Dalit woman stripped and searched in police station, asked for water and got toilet water! — Serious allegations against Kerala police
A 39-year-old Dalit woman from Kerala has made serious allegations of inhumane treatment, stripping and searching and mental harassment in police custody. The FIR in the case turned out to be false, but the action is still incomplete. Thiruvananthapuram — A 39-year-old Dalit woman Bindu was not only arrested on false charges of theft in Kerala’s capital Thiruvananthapuram, but also had to face inhumane mental torture in police custody. After this case came to light, there has been a stir in the state politics and the opposition has launched a scathing attack on the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) and the police department. False allegation of theft and harassment in custody 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 there 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 confess to the theft, her minor daughters would also be implicated in the case. Later when the mistress of the house and her daughter reached the police station again, they said that they had been ‘forgiven’. After some time it was found that the stolen gold chain was found in the house itself, and the complainant herself admitted that the allegation was false. Complaint ignored in CMO When Bindu gave a written complaint to Chief Minister’s political secretary P. Sasi with the help of a lawyer, she claims that Sasi neither read the complaint nor gave any assurance. “He said that this is a common thing and advised me to go to court,” Bindu said. However, the CMO later clarified that the police were directed to take action after receiving the complaint. But according to Bindu, she had also requested the CMO to register a case against the woman who falsely accused her, which was rejected. Opposition and social organizations’ outrage Opposition leader V.D. Satheesan condemned the incident, saying, “This is not just an isolated incident but an example of injustice meted out to Dalits by the ruling system. Strict action should be taken against the guilty police officials.” Former Home Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan called it “inhuman” and said that such incidents should have no place in a progressive society. Congress state president Sunny Joseph and AIDWA (All India Democratic Women’s Association) national president P.K. Srimathi also condemned the incident. “No woman should be treated like this. This is an example of police brutality,” Srimathi said. Policeman suspended, BNSS law violated An inquiry conducted by Police Commissioner Thomson Jose revealed that several procedural lapses were committed in Bindu’s arrest. The inquiry found that the police violated the provisions of the Indian Civil Security Code (BNSS) – which prohibits arresting women after sunset and before sunrise, unless with the permission of a magistrate. The police neither informed her family about the arrest nor gave any explanation in court as to why the arrest was necessary in an emergency situation. Based on these serious lapses, sub-inspector SG Prasad of Perurkada police station has been suspended and an inquiry is underway against other responsible officers. Demand for justice Bindu has filed complaints with the chief minister, the state police chief and the Scheduled Caste Commission and is now preparing to move court. She said the police not only discriminated against her on the basis of caste but also physically and mentally tortured her. Bindu said, “I have identified some policemen. I will go to court. I want justice.” Courtesy : Rajan Chaudhary, Hindi News
Asked to drink water from bucket: Kerala cop suspended for harassing Dalit woman
A Dalit domestic worker in Kerala, reportedly, was wrongfully accused of stealing, detained overnight and allegedly harassed by police. The gold was later found at her employer’s house. The sub-inspector has been suspended pending enquiry. A sub-inspector (SI) from a police station in Kerala’s Thiruvananthapuram was suspended after a Dalit woman was falsely accused of theft and allegedly harassed in custody. The action against SI Prasad comes after R Bindhu, a domestic worker, recently filed complaints with the Chief Minister, the State Police Chief and the State SC/ST Commission, regarding the harassment. Bindhu was reportedly summoned to the Peroorkada police station on April 23 after her employer alleged that 2.5 sovereigns of gold (around 20 g valued at about Rs 1.6 lakh) were missing. Despite a body and bag check that yielded nothing, an FIR was registered against her. She says she was detained at the station for nearly 20 hours and pressured to confess. “Police officers behaved very badly with me. One of them threatened me saying they will implicate my daughters and husband in the case. He said the society will treat me as a thief and when I asked for water, he asked me to drink from the bucket kept in the bathroom,” she recounted. She added that police treated her poorly even after the gold was recovered from her employer’s residence. Opposition leader VD Satheesan slammed the Pinarayi Vijayan-led LDF government over the incident. “Even after the complaint was withdrawn, an FIR was filed and the woman was threatened. When Pinarayi Vijayan is the Home Minister, is water from the toilet given to those who come to a police station?” he asked. Satheesan also criticised the Chief Minister’s office for allegedly dismissing Bindhu when she approached them. “She was insulted again. They told her she could go to court. Is this the justice a Dalit woman gets?” he said. Courtesy : India Today Note: This news is originally published on https://indiatoday.com/ and is for use by the non-military/non-commercial community, especially those in the human rights sector.
UP: Dalit youth’s ears cut off for not paying goonda tax, accused looted money for drinking alcohol, case registered
An incident of assault on a Dalit man has come to light in Hamirpur district of Uttar Pradesh. It is alleged that the goons cut off both the ears of a person named Charan Das for not paying goonda tax for drinking alcohol. Pankaj Mishra, Hamirpur: In Hamirpur district of Uttar Pradesh, goons beat up a Dalit and cut off both his ears for not paying goonda tax for drinking alcohol. After committing the crime, the goons fled after looting thousands of rupees from him. As soon as the family came to know about the incident, they reached the spot and immediately admitted him to the government hospital for treatment. The police have also registered an FIR of the incident and started searching for the accused. The Dalit family is in panic due to the incident that took place in Saidpur village of Rath Kotwali area of Hamirpur district. Charan Das, son of Ghasi Ram, a resident of Saidpur village, was going to the temple from his house, when Fukkan and Sandeep of the same village stopped him on the way outside the village and abused him. These bullies demanded goonda tax from Charan Das for drinking alcohol. When he refused, he was beaten badly. Not only this, the Dalit was dragged towards Moksha Dham, where the two thousand rupees in his pocket were snatched. Police registered a case When Charan Das fought with the bullies to get his money back, the bullies cut both his ears with a knife. After committing the crime, both the bullies fled from the spot threatening them. As soon as the family came to know about the incident, they rushed to the spot. The family took the seriously injured Charan Das to the police station with both his cut ears. On the basis of the complaint of the incident, the police registered a case under serious sections. Referred to Jhansi Medical Colleg Blood-soaked Charan Das was admitted to the CHC in Rath. Here Dr. Akhilesh has referred him to Medical College Jhansi. Inspector in-charge of Rath Kotwali, Ram Asare Saroj, said that on receiving the complaint of the incident, a case has been registered against Fukkan and Sandeep of the same village. The accused are being searched for arrest. About the author Dhirendra Singh I am a senior content producer in Navbharat Times Digital. I have the responsibility of working on political and other news related to UP and Uttarakhand. Talking about my past, I have studied journalism from Delhi University. I started my career in 2014 and have more than 8 years of experience. During this time, I also got a chance to do reporting in Delhi, UP and Jammu and Kashmir. Before Times Group, I have worked in some other institutions including Dainik Jagran, Amar Ujala, Rajasthan Patrika (Digital), Navodaya Times, Hindustan Samachar News Agency. Edited by: Dhirendra Singh| Courtesy: Hindi News
Five held for trying to illegally convert Dalits to Christianity
Lucknow: Five people, including two women, were arrested in UP’s Barabanki district on Monday on charges of trying to lure some Dalits with free medical and other benefits to convert to Christianity. A prayer meeting was convened at the house of one Rakesh Nat in Bankipur village on Sunday, where some Dalits villagers, along with 14 other people had gathered. Police said the prayer meeting was just a facade, and the plan was to convert them discreetly. However, police conducted a raid after being alerted by Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad functionaries, and detained 14 people for questioning. On Monday, five accused were arrested under the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act. The arrested persons were identified as Shivani Kumari, Gyananjay Kumar, Shyam Sundar, Radheshyam Gautam and Rekha Kumari. Police said the accused were allegedly involved in misleading, coercing and inducing poor families and members of SC communities through promises and undue influence during a prayer session. 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.
Dalit activists allege SOP dilutes SC/ST Act; Tamil Nadu government denies charges
The SC/ST Act clearly specified a government job for the kin of the victim, but the state government refuses to allocate based on educational qualifications. MADURAI: The state government has denied allegations levelled by several Dalit activists that have the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) released by Adi Dravidar Welfare and Scheduled Tribes Welfare Department has diluted the Schedule Castes And the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention Of Atrocities) Act 2015. Speaking to TNIE, state secretary of Dalit Liberation Movement (DLM) C Karuppiah said, “The SOP, released few weeks ago, mentions that FIR can be registered (Rule 12) by an Inspector who is considered as investigation officer (IO). This is wrong. Section 12 of SC/ST Act clearly mandates that police officers below the rank of DSP should not be appointed as IO.” He added “It says FIR should be sent to the SP by the Inspector to appoint the investigating officer (IO). This is also wrong. Under the SC/ST Act, the Superintendent of Police (SP) should appoint the IO after the spot inspection of the incident”. “Besides, we are disappointed by the norms about grant of compensation and government job. The SOP kin of a victim can be offered financial assistance for only undergraduate courses. But SC/ST Act highlights financial assistance all kinds of education regardless whether it is UG or PG,”he added. Kathir, founder of Evidence, said,”Apart from the Investigation Officer (IO), there are several other issues related to the SOP. After I flagged some of them on social media, an official from the department called and assured me to rectify them. We suspect the government isn’t serious enough to stop atrocities against SC/ST people. The SC/ST Act clearly specified a government job for the kin of victim, but the state government refuses to allocate based on educational qualifications. In a number of cases, a victim holding PG degree is offered office assistant job.” When contacted, the secretary to government, Adi Dravidar and tribal welfare department, Lakshmi Priya said, “DSP is the Investigation Officer (IO) and it has always been that way. Also, FIR is filed by SHO (Station House officer) who could be Inspector as it needs to be done immediately. Further action is carried out by IO who is the DSP which happens after the filing of FIR. I will check about the other things and take appropriate action if necessary.” 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.
Kerala: SI suspended for detaining, mentally harassing Dalit woman falsely accused of theft
The woman was detained at the police station for about 20 hours and denied food and water; another cop, Prasannan, is said to have harassed the woman the most but no action against him has been taken yet. THIRUVANATHAPURAM: A police sub-inspector attached with Peroorkada station has been suspended for mentally harassing a dalit woman, who was taken into custody on a complaint of theft, which was later proved to be false. S G Prasad was suspended on the basis of an adverse report filed by the Special Branch Assistant Commissioner, who had probed the incident on the instruction of the City Commissioner. Bindu R, who hails from Panavoor near Nedumangad, was working as a house maid at Ambalamukku when she was detained by the cops on the complaint of the house owner claiming that 20 grams of gold ornament had gone missing from house. The police detained the 39-year-old for about 20 hours where she was even denied drinking water. Her ordeal ended when the complainant found the gold, which was misplaced in her house, and conveyed it to the police. The police withdrew the FIR against the woman, but the incident snowballed into a major controversy after the victim complained with the Police Complaints Authority, SC/ST Commission and the CM’s Office. The Special Branch report said lapses from the police side were evident. It said the woman was kept in custody at odd hours without prior authorisation and the entire episode contravened existing legal conventions. Meanwhile, Bindu said though she was contended with the action against the SI, another cop named Prasannan who had harassed her the most was still untouched and that she wanted action to be taken against him. 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.
‘Denied water, threatened with arrest’: Dalit woman alleges harassment by Kerala police
The case centres on Bindu, a domestic worker from Chullimanoor, who was detained for nearly 20 hours on 23 April after her landlord accused her of stealing a gold necklace Synopsis: A Dalit domestic worker’s claim of police harassment at Peroorkada station has sparked public outrage in Kerala. Opposition leader V D Satheesan demanded a departmental probe and legal action, blaming government inaction and political interference for enabling such abuse. Civil society groups and political parties have also rallied behind the victim, condemning the alleged mistreatment and police excess A Dalit domestic worker’s allegation of police harassment at the Peroorkada police station has triggered widespread outrage in Kerala, drawing sharp criticism from Opposition parties and civil society groups. The incident has prompted Leader of the Opposition V D Satheesan to demand a departmental inquiry and strict legal action against the officers involved. Satheesan lambasted the state government and the Home Department for their silence on the matter, stating that unchecked politicisation of the police force has led to such gross misuse of power. “This is not an isolated incident. Who gave these officers the right to illegally detain and mentally torture an innocent woman?” he asked. Dalit worker detained over theft claim The controversy revolves around Bindu, a domestic worker from Chullimanoor, who was taken into custody on 23 April based on an allegation by her landlord that she had stolen a gold necklace weighing two and a half sovereigns. Bindu, who was returning home from work in Ambalamukku, was summoned to the Peroorkada station, where she claims she was held for nearly 20 hours. During her detention, she alleges, she was denied water, not allowed to contact her family, and was threatened with the arrest of her daughters unless she confessed. Her family was unaware of her detention until the police brought her home later that night. The next morning, the landlord reportedly acknowledged that the necklace had been found. However, Bindu claims the sub-inspector warned her not to disclose the incident. (Edited by Ananya Rao with inputs from Dileep V Kumar) Stampede-like situation at rapper Vedan’s programme injures at least 15; police resort to lathi-charge As Vedan took the stage and began his first song, the crowd broke past the barricades, leading to a stampede-like situation. Synopsis: At least 15 people were injured in a stampede-like situation during a music programme conducted by Malayalam rapper Vedan in Palakkad. The police resorted to a lathi-charge multiple times to bring the situation under control. At least 15 people were injured in a stampede-like situation during a music programme conducted by Malayalam rapper Vedan at Kotta Maithanam (fort ground) in the Palakkad district of Kerala on Sunday, 18 May. The incident occurred on Sunday evening as an uncontrollable crowd surged forward, forcing police to resort to a lathi-charge multiple times to bring the situation under control. The event, jointly organised by the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Development Department and the Culture Department, had drawn a crowd of over 2,000 people. The programme, which was scheduled to start at 6 pm, began two hours behind schedule, further agitating the waiting audience. Scuffle and stampede-like situation As Vedan took the stage around 8 pm and began his first song, the crowd broke past the barricades set up for security, leading to a scuffle and a stampede-like situation. Several people suffered minor injuries, and some in the audience reportedly fainted due to the chaos. Police initially attempted to control the crowd but were soon overwhelmed by it. A team led by Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Rajesh Kumar arrived at the spot and temporarily halted the programme to clear pregnant women, the elderly, and children from the venue. Despite attempts to restore order, the unrest persisted. The police were forced to lathi-charge the crowd four times during the event. Unable to manage the law and order situation, Vedan exited the stage by 9 pm after performing just three songs. The injured were admitted to Palakkad District Hospital for treatment. Tensions flared further as a scuffle reportedly broke out between the police and organisers during the commotion. Several people complained of breathlessness and dizziness near the stage but no major injuries were reported. Local authorities are yet to issue an official statement regarding the lapses in security arrangements and crowd management at the venue. (Edited by Muhammed Fazil with inputs from Dileep V Kumar.) Courtesy : TSF Note: This news is originally published on https://thesouthfirst.com/ and is for use by the non-military/non-commercial community, especially those in the human rights sector.
Jagan condemns attack on Dalit student at Tirupati
The YSRCP President demands that a police case be registered on the incident and action taken against the assailants Condemning the attack on a Dalit engineering student, James, at Tirupati, the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) President and former Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy said there is no safety for Dalits in the State as the ‘law and order situation has been deteriorating‘. In a post on X on Sunday, Mr. Jagan said, “The incidents show the growing attacks on Dalits and the failing Law and Order (L&O) situation in the State, which is not protecting weaker sections and those who raise their voice against injustice. Such incidents are taking place as the police machinery is biased towards the ruling party, and such incidents are happening at some place or the other in the State. It has become a practice that when a victim approaches a police station to report, a case is registered against the complainant,’‘ he said. In the Tirupati incident, it was not just the failure of the Police Department to register a case, but also political interference which prevented the police from registering a case, he said, adding, “I demand that a case be registered and action taken against those who attacked the Dait youth.” Courtesy : G V R Subba Rao G.V.R. Subba Rao, The Hindu Note: This news is originally published on https://thehindu.com/ and is for use by the non-military/non-commercial community, especially those in the human rights sector.
A crime that revealed the ugly reality of caste
Murugesan and Kannagi, of Pudukkoorapettai near Virudhachalam, were poisoned to death. The reason: Kannagi, of the Vanniyar community, married Murugesan, a Dalit of the same village Nearly 22 years ago, S. Murugesan, 25, a Dalit youth, and Kannagi, 24, a Vanniyar girl, fell in love with each other. Murugesan was an engineering graduate from Annamalai University, Chidambaram, and Kannagi studied B. Com at the university. They got acquainted during their college days. Both hailed from Pudukkoorapettai, near Virudhachalam, in Cuddalore district. He was working in Bengaluru. Kannagi’s father Duraisamy was the president of the village panchayat and Murugesan’s father Samikannu was a farm worker, who lived on the outskirts of the village, far removed from where the Vanniyars and other caste Hindus lived. Apprehending stiff opposition to their marriage, Murugesan and Kannagi had their marriage solemnised at a temple at Manjakuppam in Cuddalore, on May 5, 2003. They also registered it. After marriage, they went home. On July 3, 2003, Duraiswamy learnt that his daughter was taken away by Murugesan while going to Chidambaram to attend the monthly seminars at the university. ‘Disrepute to family’ Duraisamy sent his son Marudhupandiyan to find out the whereabouts of his daughter. It was their idea to eliminate the couple for causing disrepute to their family and caste. Marudhupandiyan visited the house of Samikannu and asked Samikannu and his brother Ayyasamy to bring Murugesan to the village. Ayyasamy innocuously brought Murugesan from a neighbouring village. He was dragged to the village and beaten up by Duraisamy and his men in front of a temple, where about 100 people had gathered. Velmurugan, younger brother of Murugesan, recalled, “My brother was beaten up severely. They tortured him: tying up his legs with a rope, they lowered him, upside down, into a deep bore-well near the temple, asking him to disclose the whereabouts of Kannagi.” Murugesan begged for his life and said Kannagi was in the custody of his relative Saroja at Moongilthuraipattu. Then, Duraisamy’s men brought Kannagi to the village in the early hours of July 8 from Saroja’s house. She was taken to a burial ground. Murugesan was also taken there by Duraisamy and his relatives. Duraisamy went over to Kannagi and spat on her face. Then, he handed pesticide in a tumbler to his son Maruthupandian, and they made Kannagi consume it. Thereafter, Maruthupandian handed over poison to a relative of Murugesan and asked him to pour it into the mouth of Murugesan. As Murugesan resisted, they opened his mouth with a knife and poured the poison in. While Murugesan’s body was burnt near a stream, Kannagi’s body was taken to a crematorium meant for the caste Hindus. Sent away by the police On the day of occurrence, Chinnapillai, stepmother of Murugesan, went to the Virudhachalam police station, along with a few relatives. They were sent away by the police. The death of the couple was hushed up by the influential persons, but it spread by word of mouth. A Tamil weekly carried a report and Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi leader Thol. Thirumavalavan raised the issue at a press conference. Initially, Duraisamy and his group claimed that the couple committed suicide because of irreconcilable differences. However, Samikannu and other Dalits alleged that the Vanniyars had brought Murugesan and Kannagi, by deceit and force, to Pudukkooraipettai and murdered them. It took nine days for the Virudhachalam police to register a case, on the basis of voluntary confession by Duraisamy. Inspector Sellamuthu implicated three Dalits, including Samikannu, and arrested eight men: four Vanniyars and four Dalits, including Duraisamy, Maruthupandiyan, Samikannu, and Ayyasamy. The police claimed that Duraisamy admitted that he felt ashamed of the love affair and asked Samikannu and Ayyasamy to bring the couple to the village. He gave poison to his daughter and Samikannu gave the left-over to his son. Both of them cremated the bodies. The arrest of Samikannu and the three other Dalits caused a controversy since the Dalits believed that they were, in no way, involved in the murder. Thereafter, the Dalits approached advocate P. Rathnam who, though not a Dalit by birth, championed their causes. Mr. Rathnam and a team of lawyers visited the village and prepared a report. They fought for justice until the Supreme Court delivered its verdict last month. Within 23 days of the occurrence, the Principal Sessions Judge, Cuddalore, granted bail to the arrested persons, reasoning that Duraisamy would be disqualified from the post of panchayat president if he was to be in judicial custody for more than 30 days. After being released on bail, Samikannu and the other Dalits approached the Madras High Court for a CBI investigation. Meanwhile, inspector Sellamuthu completed his probe and filed a charge sheet before the Judicial Magistrate, arraigning the four Vanniyars and four Dalits, who were arrested earlier, as the accused. Subsequently, the High Court ordered the CBI to conduct a fresh investigation. The CBI filed a charge sheet on October 14, 2005, before the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Chengalpattu, against 15 accused, including Tamilmaran, sub-inspector, and Sellamuthu, inspector, of the Vriddhachalam police station. Though the final report was filed by the CBI in 2005, the case was committed to the Court of Session only after more than four years. The trial court framed the charges and questioned the accused persons more than seven years after the crime. The reason for this inordinate delay was the filing of petitions for discharge of the accused persons, and for cancellation of the bail of some of the accused persons for intimidating the witnesses. Death sentence awarded On September 24, 2021, the Special Court for Exclusive Trial of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act Cases, Cuddalore, acquitted Ayyasamy and Gunasekaran of all the charges. It awarded the death sentence to Marudhupandian and life imprisonment to Duraiswami and 11 others. Following appeals, a Division Bench of the High Court delivered a common judgment on April 13, 2022, and commuted the death sentence imposed on Marudhipandian. However, it confirmed the life
Mystery shrouds Dalit man death in fire
Mandya: In a shocking incident, a 43-year-old Dalit man, Jayakumar, was alleged to have been burned alive in Katteraghatta village, located in KR Pet taluk of Mandya district, on Saturday. Police said the incident occurred when a haystack owned by Anil Kumar, a resident of the same village and a member of an upper-caste family, was placed on land belonging to Jayakumar. Despite repeated requests by Jayakumar to remove the haystack, Anil Kumar allegedly refused. In her police complaint, Lakshmi, the wife of the deceased, complained against Anil Kumar. Jayakumar is alleged to have set fire to the haystack and then jumped into the flames, resulting in his death. On Friday, Jayakumar had also given a complaint to KR Pet Rural police station against Anil Kumar for allegedly not removing the haystack from his land, police stated. KR Pet Rural police have filed a murder case under the provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. 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.