Uttarakhand: Congress Intervenes After Outrage In Tehri Following Upper Caste Girl’s Family Beating Dalit Youth To Death
Police arrest four, as the Uttarakhand Scheduled Castes Commission classified it as a serious case, begins monitoring progress of probe. Dehradun: The murder of Dalit youth Ketan Lal in Kholgarh village, under Lambgaon police station of Tehri Garhwal district in Uttarakhand has taken a political turn. Four days after the 18-year-old youth received a phone call from a minor girl with whom he had befriended, and rode his bike to Kholgarh to meet her, along with friend Diwakar Dimri, where he was apprehended by the Upper Caste girl’s father and relatives who beat him to death — Madan Lal, the president of the Uttarakhand Congress Scheduled Castes wing — visited the family of the deceased and assured them of all possible support and justice. Madan Lal also met with the Tehri district Superintendent of Police and demanded a fair and prompt investigation into the case, and strict action against the culprits. In a statement, he said that since the BJP came to power in the state, law and order has completely collapsed. “Weaker sections of society, especially Dalits, are being harassed and tortured, while women are feeling unsafe as incidents of lawlessness keep increasing every day in the state, which is extremely worrying,” he said, adding that such acts are tarnishing the image of Devbhoomi Uttarakhand. The Congress leader demanded that the state government provide adequate financial assistance and compensation to the family of the deceased, and warned that if the victim’s family does not receive swift justice, the Congress will launch protests, demonstrations, and sit-ins. This followed a day after the police arrested two more accused in connection with the murder of the Dalit youth. Two other accused had already been arrested, bringing the total number of arrests to four The Atrocity And After The incident, which took place in the intervening night of June 7 and June 8, came to light after a video surfaced, showing the battered youth begging for water before he passed away. The incident sparked outrage and anxiety across the region, with the police and administration swiftly deployed to piece together details of the case. So far, what has come to light is that after Ketan was called over by the girl, her father Yashveer Singh Panwar, along with her brother, and other relatives, captured Ketan and Diwakar, held them captive inside their house, and beat them mercilessly in the girl’s presence. The next morning, the accused themselves called Ketan’s father in Deval village and informed him of the situation. Following this, Ketan Lal’s father, Dhanpal Lal, went to the Lambgaon police station and filed a formal complaint, alleging that a group of people had kept his son and his friend Diwakar in their house and brutally assaulted both. The complaint further stated that the assault was so severe that Ketan had sustained serious injuries, and his condition was deteriorating. Although his family rushed him to the hospital for immediate treatment, doctors were unable to save his life, and Ketan passed away while undergoing treatment. According to the complaint, the accused brutally assaulted Diwakar as well, causing a severe injury and a fracture to his arm. He is currently undergoing treatment at the hospital. Diwakar’s condition and his statement are crucial to the police investigation. Investigative agencies are trying to determine the circumstances under which the incident occurred, the root cause of the dispute, and the sequence of events. The police believe that statements from eyewitnesses and the injured youth will play a pivotal role in uncovering the truth. Swift Police Action; Arrests Continue Tehri SSP Shweta Chaubey said given the gravity of the matter, the police expedited action from the beginning. Initially, two accused — the girl’s brother and father — were arrested. With the arrest of two additional individuals, the police have sent a clear signal that the investigation will not falter at any stage. They said various aspects of the case are still being investigated, with further action to be taken based on evidence, medical reports, eyewitness statements, and other available facts. Currently, the post-mortem report is also awaited. The incident has also drawn the attention of state-level bodies. Taking suo motu cognisance of the matter, the Uttarakhand Scheduled Castes Commission has classified it as a serious case, and sought a detailed report from the Tehri SSP, besides promising to monitor the progress of the probe. Rajesh Singh Raja Koli, a member of the Uttarakhand Scheduled Castes Commission, expressed deep concern over the incident. “The Commission is addressing cases of atrocities, harassment, and discrimination against SCs with utmost sensitivity. It will maintain continuous oversight to ensure strict legal action against the perpetrators,” said Raja Koli, adding that the law guarantees equal protection to all citizens, and that caste-based discrimination or violence runs counter to democratic values, making the ensuring of justice in such cases of paramount importance. Social activist Anoop Nautiyal described the incident as deeply tragic and concerning. He asserted that this event should not be viewed merely as a criminal act; but also understood in the context of social faultlines. “If caste-based tension, violence, and discrimination continue decades after Independence, it is a matter for introspection. Society needs to learn from such cases and move towards strengthening social harmony,” said Nautiyal. Courtesy : ETV Bharat Note: This news is originally published on https:/etvbharat.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
A young man who went to meet a girl in Tehri was beaten to death and died in the hospital. Where is society heading?
Ketan Lal, who went to meet a girl in Tehri, was beaten to death and then died in the hospital, raising the issue. Dehradun: The recent murder of a Dalit youth in Tehri, Uttarakhand, has shocked everyone. The youth was beaten so badly that he died. His only crime was to meet a minor girl, but he paid the price with his life. The brutality inflicted on the youth sent shivers down everyone’s spine. A video of the youth screaming for water before his death has surfaced, which is spine-chilling in itself. Currently, police have arrested two more accused in the case of the death of Dalit youth Ketan Lal in Kholgarh village, Lambgaon police station area. Two other accused were previously handcuffed. This brings the total number of arrests to four. Following this incident, an atmosphere of anger, concern, and a demand for justice has prevailed throughout the region. Meanwhile, the police administration is working to piece together the story. Why was he subjected to such violence and what exactly happened? Let us explain. Ketan Lal had gone to meet a girl: It is being reported that Ketan Lal of Dewal village was friends with a girl. On the night of June 7-8, after receiving a call from the girl, he and his friend Diwakar Dimri rode a bike to Kholgarh village, but the girl’s father and relatives intercepted him there. It is also being said that the father may have sent the message from the girl’s mobile phone. This incident is also being alleged to have been due to caste-based love/friendship. Meanwhile, the girl’s father, brother, and others held Ketan Lal and his friend Diwakar hostage and beat them. It is being said that they beat him in front of the girl. Furthermore, in the morning, the accused themselves called Ketan’s father and told him everything. Following this, Ketan Lal’s father, Dhanpal Lal, went to the Lambgaon police station and filed a written complaint. In the complaint, he alleged that his son, Ketan Lal, and his friend, Diwakar Dimri, were brutally assaulted by some people. It was alleged that Yashveer Singh Panwar and other members of his family not only beat the two youths but also held them hostage in the house. The complaint also stated that the assault was so severe that Ketan Lal suffered serious injuries and his condition continued to deteriorate. Ketan Lal was immediately rushed to the hospital for treatment by his family, but despite the best efforts of doctors, his life could not be saved. Ketan Lal died while undergoing treatment at the hospital. This incident shocked the entire area and the matter quickly became a topic of public discussion. A video of Ketan before his death also surfaced, in which he was writhing in pain, asking for water, saying, “I’m going to die, I’ve been beaten so badly…” Another youth’s hand fractured, hospital treatment ongoing: Ketan Lal wasn’t the only victim in the incident. Diwakar Dimri, who was with him, was also allegedly attacked. According to the complaint, the accused also severely assaulted Diwakar, resulting in serious injuries and a fractured hand. He is currently undergoing treatment in the hospital. Diwakar’s condition and his statements are also considered crucial to the police investigation. Investigating agencies are trying to determine the circumstances of the incident, the real reason for the dispute, and how the fight unfolded. Police believe that the statements of eyewitnesses and the injured youth will play a crucial role in uncovering the truth of the matter. Police’s swift action, arrests of accused continue: Tehri SSP Shweta Choubey says that given the seriousness of the case, police acted swiftly from the beginning. Two accused were arrested first. This includes the girl’s brother and father. Now, with the arrest of two more people, the police have clearly indicated that the investigation will not be allowed to falter at any level. They say that various aspects of the case are still being investigated. Further action will be taken based on evidence, medical reports, eyewitness accounts, and other available facts. If the role of other individuals is revealed during the investigation, legal action will be taken against them as well. The post-mortem report is currently awaited. Scheduled Caste Commission takes suo motu cognizance of the death of a Dalit youth: The incident has drawn the attention of not only the police administration but also state-level institutions. The Uttarakhand Scheduled Caste Commission, taking suo motu cognizance of the case, has deemed it a serious matter. The Commission has summoned a detailed report from the Tehri Senior Superintendent of Police and has pledged to monitor the progress of the investigation. A statement issued by the Commission stated that incidents of atrocity, violence, or discrimination against any person belonging to the Scheduled Caste community will be taken with utmost seriousness. The Commission also directed the police administration to ensure a fair, transparent, and timely investigation. Rajesh Singh Raja Koli, a member of the Uttarakhand Scheduled Castes Commission, expressed deep concern over the incident. “The Commission is working with utmost sensitivity in cases of atrocities, harassment, and discrimination against members of the Scheduled Caste community. The Commission will continuously monitor the situation to ensure strict legal action against the perpetrators.” – Rajesh Singh Raja Koli, Member, Uttarakhand Scheduled Caste Commission Furthermore, Rajesh Singh Raja Koli says that the law provides equal protection to all citizens and any form of caste discrimination or violence is against democratic values. Therefore, it is extremely important to ensure justice in such cases. This is not just a crime, but also a warning to society: Social activist Anoop Nautiyal also described this incident as extremely sad and worrying. He says that this incident should not be seen only as a criminal act. Rather, it must also be understood as a reflection of larger social issues facing society. “Even after decades of independence, if incidents of caste-based tension, violence, and discrimination continue to surface in society, it is a matter for introspection. Society
2 more arrested in Dalit teen murder case
Dehradun: Two more accused were arrested in connection with the alleged murder of an 18-year-old Dalit boy in Tehri Garhwal district, police said on Thursday, taking the total number of arrests in the case to four. Ketan Lal was allegedly held captive and assaulted by family members of a minor upper-caste girl in Lambgaon area on the intervening night of Sunday and Monday. His father alleged that nails were hammered into his son’s legs. The accused were allegedly angry over Lal’s friendship with the girl, who lived in a neighbouring village. Sumit Prasad, 21, a resident of Dhanyo village, and Sachin Panwar, 27, a resident of Kholgarh Walla village in Tehri Garhwal district, allegedly assisted the prime accused, Yashbir Singh Panwar, in assaulting Lal and his friend, Diwakar Dimri. Lal later succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment at a local hospital on Monday morning. Tehri Garhwal SSP Shweta Chaubey told TOI, “The two were arrested based on Lal’s dying statement to his family and evidence collected during investigation. Panwar drove the pick-up truck used in the crime, while Prasad worked with Yashbir as a driver of an earth-moving machine. Earlier, Yashbir and his father, Vidyadutt, were arrested.” “A forensic team collected evidence from Yashbir’s house, where the accused had allegedly held Lal and his friend captive before assaulting them,” the SSP said. The incident came to light after Ketan’s father informed the police about the attack. An FIR was registered against Yashbir and unidentified others under sections 103(1) (murder) and 3(5) (common intention) of BNS, along with section 3(2)(v) of the SC/ST Act. 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
Uttarakhand Horror: Death penalty for befriending an upper caste girl; Dalit boy’s nails pulled out and nails driven into his feet
An 18-year-old Dalit student was beaten to death in Tehri Garhwal for befriending an upper caste girl. The girl’s family called him home and beat him, leading to his death. The girl’s father and grandfather have been arrested in connection with the case. Nainital: A heartbreaking incident has come to light from Tehri Garhwal, Uttarakhand. An 18-year-old Dalit student was beaten to death simply because he was friends with an upper caste girl. Ketan Lal, a 12th-grade student, was subjected to brutal torture before being murdered. This incident occurred on Sunday. Ketan’s father, Dhanpal Lal, stated in his police complaint that the girl’s family invited Ketan and his friend to their home. They then locked them in a room overnight and brutally beat them. The girl’s father, Yashbir Singh Panwar, called Dhanpal on Monday morning and threatened to throw his son and his friend into the river. When the father, alarmed by this, arrived at the scene, he found both boys covered in blood. Ketan died on the way to the hospital. On the way, Ketan recounted the entire incident to his father. He said he had gone to the girl’s house with his friend at her request. However, upon arriving, the girl’s father and grandfather grabbed them and locked them in a room. The family alleges that during the overnight assault, iron nails were driven into Ketan’s legs and he was subjected to caste-related abuse. Ketan’s friend, Diwakar, is also seriously injured. He suffered severe head and body injuries and is undergoing treatment. Initial police investigations have revealed that the girl’s family was strongly opposed to her friendship with Ketan. The Senior Superintendent of Police of Tehri Garhwal stated that the girl’s father had previously met with Ketan’s father and warned him not to harass his daughter. This old rivalry led to this horrific murder. In this case, the police have arrested the girl’s father, Yashbir Singh Panwar, and grandfather, Vidyadutt Panwar. They have been charged with murder and under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Police say they are awaiting the post-mortem report to determine the exact severity of the injuries. Read the latest news on Uttarakhand’s pilgrimage and tourist destinations, hilly areas, weather, government schemes, and local administration. Follow the Uttarakhand News in Hindi section for reports from Dehradun, Rishikesh, Haridwar, and the hill districts—reliable and comprehensive state coverage right here. Author: Satyam Bhardwaj Courtesy: Hindi News
Uttarakhand: Dalit teen killed after friendship with ‘upper caste Hindu girl’; caste Hindus accused
An 18-year-old Dalit youth was allegedly beaten to death and his friend seriously injured in Uttarakhand after members of an upper-caste girl’s family assaulted them over their friendship, prompting a murder case under the SC/ST Act. An 18 year old Dalit teen, resident of Deval Village, was allegedly beaten to death and his friend severely injured for befriending a minor from an upper caste community in Pratap Nagar block of Uttarakhand’s New Tehri district, police said on Monday. The deceased Ketan Lal’s friend, Diwakar Dimri, was admitted to the district hospital in Bourari. According to the complaint filed by Ketan’s father Dhanpal Lal, the incident took place in Kholgarh village on Sunday night. Ketan had reportedly been in friendship with the girl from Kholgarh over the past six months. On Sunday at around 11 p.m., Ketan and his friend Diwakar went to Kholgarh village after the girl allegedly asked them over a phone call to come there. When they both arrived, members of the girl’s family locked them both in a room and assaulted them with sticks, the police said. On Monday morning, the girl’s father called Dhanpal Lal to inform him about his son’s condition and asked him to take him back. Dhanpal found his son covered in blood and rushed him to a community health centre in Chaund Lambgaon where he succumbed, the police said. Irate locals and the family initially refused to claim the body from the hospital and demanded immediate action against the assaulters. Speaking on the matter, Tehri Garhwal Senior Superintendent of Police Shweta Choubey said a case under the charge of murder and Section 3(2)(v) of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act was filed. The police had detained for questioning one of the accused, Yashveer Singh Panwar, the SSP added. Reacting to the incident, CPI (ML) Liberation Central Committee member and Uttarakhand State Secretary Indresh Maikhuri said it was “another example of how casteism can make people violent and barbaric, even resorting to murder.” He also recalled similar atrocities against Dalits in his post by mentioning the 2022 murder case of Dalit political activist Jagdish Chandra, who was beaten to death for marrying an upper caste woman. “It was the poison of casteism that flowed deeply in their veins, and in a frenzy, Yashveer Panwar and others took the life of an 18-year-old youth,” he said. “This brought them no fame, nor did it make them heroes; they merely became crazed killers driven by the poison of casteism. If the poison of casteism had not been simmering in their minds, there would have been no need to act like this,” he asserted. He demand justice for Ketan Lal through strict legal action against Ketan’s killers. According to the National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights (NCDHR)’s report, Five Years of Caste-Based Atrocity: An Analysis of Crimes Against Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in India (2019–2023), Uttarakhand ranked 18th among Indian states in crimes against SCs and STs in 2023, accounting for 5.4% of total such crimes. The report also found that crimes against SC/ST communities in the state increased by 21.4% between 2019 and 2023. Courtesy : Maktoob Media Note: This news is originally published on https:/maktoobmedia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Tortured with pliers, nails driven into feet; murder of Dalit teen sparks outrage in Uttarakhand’s Tehri Garhwal
The family of the 18-year-old refused to accept his body for the last rites until all his attackers were arrested His nails were pulled out with pliers, iron nails were driven into his feet, and severe wounds were dealt to his genitals, the father of a Dalit boy who was allegedly killed over an inter-caste affair has claimed. Irate villagers mobbed Baurari District Hospital here on Tuesday where the boy succumbed to the wounds. The family of the 18-year-old refused to accept his body for the last rites until all his attackers were arrested. According to the police, the victim, Ketan Lal, had reportedly been in a friendship with a girl from Pratapgarh Block’s Kholgarh for the past six months. On Sunday at around 11 pm, the girl called Ketan on his mobile phone and asked him to come to her village. Ketan went to Kholgarh with a friend, Diwakar Dimri. When they both arrived, members of the girl’s family locked them both in a room and assaulted them with sticks, the police said. Ketan succumbed during treatment. Ketan was subjected to extreme physical torture, leaving deep bruises covering his back, chest, and limbs, his family claimed. The police have arrested two primary suspects — the girl’s father, Yashveer Singh, and her grandfather, Vidya Singh. Chief Medical Superintendent Dr Amit Rai said the post-mortem report would come in two days. On Tuesday, Ketan’s relatives and villagers demonstrated outside the hospital, accusing the police of failing to arrest the attackers. Ketan’s father, Dhanpal Lal, broke down while speaking to reporters. “I will not take the body from here until all the culprits are arrested, even if it takes four days or ten days,” Dhanpal Lal said. “I am a poor man. I do not have the resources to run around courts for years. I want justice delivered right here. Only then will I take my son’s body.” He said a video of the assault is on social media and all those gathered at the hospital have seen it. The police said Ketan belonged to a Scheduled Caste community and was in a relationship with the minor daughter of Yashveer Singh. The two had been speaking over the telephone for the past six months. Dhanpal Lal claimed that the attackers used pliers to pluck the teenager’s fingernails and toenails, drove nails into his feet and caused severe injuries to his genitals. Villagers submitted a memorandum to SDM Ghansali Manju Rajput addressed to the chief minister, demanding a fair probe, justice, and security for the victim’s family. Tehri SSP Shweta Choubey said two primary suspects have been arrested and an intensive investigation is underway to ensure no culprit is spared. Police teams and forensic science experts have inspected the crime scene to secure evidence, she added. Courtesy : The Tribune Note: This news is originally published on https:/thetribune.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Dalit Teen beaten to death in Tehri Garhwal over inter-caste friendship
An 18-year-old Dalit youth, Ketan Lal, was allegedly beaten to death in Pratapnagar, Uttarakhand, over an inter-caste friendship. His friend was injured. Police have filed a murder case under the SC/ST Act and detained one suspect New Tehri: An 18-year-old Dalit youth was allegedly beaten to death and his friend severely injured over his friendship with a minor girl from an upper caste community in the Pratapnagar block here, police have said. The deceased, Ketan Lal, was a resident of Deval village. His injured friend, Diwakar Dimri, was admitted to the district hospital in Baurari. According to a complaint lodged by the Ketan’s father, Dhanpal Lal, the incident occurred on Sunday night in Kholgarh village. Ketan had reportedly been in a friendship with a girl from Kholgarh for the past six months. On Sunday at around 11 pm, the girl called Ketan on his mobile phone and asked him to come to her village. Ketan went to Kholgarh with Diwakar Dimri. When they both arrived, members of the girl’s family locked them both in a room and assaulted them with sticks, the police said on Monday. On Monday morning, the girl’s father called Dhanpal Lal to inform him about his son’s condition and asked him to take him back. Dhanpal found his son covered in blood and rushed him to a community health centre in Chaund Lambgaon where he succumbed, the police said. Irate locals and the family initially refused to claim the body from the hospital and demanded immediate action against the assaulters. Tehri Garhwal Senior Superintendent of Police Shweta Choubey said a case under the charge of murder and Section 3(2)(v) of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act was filed. The police had detained for questioning one of the accused, Yashveer Singh Panwar, the SSP added. Courtesy : Telangana Today Note: This news is originally published on https:/telanganatoday.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
‘I felt like I was breathing my last’: Dalit brothers attacked for ‘drinking water’ at a wedding in Uttarakhand
“They asked Rakesh why he was there and slapped him. When Rakesh told my brother that the family members had beaten him…” Two Dalit brothers were allegedly attacked and subjected to casteist slurs during a wedding ceremony in Haldwani, Uttarakhand, following a dispute over drinking water from a water pot. According to the Indian Express report, one of the brothers has filed a complaint, but an FIR has not yet been registered. Police say the matter is being investigated. According to the complaint filed by Umesh Tamta, his brother Shubham and relatives Rakesh Arya and Ajay Arya had gone to operate the DJ system at a wedding in Deval Malla village on Sunday night. When Rakesh Arya went to drink water from a water pot, he was allegedly attacked by the groom’s family. Tamta told the Indian Express, “They asked Rakesh why he was there and slapped him. When Rakesh told my brother that his family members had beaten him, Shubham went to the house to talk to them. He slapped a young man present there, after which the young man called his uncle and friends and started attacking Shubham. Caste-related abuses were also hurled at him.” Shubham was reportedly kicked and punched on his face and body and is currently hospitalized. When Tamta learned of the incident, he rushed to the spot, where he was allegedly attacked with a sharp weapon on his head. Tamta alleged, “I asked them why they were beating my brother. They said Shubham had hit his brother and then attacked my head with a rod. While my head was bleeding, another man tried to strangle me. I pleaded with them to stop, and I felt like I was breathing my last. Then someone intervened and stopped them. We were also subjected to casteist abuse.” The family claims that Tamta suffered a serious head injury, while his brother suffered a spinal fracture. Both have been admitted to a private hospital in the city. The complaint seeks action under sections of the attempt to murder and the Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Following the incident, local residents and Tamta’s family protested outside the police station, demanding the arrest of the accused. Police said the matter is being investigated and a counter-complaint has been received from the other party, alleging that their mother was injured in the incident. Officials from the Kathgodam police station said four people have been detained under Section 172 of the BNSS. Police said, “We are investigating the incident and statements from both parties have been recorded. We are trying to determine what led to the incident and whether the violence was caste-based.” Courtesy: Hindi News
Divide emerges in Dehradun’s transgender community; Civic body caps congratulatory amount at Rs 5,100
The Dehradun Municipal Corporation fixed Rs 5,100 as the maximum congratulatory amount for transgender people, sparking debate. While officials claim it ensures fairness, divisions within the transgender community have surfaced, with some opposing the cap and others calling for recognition of their traditional practices. Dehradun: The fourth board meeting of the Dehradun Municipal Corporation has triggered controversy after deciding to fix the maximum congratulatory amount for transgender people at Rs 5,100. While the civic body claims the move will prevent arbitrary demands, the decision has created divisions within the transgender community. The decision During the meeting, councilors debated concerns about transgender individuals demanding varying amounts during congratulatory ceremonies. After long discussions, the board approved a cap of Rs 5,100. Mayor Saurabh Thapliyal confirmed the decision, saying it was necessary to bring uniformity and fairness. Community divide The transgender community in Dehradun is now split over the ruling. Some members argue that the cap undermines their traditional practices, which have cultural and social significance. They believe the civic body should not interfere in their customs. Others, however, feel the decision could reduce tensions with the public and ensure a more respectful relationship. This divide has sparked discussions about how modern governance interacts with age-old traditions. For many transgender individuals, congratulatory ceremonies are not just about money but about recognition and dignity. Meeting uproar The board meeting itself was marked by uproar, with BJP and Congress councilors clashing repeatedly. Out of 65 proposals, many could not be discussed due to disruptions. The meeting will reconvene on Thursday to address pending issues. Other decisions Alongside the transgender donation cap, the board also approved an increase in the honorarium of sanitation workers (environmental friends) from Rs 500 to Rs 800 per day. Officials said this would improve morale and ensure better cleanliness across wards. Mayor’s statement Mayor Thapliyal said, “Important decisions were made today, including fixing the maximum congratulatory amount for transgender individuals at Rs 5,100 and raising sanitation workers’ honorarium. The remaining proposals will be discussed tomorrow.” Public impact Transgender community: The cap has created internal divisions, with debates over tradition versus regulation. Sanitation workers: The honorarium hike is widely welcomed, offering financial relief and recognition. Residents: The decisions reflect attempts to balance social concerns with civic development, though political clashes slowed progress. The Dehradun Municipal Corporation’s decision to cap transgender congratulatory amounts at Rs 5,100 has highlighted a deeper divide within the community. While some see it as a step toward fairness, others view it as interference in tradition. The debate underscores the challenge of balancing cultural practices with civic regulations. Namita Singh Namita is an Assistant News Editor at News9 Live. She has reported on a range of issues from Uttarakhand for mainstream papers such as The Hindu and websites such as Firstpost.com Courtesy : News Nine Note: This news is originally published on https:/newsnine.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Thakur, Dalit, Brahmin: Uttarakhand CM’s new Cabinet balances caste, regions
The Dhami Cabinet is now at its full strength, with 12 members. Inducting new faces into the Cabinet highlights the BJP’s strategy of balancing social and regional equations in the state ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has expanded his Cabinet, inducting five new faces. The Dhami Cabinet is now at its full strength, with 12 members. Inducting new faces into the Cabinet highlights the BJP’s strategy of balancing social and regional equations in the state ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections. While two ministers belong to the Thakur community, the newly-expanded Cabinet has one member each from the Dalit, Brahmin and Punjabi communities. The Garhwal region and the plains are represented by two ministers each, while the Kumaon region has a lone representative. Khajan Das hails from the Dalit community and has previously served as a minister. In the 2022 Assembly elections, the senior BJP leader won his seat by a margin of 11,163 votes. His political journey began in 2007 when he was elected from Dhanaulti. Bharat Singh Chaudhary, MLA, Rudraprayag Bharat Chaudhary (66) belongs to the Thakur community. Chaudhary is known for his strong command over Hindi, English, and Sanskrit. Before joining the BJP, he unsuccessfully contested the 2012 Assembly elections as an Independent. Ram Singh Kaida, MLA, Bhimtal (Nainital) Ram Singh Kaida, who began his political career with the Congress, contested the 2017 Assembly election as an Independent and won. Later, he gravitated toward the BJP and formally joined the party in 2021. Madan Kaushik, MLA, Haridwar Madan Kaushik is a five-time MLA. A former president of the BJP state unit, he has held various portfolios in previous state governments. Hailing from the Brahmin community, Kaushik commands a strong support base in the Haridwar region. Pradeep Batra, MLA, Roorkee A businessman with interests in hotels, retail and other sectors, Pradeep Batra is a third-term MLA from Roorkee. Batra, who won the 2012 Assembly election on a Congress ticket, joined the BJP prior to the 2022 polls. Ankit Sharma 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