Two Dalit Youths Beaten to Death by Mob on Theft Suspicion at Rajgir Temple Fair in Bihar
Two Dalit youths were allegedly beaten to death after being accused of theft at the famous Jhunkia Baba Temple during the ongoing Malmas fair in Rajgir. The victims, identified as Pintu Paswan (24) and Shravan Paswan (18), were residents of Ganjpar village in Nalanda district. Both had reportedly gone to the temple fair on Sunday night. Theft Suspicion Led to Mob Attack According to reports, the incident took place around 3:30 am on Monday when four youths allegedly entered the Pangat area of the temple premises. Temple authorities claimed the youths were trying to steal. All India Mahamandaleshwar Mahant Antaryami Sharan said there had been several theft incidents in recent days, which had created anger among devotees. “In the last few days, many theft incidents were reported in the temple. Devotees were already upset, and because of the Malmas fair, thousands had gathered there,” he said. When devotees noticed suspicious movement, they chased the youths. While two of them managed to escape, Pintu and Shravan reportedly fell while running and were caught by the crowd. Soon after, the mob allegedly attacked them brutally with sticks. Temple Security Handed Victims to Police The temple security team later rescued the injured youths from the mob and handed them over to the Rajgir Police. The victims were first taken to a local hospital and later referred to Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) for better treatment. However, both died during treatment due to serious injuries. Police Call It Double Murder Nalanda Superintendent of Police Bharat Soni said the case is being investigated from all angles. “We are investigating the case from every aspect. This is a case of double murder. Postmortem has been completed, and the report is awaited. Several teams have been formed to arrest all the accused. Some suspects are under interrogation,” he said. Police have formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) under the leadership of the Rajgir DSP. Heavy police force has also been deployed in the area to maintain law and order. Family Demands Justice Pintu’s mother, Saroj Devi, said her son was a daily wage labourer and the only earning member of the family after his father’s death. “I don’t know why my son went near the temple. He and his friend were beaten so badly that they died. We want the killers arrested immediately,” she said. She added that Pintu was the eldest among five brothers and three sisters and his death has left the family devastated. Courtesy : TOP Note: This news is originally published on https:/theobserverpost.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
How Bengaluru’s Neeli Paradé creates space for Dalit stories that go beyond trauma
The third season of Neeli Paradé featured four short films by Dalit filmmakers. The post-screening discussion explored the films’ themes, creative processes, and social contexts. On June 14, the Dr Ambareesh Auditorium in Chamrajpet hosted season 3 of Neeli Paradé, a screening of four short films by Ambedkarite filmmakers. Presented by Neelavarana, a Bengaluru-based Ambedkarite production house and artists’ collective, the event celebrates Dalit and Bahujan lives and experiences while creating space for dialogue between filmmakers and audiences through post-screening discussions. Neeli Paradé was first organised in 2022, and has since evolved from a small show into a recurring platform for Dalit and Bahujan filmmakers and conversations around their cinema. Among the short films screened, the spotlight rested on Moda Moda by MK Abhilash and Out of Syllabus by Mahishaa, who is also the founder of Neelavarana. Moda Moda follows a couple who decide to name their would-be child Moda (clouds). Out of Syllabus centres on the blooming companionship between two girls, Sneha and Kritika, and their shared backgrounds as they walk home from school. Following the screenings, both filmmakers participated in a discussion moderated by Vijeta Kumar, an assistant professor at Bengaluru’s St Joseph’s University. The discussion explored the films’ themes, creative processes, and social contexts. The focus remained on community and shared values, while the stories told made the setting intimate and personal. “I think films are a great way to get people to think about things that they might not otherwise be comfortable talking about,” remarks Taanika Shankar, a schoolteacher who had attended Neeli Paradé for the first time. “I moved to Bengaluru a couple of years ago, and I too come from a Dalit background. I wanted to find a community where there are Dalit filmmakers and films about issues that impact Dalits. That’s when I came across the channel Neelavarna Media,” recalls Abhiraj Dethe, a director and writer whose recent works include projects with Flying Dosa Films. Abhiraj has attended earlier sessions and even remembers having previously watched one of the films screened on June 14. The post-screening discussion reflected on how the films moved beyond conventional portrayals of Dalit lives. “Since the time we started making films, I have seen that stories dealing with Dalit issues often portray us either as victims or as fighters,” commented an audience member. “Here, I see that the characters are also smiling, and the filmmaker is also smiling.” The event also featured stalls run by community-owned small businesses selling crochet products, artwork, and homemade chocolates. The initiative was aimed at supporting independent artists and entrepreneurs. Looking ahead, Mahishaa aspires to make Neeli Paradé an annual festival and to expand its reach to other cities like Mysuru and Mangalore through special invitations. Neelavarana is also open to where the future might lead, including the possibility of venturing into longer formats, which may be difficult, Mahishaa notes. “The next major step is to move towards feature films. That is a challenge. That’s something we have to figure out how to do, but we do want to eventually go into feature films and bigger screenings and events,” he told TNM. Written by:Swetha Anil Kumar, Deva Manohar Manoj (Students interning with TNM) Courtesy TNM Note: This news is originally published on https:/thenewsminute.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
‘Why should a Dalit worry about RSS’: BJP MP to Priyank Kharge; gets sharp ‘fear none’ reply
NEW DELHI: A remark by BJP MP Ramesh Jigajinagi questioning why a Dalit minister should be concerned about the RSS triggered a sharp response from Karnataka home minister Priyank Kharge on Thursday, with the Congress leader saying he “fears none” because he follows BR Ambedkar’s ideology. The controversy started from Priyank Kharge’s letter earlier this week to RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, seeking clarity on the organisation’s legal status and asking it to disclose details of its funding, income, expenditure and assets in the interest of transparency and constitutional accountability. Addressing a press conference in Vijayapura on Wednesday, Jigajinagi criticised the move, saying Priyank Kharge was overstepping his role as Home Minister. “Is it his job to ask such questions about RSS? People will only tell him (what RSS is). Whoever came in the way of RSS did not survive. He is unnecessarily picking up an issue with the RSS. We feel bad about it,” the BJP MP said, according to news agency PTI. “My question is – why does this Dalit man need to be concerned about the RSS?” he asked.Jigajinagi also said Priyank Kharge became a minister because his father, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, had “toiled hard” for the party and advised him to focus on governance instead of targeting the RSS. Responding to the BJP leader, Kharge said Jigajinagi’s remarks could be interpreted in several ways. “Is it a word of caution, advising Dalits not to associate with the RSS, which believes in the fundamentals of a hierarchical social order?” he asked. He also questioned whether the BJP MP was suggesting that, as a Dalit, he had no right to question “an organisation formed to safeguard the interests of those with a sense of social superiority.” Priyank Kharge further asked whether Jigajinagi’s remark that “no one who has taken on the RSS has survived” was made out of fear or intended to intimidate him. “What are the reasons behind this threat? What does he mean by saying ‘no one has survived’? Is the RSS a terrorist organisation? Does it eliminate those who question it?” the minister asked. Asserting that he draws strength from Ambedkar’s ideals, Priyank Kharge said, “I am a follower of Babasaheb’s ideology. The courage to question and my intellectual conviction come from him. Those who believe in Babasaheb do not fear.” “I fear only a lack of morality, not threats, because Ambedkar’s blood runs in our veins,” he added. 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
Father arrested for bid to kill girl over ‘transgender traits’
AURAIYA/KANPUR: Auraiya police on Wednesday arrested a man for attempting to kill his 14-year-old daughter after targeting her over her transgender characteristics. The accused allegedly beat the minor with a stick, threw her into the Patna canal and fled, police said. The girl, a resident of Kotwali Shivli area of Kanpur Dehat, survived because the canal’s water level was low, enabling her to drift towards the bank, where she was rescued by locals. She was taken to a nearby CHC, from where she was shifted to a hospital given her critical condition. According to police, the victim’s father took her on a scooter, claiming he would drop her at her aunt’s house in Bidhuna. On the way, between the villages of Baderahar and Bunchpur, he allegedly stopped the scooter, began abusing her with slurs related to her gender identity and assaulted her repeatedly. She told police he then dumped her into the canal and escaped. Bystanders who noticed the injured child and heard her cries informed the police. Inspector Lalitesh Narayan Tripathi, station house officer of Bela police station, and Santosh Kumar, in charge of the Purwa Sujan outpost, reached the spot and transported her to the CHC. “Since the girl had serious injuries, including trauma to her right eye and multiple injuries across her body, she was referred to a higher medical centre for advanced care,” said Dr Jitendra Kumar, posted at the CHC. Police said they conducted a raid soon after receiving the complaint and detained the father. During questioning, the accused allegedly admitted to beating the girl and throwing her into the canal, claiming he was angered by what he described as her transgender behaviour and alleging she was influencing her younger sister. 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
CPM objects to Telangana CM renaming road after Trump
NEW DELHI: Communist Party of India (Marxist) has strongly objected to chief minister Revanth Reddy-led Telangana govt’s renaming the road adjoining the US Consulate in Hyderabad to honour President Donald Trump. “BJP has no qualms about surrendering India’s sovereignty and self-respect, and now it seems that neither does the Congress govt in Telangana,” CPM general secretary MA Baby said on Wednesday. “We expect Congress high command will take note of this outrageous move and intervene to make sure it is withdrawn. Claims of carrying on the ideals of our anti-imperialist resistance movement must not be limited to words,” he said in a post, sharing a screenshot of a news report stating Reddy will inaugurate the road on June 23. “At a time when the belligerent US is in the midst of a war against Iran, a genocide in Gaza, military intervention in Venezuela and a criminal stranglehold on Cuba, CM Reddy is renaming the road adjoining the US Consulate in Hyderabad to honour Trump…” 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
Gobarha—the wages of untouchable laborers, extracted from animal dung! Baba Saheb revealed the extent of casteism in villages.
In some parts of Uttar Pradesh, Dalit laborers were paid “gobarha,” meaning “grain from cow dung,” for agricultural work. New Delhi—Imagine a poor laborer who has toiled all day in the scorching sun—sweating in the fields, harvesting crops, driving oxen to separate the grain from the chaff. His back is bent, his palms are chapped, but there is a small hope in his eyes that perhaps today he will receive some worthy reward for his hard work. Exhausted, he goes to his master to ask for his wages, hoping that perhaps today his children will have a full meal. But what does his master give him? Not money, not clean grain, but a bag full of gobarha—the very grain sifted from oxen dung. The same grains that passed through the stomachs of animals were now placed in the bag of this laborer, so that he could grind them into flour and make bread for his family. This is the story of Gobarha—a practice that symbolizes the inhumanity of the untouchables and the cruelty of the Hindu social system, as described by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar in his writings. This is a truth that shakes the heart and brings us to the depths of the oppression that the untouchables endured for centuries. Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar’s Writings and Speeches, Volume 5, Chapter 4, poignantly describes the harsh realities faced by the untouchables (Dalits) in India’s caste-dominated society, with the practice of Gobarha emerging as a prominent symbol of their inhumanity. The practice of Gobarha highlights the systematic oppression of the untouchables under the Hindu social system. It explains how this degrading practice reflects the economic, social, and cultural marginalization of the untouchables, keeping them outsiders in the so-called “village republic.” Villages Divided Ambedkar described the then Indian village as a divided society, divided into two parts: Touchable: Upper-caste Hindus who lived within the village and held economic and social power. Untouchable: A marginalized minority group forced to live in separate settlements outside the village and treated as “hereditary bonded labour.” A strict code of conduct enforced by the touchables governed every aspect of the untouchables’ lives, criminalizing even dignified actions, such as: Acquiring wealth (e.g., land or livestock). Building houses with tiled roofs. Wearing clean clothes, shoes, or gold jewelry. Giving children respectable names or speaking a cultured language. Violation of these rules invited punishments ranging from social ostracism to violence, ensuring the oppression of the untouchables. Ambedkar calls the Indian village a “republic of the negated,” in which there is no place for democracy, equality, liberty, or fraternity. It is a “republic of the touchables, by the touchables, and for the touchables,” where the untouchables are deprived of rights and are reduced to mere service and subservience. Gobarha: A Symbol of Inhumanity In parts of Uttar Pradesh, untouchables were given “gobarha,” meaning “dung grain,” for agricultural work. During the harvest season (March or April), oxen tread on the threshing floor to separate the grain from the chaff, consuming some of the grain and chaff. The next day, the partially digested grain is extracted from their dung, sieved, and given to untouchable laborers as their wages. These laborers turn this grain into flour and make bread, a result of their compulsion. Ambedkarite thinkers point out that gobarha was not merely a form of payment, but a deliberate insult. It symbolized the denial of dignified labor and food to untouchables, forcing them to survive on the remains left by animals. Ambedkar’s documentation of this practice underscores the cruelty of the caste system, where the labor of untouchables is so undervalued that even their livelihoods become degrading. Economic Exclusion and the Role of Gobarha In an agrarian society, land ownership is key to economic stability, but untouchables were systematically denied this due to: Financial constraints: Most did not have the means to purchase land. Social resistance: Upper-caste Hindus opposed attempts by untouchables to purchase land, seeing it as a challenge to their superiority and often punished such “courage.” Legal barriers: In areas like Punjab, laws such as the Land Alienation Act explicitly prohibited untouchables from purchasing land. As a result, untouchables were forced to become landless laborers, dependent on touchable farmers for work. Lacking bargaining power, they were forced to accept minimal wages—often in the form of commodities like cow dung—or face starvation and violence. Gobarha symbolized the economic exploitation of the untouchables: it was not valuable labor, but a byproduct of animal waste, reflecting the disdain of the touchables for untouchable labor. The process of extracting, sifting, and converting cow dung into food is laborious and degrading, further deepening their inferiority. This practice, prevalent in regions like Uttar Pradesh, reflected the widespread denial of fair compensation, forcing untouchables to exist on the margins of human dignity. The Right to Beg: A Parallel Livelihood Mechanism Baba Saheb writes that when agricultural work is unavailable (outside the harvest season), untouchables rely on precarious means of subsistence: Selling grass and firewood: Collected from forests, often requiring bribes to forest guards, and sold in towns where touchable buyers collude to drive down prices. Statutory begging: In many villages, untouchables have the “right” to beg for food from touchable homes. This is not charity, but a systematic practice that ties untouchable families to specific touchable families, akin to medieval slavery. Ambedkar points out that even in government jobs, the “value” of the food begged is taken into account when determining untouchables’ wages. Like cow dung, begging also increases dependency and dehumanization, trapping untouchables in a cycle of survival at the mercy of touchables. The Village Republic: An Empire of Exploitation Ambedkar calls the Indian village a “republic of the negation,” in which there is no place for democracy, equality, freedom, or fraternity. It is a “republic of the touchables, by the touchables, and for the touchables,” where the untouchables are deprived of rights and are reduced to mere service and subservience. Cowsheds and alms are the cornerstones of this exploitative system, designed to keep the untouchables “outside
Bihar: Two Dalit youths, who had gone to see the fair at the Jhunkiya Baba Temple in Rajgir, were beaten to death by a mob mistaking them for thieves.
An SIT has been formed under the leadership of the Rajgir DSP to investigate the mob lynching incident, and security has been increased to maintain law and order. Nalanda: Two Dalit youths, who had gone to enjoy the Malmas fair at the famous Jhunkiya Baba Temple in Rajgir district, were beaten to death by a mob mistaking them for thieves. The incident, which occurred on Sunday-Monday morning, left Pintu Paswan (24) and Shravan Paswan (18) victims of the mob’s brutality. The two youths, who were severely beaten with sticks and rods on suspicion of theft, died from their serious injuries. Both were residents of Ganjpar village in the Deepnagar police station area. This incident is extremely painful and heartbreaking not only for the families but for the entire Dalit community. All India Mahamandaleshwar Mahant Antaryami Sharan told local media that several incidents of theft had occurred at the temple in the past few days, causing widespread anger among devotees. Thousands of devotees had gathered at the temple premises on Sunday night due to the Malmas fair. The incident occurred around 3:30 a.m. on Monday when four young men entered the dining area with the intention of stealing. Seeing suspicious activity, people chased them. While fleeing, two of the young men fell and were caught by the mob. Initially, heated arguments ensued, but then they were accused of theft and severely beaten with sticks. The temple security team rescued the young men from the mob and handed them over to the Rajgir police. The young men were first taken to Sadar Hospital and then referred to Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) for better treatment, where both died during treatment. Police are also investigating the background of the deceased. Nalanda Superintendent of Police Bharat Soni said, “We are investigating every aspect of the case. This is a double murder. The postmortem has been completed, and the report is awaited. Several teams have been formed to arrest all the accused. Some suspects are being interrogated.” Pintu Paswan’s mother, Saroj Devi, said that Pintu was a daily wage laborer and the sole breadwinner of the family after his father’s death. He was the eldest of five brothers and three sisters. Saroj Devi said, “I don’t know why my son went near the temple. He and his friend were brutally beaten and killed. We want the killers arrested immediately.” A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed under the leadership of the Rajgir DSP, and a heavy police force has been deployed in the area. Security has been increased to maintain law and order. Bahujan and Dalit organizations have condemned the incident on social media and demanded justice. Geetha Sunil Pillai Courtesy: Hindi News
A 65-year-old Dalit woman was left running around for eight months, and the Orissa High Court sharply reprimanded the police for claiming a “lost file.”
The Orissa High Court took a strong stance on the eight-month delay in filing an FIR against an elderly Dalit woman who was defrauded of ₹2.10 lakh in a land deal, completely rejecting the police’s excuse of “lost file.” New Delhi: A 65-year-old Dalit woman, who was defrauded of ₹2.10 lakh in a land deal, had to approach the Orissa High Court for justice. Despite a magistrate’s clear instructions, the police did not file an FIR in the fraud case for more than eight months. The High Court has issued a stern remark, criticizing the police for this significant delay. The court clarified that arguments such as “lost file” or “unavailability of court orders” can no longer be routine excuses to undermine the judicial process. In her June 12 order, Justice Savitri Ratho expressed deep concern over the local police’s attitude towards court orders. While hearing the case, he stated that it is possible for files to go missing, but unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident. The judge explained that he has encountered numerous cases where local police do not comply with the orders of the family court or magistrate. Despite repeated reminders and extensions, police officers remain unmoved. The timeline for this case is astonishing. The magistrate had clearly ordered the registration of an FIR in the case on August 6, 2025. However, the case was registered at the Ranpur police station eight months later, on April 24. The court noted that in such cases, the police often make the same common excuse: that the court order or warrant was lost, or that the officer concerned had recently joined duty. The court found this explanation completely unacceptable. The court argued that every police station maintains separate registers to record orders and letters received from various courts and officials, making the claim of a missing file meaningless. In light of these negligences, the Orissa High Court has urged the state’s Director General of Police (DGP) to issue necessary guidelines to his officers to ensure respect for judicial orders and their prompt implementation. The root of this entire dispute stems from a fraud that occurred in May 2025. The 65-year-old petitioner, belonging to the Scheduled Caste community, was duped into selling her land by the accused. Under the pretense of registering a sale deed with the sub-registrar, the accused extorted a hefty sum of ₹2.10 lakh from the elderly woman. However, they never executed the sale deed nor returned her money despite repeated requests. Fighting for her rights, the victim first approached the lower court, which took the matter seriously, registered an FIR, and ordered an investigation. When the police refused to listen to her complaint and took no action, she was forced to seek recourse to the High Court through advocate Umakant Sahu. On the other hand, representing the state government, Additional Standing Counsel Saroj Kumar Rout informed the court that an FIR has now been registered in the matter and Sub-Inspector Hasina Pradhan is investigating it. Despite this, the Orissa High Court continued to strongly criticize the eight-month delay in complying with the magistrate’s order and the irresponsible explanation given by the police. Rajan Chaudhary Courtesy: Hindi News
Passed the police recruitment exam in 2018, won a legal battle for appointment, yet this transgender woman from Tamil Nadu still awaits uniform!
Aradhana, along with five Tirunangas, joined forces to raise their voices for their rights. In 2022, the court issued clear instructions that all five Tirunangas be given female-like privileges in all stages, including the physical efficiency test, and that the entire recruitment process be completed within eight weeks. Theni – Aradhana, a Tirunangas (transgender) woman in Theni district, Tamil Nadu, dreamed of getting a job in the police department, but even after eight years, her dream remains unfulfilled. Aradhana passed the Class II police recruitment exam in 2018, but has not been appointed. She fought a legal battle against the government and won a court decision, but her difficulties remain unresolved. Aradhana (33), a resident of Parastrode 6th Street in Theni, is currently serving in the Home Guard (Oorakkaval Padai). She had a passion for wearing a police uniform since childhood. She explains, “When I wanted to apply for the second-tier police recruitment exam in 2018, I was denied permission because there was no separate application system for transgender people at that time.” Aradhana didn’t give up. She approached the court and, following a court order, took the exam. She passed the written exam, but when it came to the Physical Efficiency Test, she wasn’t called. Following this, Aradhana filed another petition in the Madras High Court. Recognizing the gravity of the matter, the High Court delivered a historic verdict. The court stated that transgender people live in extremely disadvantaged conditions in society, and therefore, they should be given reservations in government jobs. Based on this court order, a position was reserved for Aradhana in the police department in 2018. Aradhana’s case was combined with those of other transgender people. A total of five transgender people joined forces to raise their voices for their rights. In 2022, the court issued clear instructions that all five Tirunanga candidates be given female-friendly privileges in all stages, including the physical efficiency test, and that the entire recruitment process be completed within eight weeks. While this court decision gave hope to Aradhana and her colleagues, the Tamil Nadu government filed an appeal against the decision in the High Court. This appeal is still pending. Aradhana says, “We fought a legal battle, we won the decision, but it was of no use. The government appealed against us, and since then we are back in the same waiting phase.” A few years ago, driven to despair, Aradhana filed a petition with the Teni Collector’s office. She stated, “If my dream of becoming a police officer is not fulfilled, revoke my citizenship and kill me through euthanasia.” Her action created a sensation in the area, but even then, her problem remained unresolved. Aradhana explained that her fascination with the police uniform inspired her to join the Home Guard in 2019. She now serves there, but her true dream remains unfulfilled. She says, “It’s very difficult for us Tirunangas to live a normal life in this society. Our identity itself becomes the biggest obstacle to our dreams. Should we not get police jobs just because of our gender?” Keeping her dream alive, Aradhana has appealed to the Tamil Nadu government, “Please withdraw the appeal filed against the court decision we won. Implement the court order. If this happens, the darkness in our lives will be lifted. May the Tamil Nadu government have mercy on us.” Pa. Ranjith’s Neelam Social Organization has also supported Aradhana and appealed to the Tamil Nadu government for support. Geetha Sunil Pillai Courtesy: Hindi News
“My son’s killers will be destroyed”: Dalit youth killed in police custody cremated after 101 days
Following strict instructions from the Madras High Court, the funeral of a 26-year-old Dalit youth, a victim of police torture in Tamil Nadu, took place after 101 days. Family members wept inconsolably as they pleaded for justice. A 26-year-old Dalit youth, who died due to alleged police torture in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, was cremated on Wednesday after 101 days. Following strict instructions from the Madras High Court, the youth’s funeral took place at an electric crematorium in Madurai amid tight security. This entire incident raises serious questions about police accountability and human rights violations. The youth’s name was Akash. Following his death, the family refused to accept his body for more than three months. The family demanded the immediate arrest of all police officers involved in the alleged custodial murder. However, after court intervention, the funeral was finally completed amid protests and deep grief from the family. Aakash, a resident of Manamadurai in Sivaganga district, was arrested by local police on March 6 in connection with an assault case. Police claimed that Akash fractured his leg while trying to escape. On the other hand, Akash filed a statement before a judicial magistrate stating that the policemen brutally beat him and broke his leg. He subsequently succumbed to his injuries on March 8 while undergoing treatment at the Government Rajaji Hospital in Madurai. The post-mortem report released after Akash’s death shocked everyone, revealing approximately 28 injury marks on his body. This revelation sparked massive protests from Scheduled Caste welfare organizations and family members. Given the gravity of the case, the investigation was handed over to the CBI on March 9, and six police officers, including an inspector and a sub-inspector, were suspended. Taking suo motu cognizance of the matter, the Madras High Court on March 13 directed the CB-CID to register a case against the accused officers under murder and relevant sections of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Subsequently, the CB-CID interrogated 11 police officers, including Manamadurai DSP Raja and several other inspectors. Meanwhile, the victim’s father, Rajesh Kannan, approached the High Court, demanding compensation of ₹50 lakh and the arrest of 16 police officers involved in the incident. The family continued to protest near the old bus stand in Manamadurai to press for their demands. To end the dispute, the High Court ordered on June 15 that if the family did not accept the body by 5 pm that evening, the local administration would proceed with the funeral in a dignified manner. Following the family’s refusal to accept the body, the court assigned the responsibility of conducting the funeral to the Madurai District Collector, Corporation Commissioner, and hospital officials. When police and administrative officials arrived at the hospital mortuary on Wednesday morning to take the body, the family staged a fierce protest. Law enforcement officers briefly detained the protesting relatives in a police vehicle and then brought them to the crematorium to witness the final rites. The atmosphere at the crematorium became extremely somber when Akash’s mother burst into tears. She threw a handful of dirt at the policemen and cursed that those responsible for her son’s death would one day be completely destroyed. Rajan Chaudhary Courtesy: Hindi News