Cong will continue to fight for dignity of Dalits: Ganesh Godiyal
Dehradun, The political controversy over the alleged ‘purification’ of the Ramlila Maidan in Haldwani following Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge’s rally on 8 August further escalated today with hundreds of Congress leaders and workers marching towards the Chief Minister’s residence in Dehradun despite heavy rain. The protesters were stopped by the police near Hathibarkala, where barricades had been erected to prevent them from proceeding further. Tension prevailed for some time as Congress leaders and workers attempted to cross the barricades, resulting in pushing and shoving between the protesters and the police personnel. Some Congress leaders and workers were later taken into custody by the police. The protest, organised by the Uttarakhand Pradesh Congress Committee, was led by state president Ganesh Godiyal and saw the participation of party state in-charge Kumari Selja, Leader of the Opposition Yashpal Arya, former minister Harak Singh Rawat, former state Congress president Pritam Singh and several Congress MLAs and senior leaders. The protesters assembled at Parade Ground, where senior leaders addressed the gathering before the march towards the Chief Minister’s residence began. The Congress has stepped up its agitation over the alleged purification ritual performed at the Haldwani venue after Kharge addressed a public meeting there. The party has described the incident as an insult to its national president and an affront to democratic values and the dignity of the Opposition. Congress leaders have also objected to the alleged failure of the authorities to register FIRs on complaints submitted at various police stations against those responsible for the ritual, while an FIR has been registered against Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi in connection with his remarks on the controversy. Addressing party workers, Godiyal said the Congress would continue its democratic agitation until action was taken against those responsible for the incident. He said the party was demanding accountability and would continue to raise the voice of the people and its workers before the State Government. Godiyal added that the party will continue to fight for the dignity of the Dalits and for the justice. Kumari Selja accused the BJP government in Uttarakhand of betraying the sentiments and trust of the people of the State. She alleged that the venue of a rally addressed by the Congress national president was subjected to ‘purification’ by people associated with the BJP after the programme. She alleged that the BJP is resorting to every possible tactic in view of the forthcoming elections and said the Congress would not remain silent on issues involving social discrimination and the dignity of its leaders. The Congress has also linked the controversy with the FIR registered against Rahul Gandhi and has alleged that the authorities are adopting a discriminatory approach by failing to act on complaints against those who conducted the alleged purification ritual while taking action against the Leader of the Opposition. It may be recalled that the protest had been planned as a major show of strength by the State Congress. The party workers from different districts reached Dehradun for the programme despite heavy rain at the time of the march. The large gathering also affected traffic movement in several parts of the city, with police and district administration making extensive security arrangements along the proposed route to the CM’s residence. The rally also threw the traffic arrangements across the city into disarray. Traffic jams were witnessed almost at all important roads in the city. The Police were unable to manage the traffic. As the protesters moved towards Hathibarkala, police stopped them at the barricading. Congress workers raised slogans against the State Government and demanded action against those responsible for the Haldwani incident. Several protesters climbed onto the barricades during the confrontation before being pushed back by the police. The situation remained tense for some time but did not escalate into major violence. As the Congress has turned the incident into a Dalit issue, the controversy has now widened far beyond Uttarakhand. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has raised the issue at the national level, while the party has been seeking action against those involved in the alleged purification ceremony. Congress leaders have argued that the incident carries implications beyond party politics and relates to the larger question of caste discrimination and social equality. The BJP, on the other hand, has rejected the Congress’ interpretation of the incident and has accused the Opposition of attempting to disturb social harmony for political purposes. The party had announced ‘Samajik Sauhard Sankalp Dharna’ programmes at its organisational district headquarters across Uttarakhand on Monday to counter the Congress campaign. A Zero FIR was registered in Bengaluru against BJP State President Mahendra Bhatt despite Bhatt and the BJP distancing from the purification event. Bhatt has maintained that the ritual was related to a havan after garbage had allegedly been left at the venue but the BJP had no connection to the purification exercise. The Congress protest in Dehradun also saw several prominent personalities joining the party in the presence of Kumari Selja and other senior leaders. Those who joined the Congress included former Roorkee mayor Yashpal Rana, former Yamkeshwar block chief Bhuvanesh Kharkwal, former principal and former chairman of the Haridwar Cane Committee Manoj Saini, former minister of state rank Ram Kumar Walia, former Dehradun Mandi Samiti chairman Ravindra Anand, advocate Sachin Kumar and others. By ARUN PRATAP SINGH Courtesy : Garhwal Post Note: This news is originally published on https:/garhwalpost.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Searing questions that Mallikarjun Kharge saga throws up over Dalit rights, law
Justice Madan Lokur says the ritual is a cognisable offence as delayed police action and the FIR against Rahul Gandhi raise concerns over Uttarakhand policing In Indian law is it a crime to conduct a shuddhikaran at a site where a Dalit leader has just held a rally? Is the filing of an FIR necessary? Can the organisers of the shuddhikaran really claim they were only responding to slogans they deemed inappropriate and not Mallikarjun Kharge? And what about the FIR against Rahul Gandhi accusing him of promoting enmity and outraging religious feelings? Is that justified? Or ludicrous? Finally, what does all of this tell us about the Uttarakhand government’s attitude to crimes against Dalits and the way it enforces the law, which it’s sworn to uphold? These are some of the questions that underlie the shuddhikaran saga that haven’t been addressed adequately. It’s possible they haven’t been asked of the right people. I want today to focus on what I, at least, believe are the right answers. Justice Madan Lokur, one of our finest former Supreme Court judges, says a shuddhikaran at the Haldwani Ramlila Maidan, days after Kharge’s rally, was definitely a crime under Indian law. It’s a cognisable offence. Justice Lokur adds that under the applicable Act, if a public servant — and that includes police officers — fails to respond, he too will be deemed complicit in the crime. So, then, what should we make of the refusal of the Uttarakhand government to register an FIR for almost a month? Of course, they were wrong not to. But consider the explanations given. The organisers of the shuddhikaran, the Shri Ram Sena Dharmarth Seva Nyas Sangathan, claim it wasn’t targeted at Kharge but to counter-slogans raised by Congress members during the rally and a previous statement by Kharge comparing the BJP and RSS to a poisonous snake. Does that argument carry weight? Even if true, Kharge is still the target. He stands at the core of these explanations. Mahendra Bhatt, the BJP Uttarakhand chief, defends the shuddhikaran on the grounds that the venue had been polluted by slogans that were not appropriate for a religious place. But the Ramlila Maidan is not a religious place. It’s a public venue. Surely, this defence has little value unless, of course, it was a hint to the police how to respond. The chief minister of Uttarakhand claims the people of his state are not aware of Kharge’s caste. In other words, they don’t know he’s a Dalit and can’t be accused of untouchability. Can we really believe that? And is ignorance a defence? Let’s now come to the bizarre twist this story has taken. Whilst delaying registering an FIR against those who conducted the shuddhikaran, an FIR was registered against Rahul, on the complaint of a certain Amit Kumar, a Scheduled Caste member, who’s claimed his sentiments were hurt by the Congress leader’s characterisation of the shuddhikaran as an act of untouchability. The FIR accuses Rahul of promoting enmity on grounds of religion, deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings and giving false information to mislead a public servant. Let me ask you bluntly: do you believe Rahul Gandhi is guilty of any of this? I certainly don’t. T.C. Manjunath, the senior superintendent of police in Nainital, has said: “Amit Kumar submitted all the required evidence to substantiate his allegations, following which an FIR has been registered.” What possible evidence could there be? As Justice Lokur puts it, this is a classic instance of turning the law on its head. I can’t resist the feeling the Uttarakhand police have not acted of their own volition but were directed by the BJP government to file the FIR. On their own I doubt they would have done it. And that raises a significant question. If a shuddhikaran can be held when someone as senior as Kharge makes a speech at a rally and no action is taken for nearly 30 days, what does this tell us about the Uttarakhand government’s attitude to crimes against Dalits? And what does it say of the way it enforces the law, which it’s sworn to do? Think carefully before you answer. I’m not exaggerating when I say it’s the key issue in this sorry tale. Karan Thapar Courtesy : The Telegraph Note: This news is originally published on https:/thetelegraph.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
‘If this can happen to Cong president, imagine what must be happening to Dalits’: Ashok Gehlot on Haldwani row
Gehlot said continued injustice and oppression, including the Kharge episode, had hurt Dalits, backward classes, tribals and the poor. Senior Congress leader and former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Saturday described the alleged ‘purification’ ritual conducted after Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s rally in Haldwani as a serious incident, saying it had caused pain to the Dalit community. “This is a serious incident. If this can happen to the Congress president, just imagine what must be happening to the Dalit community across the entire nation. Under their rule, this negligence has only increased,” Gehlot told ANI. He said incidents of injustice, oppression and persecution had continued, adding that the episode involving Kharge had hurt Dalits, backward classes, tribals and the poor. “Such incidents of injustice, oppression and persecution have been ongoing, but the incident that happened with Mallikarjun Kharge has caused immense pain to the entire Dalit community of the country, the backward classes, tribals, or any poor person—anyone who has sympathy for Dalits,” he said. Gehlot also referred to Leader of the House JP Nadda’s assurance in the Rajya Sabha on the matter, saying people had expected action following his statement. Nadda had said in the Rajya Sabha that the matter was being taken seriously and that action would be taken. Gehlot said the assurance from the Leader of the House had raised expectations, but no action had followed. “This pain is felt by all of us, by all citizens of the country; there is intense outrage among all people, which the BJP government or the NDA government is failing to understand, but when the time comes, the people will make them understand,” he said. Meanwhile, the Uttarakhand Pradesh Congress Committee will hold a demonstration and march from Dehradun’s Parade Ground to the Chief Minister’s residence on September 7 over the Haldwani ‘purification’ row. The controversy began after a Congress rally at Ramlila Ground in Haldwani on August 8, ahead of the 2027 Uttarakhand Assembly elections. Members of a right-wing group later conducted a shuddhikaran ritual at the venue, drawing criticism from Congress leaders. Gehlot also commented on the controversy surrounding a book on Sonia Gandhi, alleging that publisher Penguin was “hesitating” to publish it due to pressure. “The publisher Penguin is hesitating, making excuses. We had already said that there might be pressure from the government on them because Penguin’s parent company is ready to publish the book,” he said. Gehlot said several major publishers had since approached the authors to publish the book and expressed confidence that it would be launched on November 10. The memoir chronicles Sonia Gandhi’s journey from her childhood in post-war Italy and her relationship with Rajiv Gandhi to the personal losses that shaped her life and relationship with India. In the memoir, the 79-year-old Congress veteran, who was the party’s longest-serving president, revisits her childhood in Italy, her relationship with former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi during their time at Cambridge, and the assassinations of her mother-in-law, Indira Gandhi, and her husband, Rajiv Gandhi. 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
FIR prod to Nadda over ‘purification’ incident; ‘essential to teach lesson,’ says Kharge
Hindutva activists had carried out the “shuddhikaran” at the venue of a Congress rally at Haldwani in Uttarakhand on August 8, Kharge, a Dalit, had told the Rajya Sabha on August 14 Rajya Sabha Opposition leader Mallikarjun Kharge has written to House leader J.P. Nadda reminding him of his assurance of investigation and action on the “purification” ritual conducted at the spot where the Congress MP had delivered a speech last month. Hindutva activists had carried out the “shuddhikaran” at the venue of a Congress rally at Haldwani in Uttarakhand on August 8, Kharge, a Dalit, had told the Rajya Sabha on August 14. “In response to my intervention, you stood up in the House and said, ‘Sir, what Honorable Kharge ji has said is indeed a very sad matter. It is not only sad for the Congress Party, but it is sad for all of us…. Whatever has happened will definitely be investigated. I want to say that the Bharatiya Janata Party never supports such activity. I condemn it, and the National President will also look into it deeply. The hurt caused to your sentiments is a matter of regret for all of us’,” Kharge wrote to Nadda on Wednesday. “But I am surprised that even after 24 days of this incident, not even a First Information Report (FIR) has been filed against the organisations and individuals involved in this heinous act in Haldwani. “The most objectionable aspect of this incident was that at the Ramlila Maidan site where I addressed the rally, purification was carried out in violation of the spirit of the Indian Constitution and human values.” Kharge, the Congress president, underlined how things had remained unchanged nearly a century after B.R. Ambedkar’s 1927 satyagraha for granting Dalits access to a water tank in Mahad in present-day Maharashtra. “Even when Babasaheb Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkarji drank the water from the tank during the Mahad agitation, people filled with casteist arrogance purified it by pouring 108 pots of cow urine and cow dung into it and chanting mantras,” he wrote. “I want to be clear that this issue transcends my personal responsibility or that of the president of the Indian National Congress, and it concerns the broader sentiments of millions of people who face this brutal reality daily. “It is essential to teach these wrongdoers a lesson. Therefore, this anger is not mine, but the expression of millions of such people; it is an issue of a mindset that directly affects a segment of society.” Kharge concluded: “Therefore, I once again request you that in the light of these facts and the assurance given in the Rajya Sabha, you should direct the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand to ensure that a First Information Report is registered against the persons and organisations involved in this incident….” His letter came days after Lok Sabha Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi vowed to get Kharge justice and demanded an FIR be registered under the SC-ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. Instead, an FIR has been filed against Rahul — ironically, under the SC-ST Act — on the ground that he had insulted Dalits by falsely projecting the venue clean-up as a shuddhikaran against a member of the community. Congress supporters on Tuesday burnt copies of the ancient Hindu code Manusmriti, which lays down caste norms, in front of the RSS office here. The Congress has protested in several cities and submitted complaints to multiple authorities in Uttarakhand. Senior BJP leaders, including Uttarakhand chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, have defended the shuddhikaran while giving it a communal angle, claiming it was a response to divisive slogans chanted at Kharge’s meeting by people from a particular community. The controversy comes at a time when the BJP is trying to persuade anti-reservation activists to shun aggressive protests against caste-based affirmative action. Courtesy : The Telegraph Note: This news is originally published on https:/thetelegraph.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Why Dalits, youth matter for Congress in Uttarakhand
To kickstart its campaign, the Congress is planning a mass street campaign in Haldwani against a purification ritual performed by a group of people whom the party has accused of having links with the BJP In upper-caste-dominated Uttarakhand, where they constitute more than 50 per cent of the electorate and have a tilt towards the BJP, the Congress is trying to carve out its own support base that can help its ship sail through the magic number of 35 out of the state’s 70 Assembly seats in the elections next year. “Congress has sensed a lot of resentment among youth about paper leaks and unemployment. These two issues will have to be picked up by the party at the grassroots. I think the party has believed in it more since the Chhatron Ki Goonj event, where many young men and women, as well as students, took part and showed support to the Congress,” a party spokesperson said. Moreover, more than 30 per cent of the state’s population is between 18 and 40 and is widely impacted by unemployment, paper leaks and an unprogressive education system. The Congress wants to focus on this group and make it a new voting bloc for the upcoming Assembly elections in 2027. Besides that, the party is also looking to bring the Dalit population into its fold by taking up social justice issues. This bloc is 18 per cent strong in the state. Despite there being only 13 reserved seats, the state has more than 20 such seats with a sizeable Dalit population of more than 20 per cent, and a strong performance among them can help Congress advance in the electoral space of the state. The safest bet for the party is the Muslim bloc, which is around 14 per cent. Congress is certain that the minority community, as strategic voters, will vote en masse for the party and therefore could tone down its outreach to Muslims so that the BJP does not polarise the elections, which has the potential to make Hindu voters sway away from the Congress, by labelling the grand old party a Muslim-based party. With these combinations, it can get a head start in the two districts of Haridwar and Udham Singh Nagar, which seem to be the most favourable regions for the party. The two districts hold 20 Assembly seats, with nine in Udham Singh Nagar and 11 in Haridwar. Muslims and Dalits in the two districts will hold the key this time. This is also because there are fewer chances of division in Dalit votes after the depletion of the Mayawati-led BSP, which has seen an electoral decline in almost all the states where it has been contesting. With around 13 lakh voters, about 2.5 lakh are Dalits and 4 lakh are Muslims. In Udham Singh Nagar, however, it is the Sikh vote that matters. According to political observers, Sikhs are also showing a greater tilt towards the Congress. Of the 11 lakh voters in the district, between 2 and 2.5 lakh voters are Muslims, about 2 lakh voters are Dalits, and about 1.8 lakh are Sikhs. An equation, if the Congress plays it well, can help the party build its long-time electoral base. To kickstart its campaign, the party is planning a mass street campaign in Haldwani against a purification ritual performed by a group of people whom the Congress has accused of having links with the BJP. “The party has weak grassroots in Uttarakhand, and there hasn’t been much improvement in the past few months either. Now, if there are early ground actions, it might add some fervour among the people, and some people can join the party and consolidate the hands of Congress,” a political analyst said. “Not only is a narrative important, as it doesn’t reach enough corners due to a lack of cadre in many places, but a wave is also important this time to win the elections.” Badar Bashir Courtesy : The Week Note: This news is originally published on https:/theweek.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Kharge venue row: FIR against Rahul for ‘giving caste angle’
Dehradun: In a fresh development in the controversy over an alleged purification ritual at the venue of a rally addressed by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge in Haldwani, Uttarakhand, a case was registered against Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi at Kotwali police station on Sunday night. The FIR — lodged under BNS sections 196 and 299, along with section 3(1)(q) of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 — followed a complaint by Amit Kumar, a resident of Jawahar Nagar Colony in Haldwani and member of Shriram Sena Dharmarth Seva Samiti. Kumar, who belongs to the SC community, alleged that Gandhi gave a caste angle to routine cleaning work carried out at Ramlila Maidan on Aug 11, characterising the clean-up as an act of untouchability and a criminal offence during a news conference in Delhi. Kumar further alleged that caste sentiments were hurt by Gandhi’s statements. He asserted that Rahul Gandhi used “caste-indicative and insulting words against the Scheduled Caste” based on false and incomplete facts, thereby inciting hostility within the community. Nainital SSP T C Manjunath confirmed the development, saying, “Amit submitted all the required evidence to substantiate his allegations, following which an FIR has been registered. ASP Amit Saini will be heading the probe.” On August 8, Kharge addressed a public gathering at the Ramlila Maidan. Two days later, members of the right-wing group Shri Ram Sena Dharmarth Seva Nyas Sangathan performed a havan for the shuddhikaran (purification) of the grounds. Members of the organisation stated that they conducted the ritual to counter slogans raised by Congress members during the rally, as well as a previous statement by Kharge in which he had “compared the BJP and RSS to a poisonous snake.” Kharge subsequently raised the issue in Rajya Sabha, demanding that cases be registered under laws prohibiting untouchability against those who “purified” the stage in Haldwani, and that the individuals involved be arrested and jailed. The opposition party has since staged a series of protests across Uttarakhand over the issue. 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
22-year-old Dalit man shot dead, friend injured in Roorkee
Roorkee: A 22-year-old Dalit man was shot dead and his friend injured after two unidentified bike-borne assailants opened fire at them in Dhandera, Roorkee, late Friday night, police said. The victim, Aman Kumar, a liquor canteen operator and Dhandera resident, was returning home with his friend Prashant after closing the canteen when the assailants intercepted them and opened fire. Aman sustained a bullet injury to his abdomen and collapsed on the road, while Prashant was shot in the foot. The assailants fled the spot on their motorcycle immediately after the shooting, which took place around 11:30pm. Hearing the gunshots, residents rushed to the spot and alerted police. The two men were taken to a hospital, where doctors declared Aman dead. Prashant was admitted for treatment and is stated to be out of danger. Aman’s father lodged a complaint against the unidentified assailants, following which police registered a case under BNS section 103 (murder). “Aman belonged to a Dalit family in our locality. His father runs a small motorcycle repair shop in Roorkee. Aman and his family were known to be very decent and peaceful people,” said Anil Pundir, a Dhandera resident. Police teams are examining CCTV footage from the area and questioning people who may have witnessed the incident. Preliminary investigation suggests that the killing could be linked to an old enmity stemming from a possible love angle, though police said the exact motive was yet to be established. “We have questioned several people in connection with the case and efforts are underway to identify the attackers. We will crack the case soon,” said SP (rural) Shekhar Chandra Suyal. 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
DSS takes out protest rally in Kalaburagi condemning ‘purification’ ritual at Mallikarjun Kharge’s venue in Uttarakhand
The protest was part of a State-wide agitation organised by the DSS at all district headquarters, condemning the alleged purification rituals Dalit Sangharsha Samiti State convener D.G. Sagar leading a protest rally in Kalaburagi on Friday, condemning the alleged purification rituals conducted at Ramlila Maidan in Haldwani, Uttarakhand, after AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge addressed a public meeting there. Dalit Sangharsha Samiti State convener D.G. Sagar leading a protest rally in Kalaburagi on Friday, condemning the alleged purification rituals conducted at Ramlila Maidan in Haldwani, Uttarakhand, after AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge addressed a public meeting there. | Photo Credit: ARUN KULKARNI Strongly condemning the alleged purification ritual conducted at the Ramlila Maidan in Haldwani, Uttarakhand, following a rally addressed by AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge, the Dalit Sangharsha Samiti (DSS) State convener D.G. Sagar led a protest march in Kalaburagi city on Friday. The protest was part of a State-wide agitation organised by the DSS at all district headquarters, condemning the alleged purification rituals. Dr. Sagar, along with DSS members carrying blue flags and photographs of Mr. Kharge, marched from Jagat Circle to the Deputy Commissioner’s office, raising slogans against the incident. Addressing the protesters, Dr. Sagar said the reported purification of the venue after Mr. Kharge’s visit was an affront to the dignity of the Dalit community and exposed the persistence of caste discrimination. “Purifying a public place after a Dalit leader addresses a gathering is not merely an insult to Mallikarjun Kharge; it is an insult to the entire Dalit community and a reflection of the deep-rooted caste discrimination that continues to exist in society,” he said. He said the incident showed that constitutional values of equality and social justice had not yet fully permeated society. “The Constitution has abolished untouchability and guarantees equality, but such incidents reveal that the mindset of untouchability is still alive. No place becomes impure because a Dalit leader or any member of a marginalised community visits it,” Dr. Sagar said. He urged the authorities and political leaders to condemn such practices and to take steps to ensure that incidents of caste-based discrimination do not recur. “Those who believe that a place needs to be purified after the visit of a Dalit leader must first purify their own minds of caste prejudice,” he said. The DSS members demanded stringent action against those responsible for the alleged ritual and urged the government to create greater awareness about constitutional values and the need to eradicate caste discrimination. The Hindu Bureau 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
A new twist has been taken in the Tehri Dalit teenager murder case, with the government taking this decision.
The investigation into the much-discussed Tehri Dalit teenager murder case has been handed over to the CBI. A fresh investigation is now underway, and it is expected that all the facts will be revealed. Tehri: The Dalit teenager murder case in Pratapnagar block is once again in the headlines. Amidst the ongoing police investigation, the government has taken a significant decision. As a result, the government has agreed to hand over the case to the CBI. Consequently, a fresh investigation will be conducted into the murder of the Dalit teenager. The Tehri Dalit teenager murder case, which garnered national and not just Uttarakhand headlines, has taken a major turn. The case was being investigated at the police level, but now the government has agreed to have the CBI (Crime Branch Criminal Investigation Department) investigate it. Consequently, the investigation into the murder will now proceed anew at the CBI level. The CBI will investigate the case: In fact, on August 3rd of this month, a letter was sent to the government by the Inspector General of Police, Crime and Law and Order, at Police Headquarters, requesting the CBI to investigate the case. Considering the gravity of the case and the current circumstances, the Police Headquarters’ proposal was considered at the government level. Following this, the government agreed to a CBI investigation. An order regarding this has been issued by Additional Secretary Tripti Bhatt. The order requires Police Headquarters to prepare an investigation report and provide it to the government as soon as possible. Based on this report, the CBI will proceed with the investigation. What is the full story? A Dalit teenager, resident of a village in the Pratapnagar block, died on June 8th. The night before, the teenager, along with his friend, had gone to the home of a minor girl. It is alleged that the girl’s family members locked them in a room and severely beat them with sticks. The seriously injured teenager was taken to the hospital, but died on the way. His friend was also seriously injured. On the complaint of the teenager’s family, the police registered a case and arrested four people, including the girl’s father and grandfather. This sparked outrage in the area, and demands for a fair investigation arose. The case later took a new turn when, based on the High Court’s directive and the minor’s mother’s complaint, the police also filed a case against the teenager and his friend under the POCSO Act. The case also received significant political and social backlash. On June 30, Nagina MP Chandrashekhar Azad met with the Dalit teenager’s family and demanded a CBI investigation. Now, following the government’s decision to conduct a CBI investigation, the entire case will be investigated by a new investigating agency. In this context, the CBCID will be crucial in examining the facts revealed during the investigation, previous actions, and allegations against both parties. Now, all eyes will be on what new facts emerge from the new investigation and the direction the case progresses. It’s worth noting that this case has been in the news for quite some time. Courtesy: Hindi News
Dehradun: Dalit youth on ventilator, BJP leader charged with attempted murder; angry Valmiki community blocks Delhi-Haldwani highway
Following a fatal attack on a Dalit youth in Rudrapur, the Valmiki community staged a massive protest, blocking the highway and demanding the immediate arrest of the main accused, a BJP leader. New Delhi: The Valmiki community has erupted in anger following the fatal attack on a 20-year-old Dalit youth and his friends in Rudrapur. Hundreds of members of the community blocked the Delhi-Haldwani highway on Monday. The protesters were demanding the immediate arrest of BJP Mandal General Secretary Paras Chugh, accused in the case. The protest occurred hours after the arrest of Paras’ brother, Sunny Chugh, as the main accused, Paras, has not yet been taken into police custody. The incident occurred on the night of Friday, August 7th. A four-wheeler collided with a scooter near the Kashipur flyover, sparking a dispute that quickly escalated into a violent altercation. The victims allege that the Chugh brothers and their henchmen attacked them with sticks and iron rods, seriously injuring three people. The attackers are also accused of using casteist slurs during the assault. People and Society Abhishek Valmiki, the victim of this brutal attack, is in critical condition. He is battling for life on a ventilator in a private hospital in Bareilly, where doctors have given him little hope of survival. Police have registered a case against BJP leader Paras Chugh, his brother Sunny Chugh, and 10 unidentified individuals under Section 109 (attempt to murder) and other relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Before blocking the highway, protesters gathered at the Rudrapur Municipal Corporation premises, where they announced a complete boycott of sanitation work and raised slogans against the accused. Pooja Devi, the mother of the victim, Abhishek, who works as a sanitation worker in the Municipal Corporation, has raised serious questions about the administration’s functioning. As a widow, she said she expected justice from the mayor, but the police were avoiding arresting Paras Chugh because of his close ties to her. Despite an FIR being registered, the lack of arrest of the main accused has been growing, fueling anger among the Valmiki community. On Monday, police and administrative officials requested time until 2 p.m. to take action against the accused. Following this, CO Akhilesh Kumar Singh reached the Municipal Corporation and spoke with the protesters, but the discussions yielded no results. After much effort and heavy police deployment, the highway blockade was cleared in about 15 minutes. SP Uttam Singh Negi has officially confirmed the arrest of Sunny Chugh in the case. Earlier, Rudrapur in-charge CO Prashant Kumar had also announced the registration of a case. Meanwhile, Congress State Secretary Mohan Khera visited the Municipal Corporation and met with the victim’s family and assured them of full support, although the police detained him during the protest. Meanwhile, Rudrapur MLA Shiv Arora has clarified that the state government will not tolerate any kind of anarchy and that the law will take its course, regardless of who the accused are. Rajan Chaudhary Courtesy: Hindi News