dalit families entered Shiva temple after 300 years, now the game of boycott and threats started in the village!
Dalit families entered Gideshwar Shiva temple after 300 years, but social boycott started. West Bengal – March 13, 2025 became a historic day for 130 Dalit families of Gidagram village in East Burdwan district. For the first time, after a wait of 300 years, they were able to enter the Gideshwar Shiva temple in their own village. The occasion took place under heavy police security, but the event was like a symbolic break on centuries-old caste discrimination. However, this moment of happiness could not last long. According to a report by Frontline The Hindu, after the temple entry, the Dalit families faced social and economic boycott by an influential section of the village. A visit to the village two months later found that while there was a grudging acceptance on the surface, deep tensions still simmered within — shattering the image Bengal has of itself as an ‘ajaati’ society. Victory, but at a heavy cost The Gideshwar temple is located just a few hundred metres from Das Pada, where Dalit (mostly Das sub-caste) families live. In Gidagram, which has around 2,000 families, only these 130 Dalit families were denied entry into the temple — a discrimination that had been going on for generations. After several meetings, administration intervention and local consensus, finally on March 13, five Dalits entered the temple under heavy police protection and worshipped the deity. But surprisingly, this was followed by a strong backlash. The Dalit families were socially boycotted for almost a month. The influential sections of the village also called for an economic boycott against them. “Our joy of entering the temple was taken away by the boycott. Though the situation is improving a little now and people are accepting us, the heartache remains,” said a resident. The suppressed pang The Das community says they never faced discrimination in other social matters — they attended weddings, invited guests, and had good relations with other communities. But when it came to the temple, they were treated as untouchables. “Now that we have been able to enter the temple, we have a new sense of self-respect. It is as if our fortunes have turned,” said Sukanto Das. “Earlier, our boys and girls lacked courage, but after this fight, they have a new courage,” said Dinabandhu Das, a senior member of the community. He admits, however, that relations soured after the demand for temple entry was raised, and the entry under police protection worsened it. Dalit families are keeping their cool Though Dalit families try to publicly pretend that things are back to normal, the anguish inside often spills over. “Initially, the upper caste women stopped going to the temple, but now they have returned, laughing and talking to our daughters as if nothing had happened,” says Dyuti Ram Das, whose two daughters were among the first Dalit women to enter the temple. But Mithu Das admits many women still shy away from visiting the temple. “We want these problems to end and we all live together in peace like before,” she said. Precautions to avoid escalation To avoid escalation of tensions in the village, the Dalit community has made its own rules — even though they have full authority, they make sure only two women enter the temple at a time. “We know what people think of us, so we don’t crowd too much. People are already angry, this will only add fuel to the fire,” said one woman. They also refused to be photographed in front of the temple. However, sometimes hushed threats are heard. A local resident said, “Many times we hear, ‘You have been able to enter now because of the government, we will see when the government changes.’” Tradition versus equality clash Not every voice in the village is in favour of the Dalits. Some men sitting near the temple openly expressed their displeasure. A local quipped, “What is the use of saying anything now, they entered with the help of the police. What will happen to our 400-year-old tradition?” This year, the biggest festival of the temple, which is celebrated every April, was not celebrated for the first time. Many villagers believe that the Das community traditionally worked with animal skins, so they were denied entry into the temple. “This is not the case of all SCs or OBCs, only Das,” said a villager with the surname Pramanik (barber caste), but refrained from giving his opinion. Questions on Bengal’s ‘Ajati’ image This incident highlights the caste reality in Bengal. “People from outside think there is no casteism in Bengal because all the information is centred around Kolkata. But the reality in the villages is different,” says noted sociologist Surjit C. Mukhopadhyay. Mukhopadhyay said Bengal’s reform movement — Raja Rammohan Roy, Vidyasagar, and later the Left movement — is relatively new, while caste structures are centuries old. “The Gidagram incident reflects the socio-political reality of Bengal,” he said. Inspired other villages According to senior CPI(M) leader Tamal Majhi, the fight of the Das community of Gidagram inspired other villages as well. “After this, the Dalit community in Ketugram and Devagram also got the right to enter the temple. In some places without a fight, in some places by court order,” Majhi said. It was a long and humiliating journey for the people of Das Pada, but they finally got the basic dignity they deserved. Their struggle may have alienated a section of the village, but they are confident that one day those who oppose them will also understand the error of their thinking. An elderly man confidently said, “We know, one day they will understand that it was not to end tradition, but to restore justice.” Courtesy : Hindi News
Kerala: Dalit woman was made to sit in police station for 20 hours, given toilet water to drink, theft allegation turned out to be false – now delay in recording statement!
The voice of domestic help Bindu R, who was a victim of illegal detention and caste harassment at Perurkada police station, is now echoing across Kerala, the Chief Minister called the case unacceptable. Thiruvananthapuram: The process of recording the statement of Dalit woman Bindu R, who was a victim of illegal detention and mental harassment at Perurkada police station, is getting delayed. The reason for this is that the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) has directed that the presence of a woman lawyer appointed by the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) will be mandatory while recording the statement. After this direction, Crime Branch DYSP K.A. Vidyadharan has written a letter to the Secretary of Thiruvananthapuram DLSA demanding the appointment of a woman lawyer as soon as possible. The investigation of the case has been assigned to the Crime Branch DySP of Pathanamthitta as the SHRC had made it clear that since the case involved policemen serving in Thiruvananthapuram district, the investigation should be assigned to an officer from outside the district. According to sources, the SHRC has given directions to ensure that all legal procedures are followed and the rights and dignity of the victim are protected. Once Bindu’s statement is recorded, the investigating officer will begin examining documents from the Peroorkada police station. This will include examining the sentry report and other certified copies to find out if more policemen were involved in the case. These documents are expected to reveal the extent to which the police station staff abused their powers and intimidated Bindu. Bindu, who worked as a domestic help, was illegally detained and mentally tortured for about 20 hours on April 23 by her employer Omana Davis on false charges of theft. Following the incident, SI S.G. Prasad and ASI Prasanna Kumar of the Peroorkada police station have been suspended for their actions. Prasanna, who was handling the station’s General Diary (GD), is accused of aiding the illegal detention, making casteist remarks, and even making Bindu drink toilet water when she demanded drinking water. Prasad was suspended based on a report by the Assistant Commissioner of Special Branch. Though an FIR was lodged against Bindu, she was later released after the complainant admitted that the jewellery was found at home. Bindu approached the Chief Minister’s Office over the matter, but there, Chief Minister’s political secretary P. Sasi allegedly ignored her complaint. However, when the matter led to public outrage, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan strongly condemned it, calling it “unacceptable”. This was the whole case Bindu, who is a domestic worker and hails from Chullimanoor, was accused by her employer of stealing a gold chain on April 23. Based on this complaint, the Perurkada police called her and called her to the police station. On reaching the police station, the victim repeatedly said that she was innocent, but the police did not listen to her. According to Bindu, a woman police officer took her to a room, made her remove her clothes and searched her. Then the police took her to her house and searched it too. During this time, she was not allowed to talk to the family, nor was she given food and water. Bindu told the media, “When I asked for water, a policeman said – ‘Go to the toilet and drink from there’.” Detained overnight, threatened to implicate daughters Bindu said that she was kept in the police station all night and the interrogation continued till the next morning. An FIR was registered and the police threatened her that if she did not admit to the theft, her minor daughters would also be implicated in the case. Later, when the house owner and her daughter visited the police station again, they said they had been ‘forgiven’. Some time later, the stolen gold chain was found in the house, and the complainant herself admitted that the allegation was false. Complaint ignored in CMO When Bindu, with the help of a lawyer, submitted a written complaint to the Chief Minister’s political secretary P. Sasi, she claims that Sasi neither read the complaint nor gave any assurance. “He said that such things happen and advised me to approach the court,” Bindu had said. However, later the CMO clarified that the police were directed to take action after receiving the complaint. But according to Bindu, she had also urged the CMO to register a case against the woman who had falsely accused her, which was rejected. Courtesy : Rajan Chaudhary, Hindi News
SHRC delays Dalit woman’s statement recording in Peroorkada custodial harassment case
Bindu was kept in illegal custody and mentally harassed for nearly 20 hours on April 23 after being accused of theft by her employer, Omana Davis. THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The recording of the statement of the dalit woman, who was allegedly mentally harassed in Peroorkada police station, by crime branch (CB) will be delayed after the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) stipulated that a woman lawyer deputed by the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) should be present during the proceedings. Following this, Crime Branch DySP K A Vidyadharan has written to the secretary of Thiruvananthapuram DLSA urging a speedy appointment of a woman lawyer. Crime Branch Pathanamthitta DySP was given the investigation charge on the SHRC directive as the commission wanted an officer from outside the district to probe the case, which is sensational and involves serving police officers. Sources said SHRC directed the police to ensure the presence of a female lawyer to assist the victim, Bindu R, and to ensure that the proceedings are in line with the law. Meanwhile, sources said after the woman’s statement is recorded, the officer will verify the documents from Peroorkada station to assess whether more police personnel were involved in the case. The attested copies of documents, including sentry report, will be sought from the station and they will be verified. These documents, it’s expected, would reveal to what extent the cops misused laws to mentally harass the woman, who worked as a domestic worker, while she was illegally detained in the station. Bindu was kept in illegal custody and mentally harassed for nearly 20 hours on April 23 after being accused of theft by her employer, Omana Davis. The complaint, which alleged that an 18g gold chain had gone missing, later turned out to be baseless. Two officers from the Peroorkada station — SI S G Prasad and ASI Prasanna Kumar — have already been suspended for their involvement in the incident. Prasanna, who was in charge of maintaining the station’s general diary (GD), allegedly aided in the illegal detention, made casteist remarks and told Bindu to consume water from the toilet when she requested drinking water. Prasad’s suspension was based on an adverse report filed by the special branch assistant commissioner, who had probed the incident. Though an FIR was registered, she was later released after the complainant admitted that the ornaments were found at home. Later, Bindu approached the chief minister’s office but faced setback as his political secretary P Sasi allegedly dismissed her complaint. The issue gained momentum after public outcry, prompting Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to call the incident ‘unacceptable’. Courtesy : TNIE Note: This news is originally published on https://thenewindianexpress.com/ and is for use by the non-military/non-commercial community, especially those in the human rights sector.
Telangana to Provide Indiramma Housing to TTransgender ransgender TTraffic raffic Assistants in Hyderabad
Telangana to allot Indiramma housing to transgender traffic assistants in Hyderabad, promoting equality and inclusion in government services. In a landmark move promoting inclusivity, the Telangana government has announced that transgender traffic assistants employed in Hyderabad will be allotted homes under the Indiramma Housing Scheme. This was confirmed by Minister for Panchayat Raj and Women & Child Welfare, Danasari Anasuya, during a review meeting at the Secretariat on Monday. The Minister, popularly known as Seethakka, highlighted the historic recruitment of 44 transgender individuals as Traffic Assistants in December 2024, calling it a significant milestone for both Telangana and India. “This program has delivered dignity, opportunity, and inclusion,” she said, emphasizing the government’s commitment to equal opportunities. Currently, 38 of these transgender assistants serve with the Hyderabad Police Traffic Department. Minister Anasuya further revealed plans to allot houses under the disability quota and explore more government job roles for transgender persons. “Our goal is equality in opportunity and building a society that embraces everyone,” she added. The government is also expanding support through initiatives like the Maitri Clinics in various districts and intends to broaden transgender employment across departments. Hyderabad Police Commissioner C.V. Anand praised the swi recruitment process, completed within ten days under Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy’s directive. He lauded the traffic assistants’ exemplary discipline and performance, noting no complaints have been filed against them. The department will also support those interested in private security roles Anitha Ramachandran, Secretary of Women and Child Welfare, said Telangana’s inclusive step has gained national attention, with other states seeking guidance. Traffic officials confirmed that the assistants have integrated well, managing duties with dedication and professionalism. Members of the transgender community expressed heartfelt gratitude, sharing how the initiative transformed their lives aer years of marginalization. “For 76 years, we were invisible. Today, we stand proudly alongside police officers,” said one assistant. They requested benefits equivalent to those given to home guards and thanked the government for recognizing them as equals rather than exceptions. Based on the positive feedback, Telangana plans to further expand this pioneering initiative, becoming the first state in India to formally integrate transgender persons into government service. Courtesy : THI Note: This news is originally published on https://thehansindia.com/ and is for use by the non-military/non-commercial community, especially those in the human rights sector.
Female prisoners, transgenders observe rituals in jail
Berhampur: Chanting of shlokas pierced the high walls of Berhampur Circle Jail here on Monday when female prisoners performed the rituals of Sabitri Brata. Twelve out of 55 women prisoners, including undertrials, performed the ritual on the jail premises, said D N Barik, senior superintendent of the circle jail. “We provided them with new saris, different types of fruits, and other materials used for the ritual,” he said. The jail authorities allowed women prisoners, who performed the ritual, to meet their husbands. “We also allowed prisoners to meet their wives near the jail gate,” he said. “During previous years, he was at home during ‘Sabitri Brata’. This year he was in jail after police arrested him in a clash in the village,” said a woman from Golanthara. Several transgenders also observed ‘Sabitri Brata’ at a temple in Gandhi Nagar. They dressed up in saris and ornaments to perform the ritual like married women. “We perform Sabitri puja in different temples. This year, we chose the temple in Gandhi Nagar,” said Sweety, a transgender person. 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.
Gogoi slams BJP, seeks ‘fitting reply’ to Pahalgam attack
Patna: New Assam Congress chief Gaurav Gogoi on Monday said his party still expects a “solid and fitting reply” from PM Narendra Modi to Pakistan over the April 22 terror attack in Kashmir’s Pahalgam, which killed 26 tourists. “After the Pahalgam terror attack, our party extended full support to PM Modi. Rahul Gandhi, as leader of the opposition, clearly said that Pakistan must be given a strong reply,” Gogoi told reporters at Patna airport. India had launched retaliatory strikes, Operation Sindoor, on May 6-7, targeting nine terror hubs in Pakistan and POK, including airbases. A ceasefire was announced on May 10. Responding to Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma’s remark that he was “on Pakistan’s payroll,” Gogoi said, “I am here on AICC’s behalf for the ‘Jai Hind’ programme in Muzaffarpur. I will reply to the Assam CM’s allegations back in Assam.” Gogoi also thanked party leaders for his elevation and said, “I am grateful to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and others. This is a big responsibility to work towards building a new Assam.” He credited his father, the late Tarun Gogoi, Assam’s longest-serving CM, as a source of inspiration and praised outgoing chief Bhupen Bora. Meanwhile, at Sadaquat Ashram, AICC general secretary Krishna Allavaru met former district Congress presidents, urging them to guide the party’s revival in Bihar. “You carry the party’s legacy. We need your leadership to strengthen the state unit,” 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.