The issue of caste discrimination and mental harassment of a Dalit M.Ed. student at CSJMU heats up, with Bhim Army and student organizations staging a violent protest.
The Bhim Army Students Federation has launched a protest against the caste discrimination and mental harassment of an M.Ed. student at Chhatrapati Shahuji Maharaj University, leveling serious allegations against the administration and police. Lucknow: Student organizations, led by the Bhim Army Students Federation (BASF), have launched a protest to secure justice for Prema Devi, a Dalit M.Ed. (session 2024-26) student studying in the Department of Teacher Education at Chhatrapati Shahuji Maharaj University (CSJMU), Kanpur, with the support of the AISA student organization. As soon as the student organizations joined the protest, the police administration turned the entire campus into a cantonment, but the Bhim Army Students Federation remained firm on its demands and launched a vigorous protest. The Bhim Army Students Federation (BASF) submitted a detailed memorandum to the Vice Chancellor of the University, demanding strict action against the accused teachers. Student leaders accused the university administration of suppressing the ongoing cases of caste-based harassment and discrimination on campus. During the memorandum, Hemant Vidyarthi, District Coordinator of the Bhim Army Students Federation, stated that this is not the first case at the university, and that many previous instances of caste-based discrimination and administrative neglect have been reported against researchers and students. He alleged that whenever students raise their voices for their rights, the administration, instead of showing sensitivity, attempts to hush up the cases. During the protest, student leader Sachin Chandra stated that the Vice Chancellor is showing no urgency in providing justice to Prema Devi. Meanwhile, Abhishek Comrade, in his address, stated that casteism is rampant in the university and that if the victim does not receive justice, this place will be turned into Jantar Mantar. The organization has issued a strong warning that if the victim, Prema Devi, does not receive immediate justice, this fight will be escalated into a massive public movement from the university campus to the entire state. According to the complaint submitted by the victim, she was selected fourth in her class in the entrance examination, yet the Head of Department, Dr. Tanuja Bhatt, publicly discredited her by claiming that she had received admission through pleading. The student also alleges that teacher Dr. Vimal Singh targeted her with abusive language in class. The complaint further states that during the farewell ceremony, she was publicly humiliated, caste-based remarks were made that were derogatory to her dignity, and threats were made to ruin her future. The student alleges that when she protested, she was subjected to biased evaluation of answer sheets and undue pressure was exerted to enroll in mid-term examinations, contrary to the rules. Despite a previous complaint to the then Head of Department, Dr. Rashmi Gore, and the internal committee, an attempt was made to suppress the matter instead of conducting an impartial investigation. The memorandum submitted to the Vice Chancellor places a number of key demands. The first demand is that, given the sensitivity of the matter, an immediate administrative inquiry be initiated against the Head of Department, Dr. Tanuja Bhatt, and if the allegations are proven, legal action should be taken under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The second demand states that, for a fair and transparent investigation, the accused teachers be removed from their current positions and an independent inquiry committee be formed, with no direct or indirect interest in the matter. The third demand calls for an independent review of the student’s answer sheets, internal marks, and evaluation records by impartial experts. The fourth and final demand calls for ensuring that any form of retaliatory action or psychological pressure against the student is completely prevented during the investigation process and that her legitimate academic rights are fully protected. Sachin Chandra, Abhishek, Kartik, Swarnkant, Rajesh, Amarkant, Riya, Neelam, Asha, Savita, and Govind, along with many other students, were present during the demonstration and memorandum program. Rajan Chaudhary Courtesy: Hindi News
Telangana doctor held for cheating Dalit woman over marriage
The woman alleged that the doctor had promised to marry her once his divorce was finalised. Hyderabad: A 39-year-old orthopaedic doctor was arrested by Chunchupalli Police in Bhadradri Kothagudem district for allegedly cheating a woman on false promise of marriage. According to local reports, the woman had approached the accused, Dr Nadikudi Shailesh Kumar, in June 2022 for treatment while he worked at a private hospital. In October of the same year, Kumar started working at Sri Krishna Multi-Specialty Hospital in Vidyanagar Colony and the woman continued her treatment there. The woman has alleged that the doctor took advantage of her dependence on him as a patient and sexually assaulted her multiple times over the course of four years. She claimed that she underwent spinal surgery at his hospital in April 2023, and the doctor forced her to have intercourse even though she was suffering from pain after the surgery. The woman has alleged that the doctor had promised to marry her after his divorce. The divorce was reportedly finalised in August, and the woman asked him to marry her. However, the man refused and allegedly used casteist remarks against her. A case was registered under sections 115(2) (voluntarily causing simple hurt) and 69 (sexual intercourse by employing deceitful means) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with provisions of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Shailesh Kumar was sent to judicial remand on October 15. Courtesy : TSD Note: This news is originally published on https:/thesiasatdaily.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Dalit man beaten to death in UP’s Sitapur in front of 10-year-old daughter
Preliminary investigation suggests the murder was linked to a long-standing rivalry between two families. A 35-year-old Dalit man was beaten to death in front of his 10-year-old daughter on a national highway in Uttar Pradesh’s Sitapur district, police said on Friday. Preliminary investigation suggests the murder was linked to a long-standing rivalry between two families. The incident took place on Thursday evening near Ludhaura village under Kamlapur police station limits, when Manoj Gautam was returning home from a local market with his daughter. A group of men intercepted and assaulted him, police said. His family took him to a community health centre in Kasmanda, where doctors declared him brought dead. Superintendent of Police Ankur Agarwal said an FIR had been registered against six people, including two women, under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Four accused, including Shubham Singh, Dhirendra Singh and Narendra Singh, have been arrested, while four police teams have been formed to nab the remaining accused, he said. Police said Gautam had earlier filed a case against the accused under the SC/ST Act. The two sides had also engaged in a verbal altercation on Wednesday. Courtesy : TNIE Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Maha to build separate toilets for transgenders across all ST bus stands
Nagpur: For a transgender person a toilet at a state transport bus stand, there was no toilet meant for them. The state govt has now sanctioned Rs 9.77 crore to build separate toilets for transgender persons at ST bus stands across Maharashtra. In a govt resolution (GR) issued on Wednesday, the transport department gave administrative approval for a combined estimate of Rs 9,76,63,195 covering 31 ST divisions. The GR says the absence of a separate toilet at bus stands forces transgender persons to face social and physical difficulties and causes them considerable distress. Vidarbha’s nine ST divisions together get about Rs 2.71 crore. Amravati has the largest share in the region at Rs 50.74 lakh, followed by Nagpur at Rs 48.40 lakh, Yavatmal at Rs 36 lakh, Buldhana at Rs 33.83 lakh and Bhandara at Rs 31.46 lakh. Chandrapur gets Rs 20.43 lakh, Akola Rs 19.48 lakh, Wardha Rs 16.94 lakh and Gadchiroli Rs 13.75 lakh. Across the state, Kolhapur division gets the highest allocation at Rs 55.20 lakh and Latur the lowest at Rs 9.60 lakh. The proposal came from the ST corporation’s vice-chairperson and managing director, after the minister of state for urban development, transport and social justice, among other portfolios, directed that the transport department give approval without delay. The cost will be met from the social justice department’s funds for setting up a welfare board for transgender persons and protecting their rights. The sanction comes with conditions. Layout and detailed plans must be approved by architects before work begins, a detailed estimate must be prepared, and the executive engineer concerned must give technical sanction. The GR does not say how many toilets will be built or at which bus stands, as the annexure lists only division-wise lump sums. 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
Honour is not family’s monopoly, Yogi says, invoking dalit freedom fighter
The CM said that the intersection where Masuriya Din’s statue was installed would be named after him and sought a proposal from the Prayagraj Mayor. LUCKNOW: Reminding people of the contributions of several Dalit icons to winning freedom for the nation, UP CM Yogi Adityanath, on Thursday, said Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi should know that it was not only Jawaharlal Nehru but also Masuriya Din Pasi who had gone to jail for the freedom of the country. Asserting that honour was not the exclusive property of any family, CM Yogi said those who raised their voices for Dalits and the deprived sections and dedicated their lives to the nation and society must also be given due respect. He was addressing a gathering after unveiling a statue of Masuriya, a Dalit freedom fighter from the Pasi community, at Mahashay Masuriyadin Smarak Inter College in Teliyarganj in Prayagraj. Notably, Masuriya Din Pasi was co-elected from the Phulpur Lok Sabha constituency twice, in 1952 and 1957, along with Nehru, and is also known to have worked towards the education of the Scheduled Castes. The CM stated that, as a member of the Constituent Assembly, Masuriya was the one who had got the British Criminal Tribes Act abolished. “After suffering defeat in the First War of Independence in 1857, the British enacted the Criminal Tribes Act in 1871 and humiliated numerous castes, including the Pasi community. Babasaheb and Masuriya Din ji fought against that law and eventually got it abolished, connecting the Pasi, Sonkar, deprived and Dalit communities with the mainstream of the nation and inspiring them to live a life of dignity,” said the CM. He added that Masuriya Din lived for 66-67 years, of which he spent nine years (1932-1944) in jail for taking part in the freedom movement. Even after his release, he continued to carry out public awareness activities. The CM said that the intersection where Masuriya Din’s statue was installed would be named after him and sought a proposal from the Prayagraj Mayor. “The name of one institution in Prayagraj would also be changed to Mahashay Masuriya Din’s name. His statue would also be installed, as the society can progress only by honouring great personalities,” said the CM. He claimed that by honouring the past, the present could be improved, and only by improving the present could the future be bright. “Honouring Mahashay is honouring the freedom fighters, and no shortcoming will be allowed in this regard,” he stated. “He was pushed into oblivion in the annals of history, but the BJP government, which believes in development and heritage, does not allow great personalities to be forgotten. We have unveiled his statue to keep his memories alive,” the CM added. Yogi also invoked the history of Pasi warriors, citing Maharaja Bijli Pasi, who, he said, established 12 forts in and around the state capital in the 12th century as part of the efforts to resist foreign invaders. He also recalled the contribution of Makkha Pasi and his wife, freedom fighter Uda Devi Pasi, who took up the fight against the British after her husband’s death and laid down her life in the struggle. Namita Bajpai 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
Hardoi teenager held hostage and raped in Rajasthan: Lured with the promise of a job, forced to marry in a temple
A 17-year-old Dalit girl from Hardoi has alleged that she was held hostage and raped in Rajasthan after being lured with the promise of a job. The victim alleges that she somehow managed to escape from the accused’s clutches and reach home. Subsequently, she filed a complaint at the police station around 4 pm on Tuesday, demanding action against the accused. The case is registered at Baghauli police station. Police have begun an investigation. Now learn the full story… According to the victim, she has studied up to grade eight. It is alleged that on August 3, 2026, a young man from her village, a truck driver in Rajasthan, lured her with the promise of a good-paying job in Chandigarh. Instead of taking her to Chandigarh, the accused took her to Rajasthan and held her captive there. During this time, he forced her into sexual intercourse against her will. Threatened to return home When she resisted and insisted on returning home, the accused threatened to kill her. The victim also alleges that the accused staged a forced marriage at a temple. 50,000 rupees withdrawn from bank account The teenager alleged that the accused fraudulently withdrew approximately 50,000 rupees from her bank account. Later, when the accused’s family learned about her caste, they refused to accept her. Shahnawaz Khan | Hardoi Courtesy: Hindi News
No reservation for OBC, Dalits who convert: Supreme Court
NEW DELHI: Supreme Court Thursday ruled a Scheduled Castes/OBC person who converts from a Hindu social order to a non-Hindu social order will not be entitled to the benefits of reservation. The court held that reservation is attached to a constitutionally identified class and not to an individual as a personal entitlement, which can be transferred if a person converts. SC said backwardness suffered by the person in Hindu religion cannot be carried forward to the new religion embraced by him or her. The order came on a petition filed by then DMK-led Tamil Nadu govt challenging a Madras HC order quashing state govt’s order to allow reservations for Dalit and OBC converts to Islam. As reservation is provided to some communities of other religions, which are recognised as backward classes in different states, a bench of Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and Shree Chandrashekhar held that conversion of OBCs/Dalits to a non-Hindu social order does not, by itself, confer membership of any particular notified backward class community of the adopted religion. The apex court’s verdict comes against the backdrop of growing demand for extending reservation to those OBCs/Dalits who converted to other religions. “A person who converts from a Hindu social order to a non-Hindu social order cannot claim affirmative action under Article 16(4) of Constitution merely on the basis of the social backwardness associated with his pre-conversion status; the backwardness suffered in the antecedent social order cannot, by itself, be carried forward so as to confer upon him the status of a backward class in the religion to which he has converted,” Supreme Courtsaid while quashing the Tamil Nadu order. 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
Allegations of house lock, assault, and forged deed: 75-year-old Dalit woman and family protest for the second day, administration begins investigation
Phool Kali, a 75-year-old Dalit woman, continued her protest with her family for the second day in Gauhania Kaundhiara. The woman, from Barethia village, alleges that her house was locked, she was assaulted, and a forged deed was executed. At the behest of SDM Bara, a revenue department accountant arrived at the protest site and heard the woman’s complaint. Phool Kali alleges that on October 7th, Rammilan Kushwaha, the operator of Kanak Hospital, arrived at her house with about two dozen people. They assaulted her children and locked the house. The woman filed a complaint and provided the police with a video of the assault. However, the police also filed a case against her family. The dispute also relates to a deed. According to Phool Kali, Rammilan Kushwaha had executed the deed of land belonging to her son Sohan in November 2022. In January 2026, a deed was also executed for the same portion of the house through Sohan, which the woman claims is fraudulent. She has demanded an investigation and cancellation of the deed. The elderly woman has demanded the unlocking of the house, a proper investigation into the assault, and justice by investigating the fraudulent deed. She has stated that the protest will continue until justice is achieved. Pravez Alam | Parsara (Bara), Prayagraj (Allahabad) Courtesy: Hindi News
‘Get your own party in order’: AAP targets Rahul over Cong state chief Pargat’s remarks on anti-drug drive
NEW DELHI: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Thursday hit back at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his criticism of Punjab’s anti-drug drive. It accused the Congress leadership of double standards and alleged that state Congress president was undermining the government’s action against drug traffickers. In a post on X, AAP questioned Gandhi’s stance on the crackdown, writing, “Rahul Gandhi Ji, in Punjab, the Mann government is taking strict action against drug traffickers, but your own state president Paragat Singh is standing in support of the drug traffickers. Can’t you see this, or are you deliberately turning a blind eye?” The party further challenged Gandhi to clarify whether his state unit supported the campaign against drugs, adding, “Before lecturing on the issue of drugs in Punjab, get your own party in order. At least ask your president whether he stands with the action against drugs or with the drug traffickers?”The exchange comes amid a political row over the killing of anti-drug activist Parminder Singh Jhota in Mansa. Rahul Gandhi had criticised the Bhagwant Mann-led government following the incident, saying that raising one’s voice against drug abuse in Punjab had become “a death sentence”. — PargatSOfficial (@PargatSOfficial) Jhota was allegedly shot by a medical shop owner and later succumbed to his injuries. The killing triggered protests and a statewide bandh on Thursday, with organisations demanding accountability over the state’s law-and-order situation and its anti-drug campaign. Punjab Police, in a joint operation with Rajasthan Police, arrested the alleged main shooter, Asvini, in Salasar, Rajasthan, officials said on Wednesday. The district administration subsequently demolished the accused’s residence amid heavy security deployment. Meanwhile, Punjab Congress president Pargat Singh criticised the authorities’ handling of the bandh in a post on X, writing, “Today, Punjab is back on the streets against drugs. The Punjab bandh is not just a protest, but a clear declaration of the trust that has been shattered by the government and police administration.” — RahulGandhi (@RahulGandhi) He also alleged that peaceful protesters were being arrested in Jalandhar and other constituencies, calling the reported action “absolutely unacceptable in a democracy”. Singh warned chief minister Bhagwant Mann and Punjab Police chief Gaurav Yadav against suppressing protesters, adding that no action in Mansa should be taken without the family’s consent. 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
Delhi govt to offer 1,300 pink e-autos to empower women, transgender persons
Delhi has opened the DURGA portal for women and transgender applicants to seek pink e-autos. The scheme aims to expand self-employment and make public transport more inclusive. The Delhi government on Monday launched a dedicated portal for the DURGA e-auto scheme, under which women and transgender persons will get an opportunity to own and drive electric autos and earn a livelihood. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said 1,300 pink e-autos will be allotted in the first phase. She said 1,170 have been earmarked for women and 130 for transgender persons, with a district-wise cap of 90 e-autos for women and 10 for transgender persons in each revenue district. The scheme, called Driving, Upliftment and Rozgar for Women/Transgender E-Auto (DURGA), was recently launched by the government. Through the initiative, the government aims to create self-employment opportunities for the targeted groups and increase their participation in public transport, Gupta said. Under the eligibility criteria, women applicants must be between 20 and 40 years of age and residents of Delhi. They must hold a valid Light Motor Vehicle (LMV) driving licence and a Public Service Vehicle (PSV) badge. “The annual family income must not exceed Rs 5 lakh, and the prescribed condition relating to a maximum of three living children will also apply. Transgender applicants must also meet the specified age and Delhi residency requirements and hold a valid driving licence and PSV badge,” Gupta said in a statement. The application process will remain open for three months. Gupta said that if the number of eligible applications received in a district is higher than its prescribed quota when the portal closes, allotments will be made through an online lottery. The portal launch marks the start of applications for the DURGA e-auto scheme, under which 1,300 pink e-autos will be allotted in the first phase to eligible women and transgender applicants in Delhi. Courtesy : India Today Note: This news is originally published on https:/indiatoday.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights