As Modi meets Sachkhand Ballan chief, why Punjab’s largest Dalit dera matters politically
Home to Punjab’s largest Ravidasia congregation, the dera has evolved into a symbol of Dalit assertion, religious identity and electoral significance. Chandigarh: Last week, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi was in Jalandhar to inaugurate a new railway station, one of the few persons he chose to specially meet was Sant Niranjan Dass, head of the influential Dalit Dera Sachkhand Ballan. The warmth between the PM and the Dalit dera appears mutual. In December last year, Sant Dass had first met Modi inviting him to the dera on the occasion of Guru Ravidas Jayanti, and the PM visited the dera in February to participate in the ceremony. The dera chief was also honoured with the civilian award Padma Shri last month. Apart from the growing personal friendship, the PM’s open patronage of Punjab’s largest Dalit dera can also be read politically as part of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) outreach to Dalit voters ahead of next year’s assembly polls. ThePrint explains the emergence of Dera Sachkhand Ballan, located at Ballan in Jalandhar, and its political significance in Punjab. Three prominent deras Deras, widespread in Punjab, are socio-religious centres of various sects and organisations. Unlike Sikh gurdwaras, where the Guru Granth Sahib is considered a living guru, deras are generally led by a living guru with a personal following. Dera Radha Soami Satsang Beas, Dera Sacha Sauda (headquartered in Sirsa) and Dera Sachkhand Ballan are the three most followed deras in Punjab, commanding a following running into several lakhs. Though the dera Beas, located in the Majha belt, is considered to be apolitical, the BJP has in the past few years made multiple efforts to cement the party’s bond with dera chief Baba Gurinder Singh. The outreach has included the PM meeting Baba Gurinder Singh on several occasions. The dera at Sirsa, which has a large following in Malwa, is headed by Gurmeet Ram Rahim currently in jail serving multiple sentences for rape and murder. He is considered to be close to the BJP, with the administration allowing him breaks from jail several times in the year. Now, the bonhomie with a prominent Dalit dera in the heart of Doaba completes the picture. Dalits hold the key Dalits constitute almost 32 percent of Punjab’s population, the highest proportion of Scheduled Caste (SC) population among all Indian states, according to the 2011 Census. They are divided among Sikh, Hindu and Christian faiths, and many flock to deras. Dalits also do not vote en bloc in Punjab. Among the Dalits, the Ravidasias, Ramdasias and Ad-Dharmis are the major sub-groups, concentrated in the Doaba region comprising the districts of Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, SBS Nagar and Phagwara. Ronki Ram, from the department of sociology, Panjab University Chandigarh, had in his seminal study on Punjab Dalits reported that the Ravidasias are the most prominent Dalit community in the state. “Out of the 39 SC castes in Punjab, the four major castes of Chamar (23.45 percent), Ad-dharmi (11.48 percent), Balmiki (9.78 percent) and Mazhabi (29.72 percent) constitute 74.44 percent of the total SC population,” he wrote in his research paper titled ‘Caste within Caste: Predicament of Political Solidarity among Scheduled Castes in Contemporary Punjab’. “Chamars are further divided into Ravidasias (leather workers) and Ramdasias (weavers). The Ravidasias have utilised the availability of reservation in education well, and are more upwardly mobile than Ramdasias,” he told ThePrint. The Ravidasias are followers of Guru Ravidas, a 15th-century Bhakti saint and social reformer of the Chamar caste whose egalitarian message resonated with Dalit communities. “Ravidas was born into the Chamar caste, also known as Kutbandhla, one of the Scheduled Castes (SC) in Uttar Pradesh. Chamars are known by their profession of leather and tanning. They were oppressed and their touch and sight were considered polluting by the upper castes. Ravidas revolted against this inhuman system of untouchability. He adopted bhakti as a mode of expression for his revolt,” reads Ronki Ram’s research paper. Guru Ravidas’s poetic hymns are also included in the holy text of the Guru Granth Sahib. Every year, trains full of devotees from Sachkhand Ballan head to Shri Guru Ravidas Janam Asthan in Varanasi to mark the guru’s birth anniversary. During his visit to Jalandhar last week, the PM also flagged off the Sant Ravidas Express connecting Amritsar to Varanasi to facilitate devotees travelling from Punjab. The Sachkhand Ballan Dera is the largest dera of the Ravidasias in Punjab. According to Ronki Ram, the growth and expansion of Sachkhand Ballan is an example of the upward mobility of Ravidasias. “Many Ravidasias went abroad and have earned well and have invested in Guru Ravidas deras. They have built temples, gurdwaras, bhawans (memorial halls), educational institutions/chairs, cultural organisations and hospitals in his name all over Punjab. They are also networked and, as a community, enjoy political clout. The growth and expansion of Sachkhand Ballan is an example of this upward mobility of Ravidasias,” he said. A faultline among Ravidasias and radical Sikhs emerged in 2009 when six armed men attacked a Ravidasia congregation at Ravidas Gurdwara in Vienna in Austria, where Sant Ramanand, the then second in command of the dera, was fatally injured. Sant Niranjan Dass, who was heading the sect even then and was with Sant Ramanand, was injured. Sikh extremists saw some Ravidasia practises as divergent from orthodox Sikh canon. They objected to keeping the Guru Granth Sahib at the same level as a human guru. The 2009 attack triggered protests in Punjab, with clashes among Sikhs and Ravidasias reported in Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, and other areas. Several vehicles were burnt in the riots that ensued. A passenger train was torched after passengers were asked to evacuate. Then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had to appeal for peace. In September 2010, a Vienna court sentenced the main attacker to life in prison for murder and attempted murder, while four accomplices received 17 to 18-year sentences and a sixth received six months. Demand for separate identity The Vienna incident was pivotal in galvanising the community’s sense of a separate identity.
Dalit farmer assaulted, subjected to casteist slurs; case registered: Incident occurred in Baghaura village, Bar police station area. A case has been filed under the SC/ST Act along with sections of assault and assault.
Lalitpur. A Dalit farmer working in his field in Baghaura village, Bar police station area, was assaulted and insulted with casteist slurs. Based on the complaint of the victim, police have registered an FIR against four named accused under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. According to the FIR, Brijlal Ahirwar, a resident of Baghaura village, stated that on July 24, 2026, at around 8 a.m., his uncle, Govinda Ahirwar, was working in his field. Jagdish Yadav, Akash, Dayaram, and Ghuman, residents of the village, arrived and began abusing him. When he resisted, the accused assaulted Govinda Ahirwar with sticks, causing serious injuries. The complaint alleges that the accused insulted her using casteist slurs, threatened to kill her, and fled the scene. The police have registered a case under sections 115(2), 351(3), 352 of the IPC and sections 3(1)(d), 3(1)(g) and 3(2)(va) of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and have begun an investigation. Jitendra Singh | Bar, Lalitpur Courtesy: Hindi News
Eight people have been booked for Dalit harassment in Pratapgarh: They accused youths returning from herding goats, and an FIR was filed on the orders of the SC/ST Court.
A case has been filed against eight named accused in connection with the assault and harassment of Dalits in the Aspur Devsara police station area of Pratapgarh, based on the orders of the SC/ST Court. The police have filed an FIR against the accused under various serious sections, including casteist insults, assault, threats, and rioting, and under the SC/ST Act. According to a petition filed in court by Pramila Devi, a resident of Bhikhampur, her son Lucky and family member Amit Kumar were returning home from herding goats on June 4th. It is alleged that Umesh, Dinesh, Omprakash, Umashankar, Ankit, Kusum, Sanskar, and Shiv from Pritampur village stopped them on the way. A woman who tried to protest was also assaulted. The victim alleges that all the accused used casteist slurs and assaulted the two youths, leaving them injured. Pramila Devi says that when she went to protest and complain about the incident, other people from the Yadav settlement also arrived. She alleges that she was also assaulted, resulting in injuries. FIR registered on court order Following a lack of action at the local level, Pramila Devi sought refuge in the SC/ST Court. Following the court’s direction, the Aspur Devsara police have registered a case against all the named accused under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Police say an investigation has been initiated and further legal action will be taken based on the evidence. Manu Kumar Singh | Pratapgarh Courtesy: Hindi News
One arrested for murder of transgender person in Mirzapur
Varanasi: Mirzapur police on Friday arrested a man in connection with the murder of a transgender person whose body was found near a railway track at Usarhawa village under Padari police station limits in Mirzapur district. Arshalan, a resident of Ghosia in Bhadohi district’s Aurai area, lodged a complaint at Padari police station on Thursday, alleging that Sattar Khan alias Haseena was murdered and the body dumped near the railway track. Based on the complaint, police registered a case and launched an investigation. During the probe, teams from Padari police, the Special Operations Group (SOG) and the surveillance cell collected electronic and physical evidence and arrested the accused, identified as Sonu Vishwakarma, 25, of Chak Jeevrani in Bhadohi, on Friday. Police also seized the autorickshaw allegedly used in the crime. Padari SHO Pradeep Kumar Singh said during interrogation, the accused confessed to the crime. According to police, Vishwakarma said he was tired of living with Haseena and wanted to end the relationship, but the victim was not allowing him to do so and was allegedly blackmailing him. Police said the accused told investigators that he called Haseena to Ramnagar, served alcohol, assaulted the victim while intoxicated and then strangled her to death. He allegedly transported the body in the autorickshaw and dumped it near the railway track in a secluded area under Padari police station limits. To mislead investigators, the accused allegedly placed a heavy stone on the victim’s neck before fleeing, police 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
Bharathiar University plans separate hostel for transgender students
COIMBATORE: Bharathiar University is planning to establish a separate hostel for transgender students to address accommodation challenges they face. A proposal for this initiative is expected to be presented before the syndicate for approval. Currently, some transgender students pursuing postgraduate programmes in the university have reported difficulties in finding accommodation in private hostels or houses. A transwoman was initially denied admission to the university but was later accepted following public outcry. However, she faced further difficulties in securing accommodation nearby and ultimately had to rent a house in Vellalore, which is more than 25 km away from the university. As a result, her daily commute takes more than two hours. To address these pressing issues, it was suggested that the university consider providing accommodation on campus. According to sources, the university is planning to establish a dedicated hostel with more than 20 rooms for transgender students. University registrar R Rajavel stated that this initiative could serve as a model for fostering an inclusive environment in higher education institutions, inspiring other universities and colleges to follow Bharathiar University’s lead. He said, “A transwoman from the commerce department has raised this concern. We plan to place before the syndicate a proposal to establish a dedicated hostel transgender students. Once it is approved, we will send it to the state govt.” 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
Main accused in Maharashtra TET paper leak arrested from Bihar
Earlier, the SIT arrested Suman Kumari Gupta, wife of the alleged mastermind Bijendra Gupta, from Patna after call records and financial transactions reportedly linked her to him. Nearly a month after the Maharashtra Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) 2026 was postponed over a question paper leak, police have arrested the alleged mastermind, Bijendra Gupta, who was living under a false identity in Bihar. Gupta, who was arrested by Bhiwandi Police from Bihar, was brought to Pune Airport, from where he will be taken to Bhiwandi, ANI reported. Gupta allegedly has been linked to multiple paper leak cases. He has allegedly been involved in leaks related to the 2023 Odisha Staff Selection Commission (OSSC) examination, the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) examination and the Madhya Pradesh Public Service Commission (MPPSC) examination. Gupta’s arrest comes after Maharashtra Police earlier arrested three other accused — Kapil Dahiya, Mithun Singh and Sonu Singh, from Bihar and Punjab, in connection with the case. The TET 2026 examination was postponed on June 27, a day before it was scheduled to be conducted, after police in Maharashtra’s Thane district detected that a portion of the question paper had been leaked and arrested three persons. Investigators have since found that the alleged racket extended across Delhi, Agra, Bihar and Haryana. Earlier, the SIT arrested Suman Kumari Gupta, wife of the alleged mastermind Bijendra Gupta, from Patna after call records and financial transactions reportedly linked her to him. Initial probe found that the confidential question papers were allegedly sourced directly from Mahim Patran Pvt. Ltd, a private printing press located in Agra, Uttar Pradesh. The TET paper leak came close on the heels of the national controversy triggered by the NEET-UG paper leak, raising fresh concerns over the integrity of competitive 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
Accused arrested for raping a minor Dalit girl in Muzaffarnagar
Muzaffarnagar (UP): A 21-year-old man has been arrested for raping a six-year-old Dalit girl in the Meerapur police station area of Muzaffarnagar district, a police official said. Station in-charge Rajiv Kumar said on Saturday that the incident occurred on Friday when the girl was playing outside her home. Based on a complaint from the victim’s mother, police have registered a case against the accused, Arjun Sharma, under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. According to the complaint, the accused neighbor lured the girl to his home and sexually assaulted her, causing injuries. Police said the victim has been sent for a medical examination and the accused has been arrested. Courtesy: Hindi News
Barnala Incident Reflects Bhagwant Mann Government’s Anti-Dalit Mindset; Arrest the Accused Immediately: Paramjit Singh Kainth
CHANDIGARH: Paramjit Singh Kainth, Vice President of the BJP Scheduled Caste Morcha, Punjab, strongly condemned the incident involving sanitation workers in Barnala, stating that it reflects the deteriorating law and order situation in Punjab and the Bhagwant Mann government’s alleged insensitivity towards the Dalit community. He alleged that the police action against protesting sanitation workers was carried out under political pressure, which is contrary to democratic rights and the principles of social justice. Kainth said that the National Commission for Safai Karamcharis taking suo motu cognizance of the matter and seeking a report from the Punjab Government is a clear indication of the state’s failure to protect the rights and dignity of sanitation workers. He demanded the immediate arrest of all those responsible, a fair and impartial investigation, and adequate security, appropriate compensation, and legal assistance for the affected sanitation workers. He warned that if the government fails to take prompt action, the BJP Scheduled Caste Morcha will launch a statewide democratic and constitutional agitation across Punjab in support of justice for the affected sanitation workers. Courtesy : Punjab News Express Note: This news is originally published on https:/punjabnewsexpress.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Two M.P. Police constables arrested for raping minor dalit girl in Bhopal
According to the police, the incident took place on July 22 and that the minor survivor lodged a complaint on July 23, based on which a case was registered Two Madhya Pradesh Police personnel have been arrested for allegedly raping a minor Dalit girl after abducting her in Bhopal, police said on Friday (July 24, 2026). According to the police, the incident took place on July 22 and that the minor survivor lodged a complaint in Bhopal’s Jahangirabad police station on July 23, based on which a case was registered. Bhopal Additional Commissioner of Police (law and order) Shailendra Singh Chauhan told The Hindu that the accused have been identified as constables Santosh Sen and Jitendra Singh, and that the duo have been arrested. “The complainant approached Jahangirabad Police Station and reported that two individuals, who are basically police constables, called the minor girl and took her in a car somewhere where one of them raped her,” Mr. Chauhan said. Case registered The officer said that a case under relevant provisions, including the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, and BNS Sections like 137(2), has been registered, and investigation has been taken up. Mr. Chauhan said that a medical examination was conducted on the survivor. Another officer from Jahangirabad said that the accused had called the girl and lured her on the pretext of taking her to someone’s birthday. “They then took her to a secluded location where Santosh Sen raped her. After this they left the girl at a square in the city,” the officer said, requesting anonymity. The officer said that the girl is currently at her home and her health condition is fine. Mehul Malpani Courtesy : The Hindu Note: This news is originally published on https:/thehindu.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Dalit family alleges court order, yet SDM changes land ownership
A decision by the SDM court regarding 17 bighas of land worth ₹20 crore in the Madhorajpura subdivision has sparked a major controversy. The aggrieved Dalit family has filed a complaint with the Chief Minister and Jaipur Collector Sandesh Nayak, accusing SDM Madhorajpura Rajesh Kumar of abuse of power and bias. Victim Paras Verma, a resident of Harsulia village, stated that in this 45-year-old dispute, the civil court had declared his registry valid on April 29, 2026. Despite this, on June 16, 2026, the SDM court, after a four-and-a-half-day hearing, disregarded the rules of the Rajasthan Tenancy Act and passed a decree transferring land previously owned by the SC category to the ST category. Invited to a flat, pressured Paras alleges that on June 3, he was summoned to a flat in Nandini Apartments near Sanganer Airport, where the SDM himself was present, and pressured to compromise. He is being threatened with arrest by the police if he refuses the offer. A complaint has been filed with the CMO, ACB, and the Scheduled Castes Commission. This is a judicial decision: SDM Regarding the allegations, SDM Rajesh Kumar said, “This is a judicial decision. If any party has any objections, the doors of appeal are open from the RAA to the Revenue Board; they are free to appeal.” Courtesy: Hindi News