Man Accused In Five Murder Cases Gets Life Term For Killing Dalit Woman In Gurugram
A man was sentenced to life by Gurugram court for kidnapping and killing a Dalit woman in 2021. He confessed to other murders. Key evidence included his recorded confession. Police said the accused was working as a security guard at a private hospital in Sector 16 in 2021 when he molested a Dalit woman. (Canva) A Gurugram court has sentenced a man, accused in five murder cases, to life imprisonment for the kidnapping and killing of a 20-year-old dalit woman in December 2021. The court found him guilty in the case and awarded the sentence after completion of the trial. According to Rekha JS Jangra, deputy district attorney, after the convict Singh Raj was arrested for the murder of the woman on January 7, 2022, he confessed to murdering three more minor girls in 2019, 2020 and 2021 for protesting to his molestation attempt. “Singh had dumped bodies of all three minors in Agra canal near Sector 7 after the murders. Trials are ongoing against him in these cases. He had also confessed to murdering his uncle and cousin in 1987 but was acquitted due to lack of evidence in those cases,” she said. Police said Raj was working as a security guard at a private hospital in Sector 16 in 2021 when he molested a Dalit woman. Officers added that Raj confessed to killing her after she allegedly tried to extort money by threatening to file a police complaint against him, Hindustan Times reported. Jangra said he asked the woman to meet him in Sector 16 on December 31, 2021, where he strangled her to death. “He then transported the body on a bicycle to dump it in the canal. Her family in Bhupani had filed a missing complaint at Old Faridabad police station on January 2, 2022. However, this time, the body was trapped in vegetation and was recovered by police on January 6, 2022,” she said. As per the investigators, on January 5, Raj rang the woman’s family and confessed to murdering her. Her family had recorded his confession on another phone and contacted the police. Sobhita Dhulipala Radiates Timeless Charm In A Traditional South Indian Look For Her Haldi Ceremony “The cell tower location of the deceased and Singh were found to be at the same location at the time of the murder. The recording of his confession along the location was the key evidence for prosecution along with 29 witnesses,” said Jangra. The court of additional sessions judge Purushottam Kumar also imposed a total fine of ₹2.1 lakh on convict Singh Raj after finding him guilty under Sections 302 (murder), 364 (kidnapping with intent to murder) and 201 (causing disappearance of evidence) of the Indian Penal Code, along with Section 3(2)(v) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Curated By : Aanchal Sinha Courtesy : News18 Note: This news is originally published on https:/news18.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Raping Dalit woman is…: Congress MLA’s bizarre theory sparks row, BJP reacts
A political controversy has erupted in Madhya Pradesh after Congress MLA Phool Singh Baraiya’s remarks linking rape with religious scriptures sparked widespread outrage. The incident has led to demands for his suspension and expulsion from the party amid sharp criticism from BJP and state leaders. A political storm has erupted in Madhya Pradesh after a video surfaced allegedly showing Congress MLA Phool Singh Baraiya making remarks that appear to link rape with religious scriptures, triggering sharp reactions from across the political spectrum and demands for his suspension and expulsion from the party. The video, which emerged from an interview circulating on social media platforms, shows Baraiya, the Congress legislator from the Bhander Assembly seat, making claims that religious texts offer “spiritual rewards” for sexual violence against women from Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe and Other Backward Class communities. The clip was shared online by the Bharatiya Janata Party, drawing widespread condemnation. In the clip, he is heard saying, “In India, the maximum number of rape cases are among Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and most OBCs. The theory of rape is that when a man, whatever his state of mind, sees a very beautiful woman while walking on the road, his brain can get disturbed and rape can happen. But among tribals, where are such beautiful women? Among SCs, where are such beautiful women? Among most OBCs, are there such beautiful women? Why does rape happen? Because religious scriptures give such instructions.” He then goes on to invoke religious texts to justify his argument, saying, “I do not want to say anything specific about Hindu religious scriptures, but what I mean is that it is written that when a person does this act, he gets the reward of a pilgrimage. It is written that by having relations with women of certain castes, one gets the spiritual reward of visiting places like Kashi, Prayagraj or Ayodhya. If someone cannot go on a pilgrimage, an option is given to stay at home and get the same reward by forcing himself on their women.” In the same video, Baraiya makes disturbing remarks while referring to sexual violence against infants. “Listen to why rape happens even with four-month-old, ten-month-old or one-year-old babies. Are their organs ready for sex? It happens because it is written that if I rape a girl of this caste, I will get a spiritual reward,” he says. BJP ATTACKS CONGRESS, CALLS REMARKS CRIMINAL The BJP reacted strongly, calling the remarks misogynistic, casteist and criminal. Madhya Pradesh BJP media in-charge Ashish Agrawal shared the video on X and wrote that Baraiya’s words were “not a slip of the tongue but a public display of a sick, perverted and criminal mindset”. “Measuring women on the scale of ‘beauty’ and describing rape of SC-ST women as a ‘pilgrimage reward’ is not a statement, it is an admission of a criminal mentality,” Agrawal said, adding that the comments were an attack on women, Dalits and humanity itself. He demanded immediate action from the Congress leadership, asking whether the party would suspend or expel the MLA or “accept that it stands with an anti-women and anti-Dalit mindset”. CHIEF MINISTER SEEKS EXPULSION Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav also condemned the remarks, accusing Baraiya of spreading social hatred. “Phool Singh Baraiya has worked to spread poison in society. Such an MLA should be suspended and expelled from the party so that it is clear he has respect for other sections of society,” Yadav said, adding that he strongly condemned the comments. The Chief Minister urged the Congress leadership to act decisively, especially as senior party leaders were visiting the state. “People of the country want to know what action will be taken,” he said. NATIONAL BJP LEADERS WEIGH IN Senior BJP leader Sambit Patra described the remarks as an insult not only to Sanatan Dharma but to humanity. “He is an MLA holding a constitutional position. Senior Congress leaders were present, yet no one stopped him,” Patra said. He added that the comments hurt the legacy of B R Ambedkar and demanded a response from the Congress leadership. “By evening, the country expects a clear statement and action,” he said. CONGRESS YET TO RESPOND As of Saturday, the Congress had not issued an official response or clarified its stand on the controversy. Baraiya, who has often courted controversy for his statements in the past, has also not publicly addressed the backlash over the video. Ravish Pal Singh Edited By: Sonali Verma 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
Meerut Dalit Woman’s Killing: Family Says Police, BJP Helping Prime Accused Claim Minority to Escape Punishment
The family of a Dalit woman who was brutally killed in Meerut, allegedly by a group of upper-caste men, has accused the Uttar Pradesh police and the BJP of shielding the main accused and cutting them off from the outside world. Speaking to reporters outside his village on Wednesday, the eldest brother of the abducted woman said the police were deliberately protecting Paras Som, the prime accused in the case. “In Uttar Pradesh, criminals are killed in encounters, but Paras Som was not even touched. Everyone in the village knows he killed my mother and abducted my sister. Putting him in jail is just an eyewash,” he said. He alleged that a conspiracy was underway to help the accused escape strict punishment. “While being taken to court, he was allowed to speak to the media and claim that he is a minor. This is a planned attempt to save him, even though the whole village knows he is around 25 years old,” the brother said. The family also alleged that heavy police presence around their house was not meant for protection but to isolate them. “Paramilitary forces have been deployed outside our home. All entry points to the village have been blocked and six CCTV cameras have been installed around our house. At first we thought it was for our safety, but now it feels like they want to stop us from talking to anyone,” he said. According to the family, the incident took place on the morning of January 8 when Paras Som and his associates attacked the woman with axes as she was going to her fields with her daughter. The woman was killed on the spot and her daughter was abducted. Another brother of the abducted woman said eyewitnesses had named four people in the crime. “Paras Som, his friend Sunil Som and two others were involved. The police arrested Paras and Sunil but have done nothing to catch the other two accused. Now Paras is playing the age card on the advice of politicians,” he alleged. The police arrested Paras Som from Haridwar and rescued the woman on the night of January 10. After her statement was recorded before a magistrate, she was sent back home. While being produced in court, Paras Som told reporters, “I am a minor and I have documents to prove it. My Aadhaar card and school certificate will show this.” Meerut jail superintendent Viresh Raj Sharma said the accused had claimed to be a minor. “He has said he should be sent to a child remand home. We have asked him to present these claims before the court,” he said. Circle Officer Ashutosh Kumar said security forces were deployed only to maintain law and order. “The main accused has not submitted any proof of being a minor so far,” he said. The case has triggered political reactions across the state. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said his party was closely monitoring the situation. “We are with the victim’s family at every step,” he said. Yadav had earlier sent Rs three lakh as financial assistance to the family. The killing sparked protests by Dalit groups and opposition parties, with demands for the immediate arrest of all accused and action against their properties. Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati called the incident “extremely heartbreaking and shameful” and urged the government to take crimes against women seriously. The incident has also led to clashes between opposition leaders and the administration after several political delegations were stopped from visiting the victim’s village, even as BJP leaders were allowed access. Courtesy : TOP Note: This news is originally published on https:/theobserverpost.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Meira Kumar: How A Dalit Woman Reshaped Indian Politics From The Speaker’s Chair
Meira Kumar is a politician and Speaker of the 15th Lok Sabha, who has left her mark on the field of Indian politics. What does it mean to shatter the ceiling when the floor that you stand on has always been irregular? Meira Kumar, India’s first woman Speaker in the Lok Sabha, has shattered political ceilings but also brought her identity of being a Dalit woman as a powerful instrument of advocacy to the heart of politics. Meira Kumar’s life is an adventurous answer to the challenge of representation in justice that can transform the moral geography of the nation. Family background and early years Meira Kumar is a politician and Speaker of the 15th Lok Sabha, who has left her mark on the field of Indian politics. Born in a politically active family with many Dalit leaders and social activists, Meira Kumar’s father Babu Jagjivan Ram was not only a well-known freedom fighter but also Deputy Prime Minister. Her mother, Indrani Devi, was a social worker. Kumar holds B.A. and M.A. in English Literature with LL.B. from the University of Delhi. It is because of Kumar’s parents, particularly her mother’s influence, that she chose to follow the path to justice for everyone. Meira Kumar has been an active social worker since her youth and was associated with various social movements for reforms and human rights. During the famine in the state of Bihar in the year 1967, she was appointed as the Chairperson of National Drought Relief Committee constituted by the Congress and she had also worked towards the establishment of the Family Adoption Scheme, through which drought-affected families would get help from voluntarily contributing households. Through all this, she had gained a good base in the provision of relief before venturing into politics. Career and entry into politics Before entering Politics, Meira Kumar served the Indian Foreign Service for more than a decade, where she was stationed in Spain and the United Kingdom. This job taught her how to negotiate, build bridges between different groups and represent India’s diverse culture to the world. However, she felt a strong pull to work directly on the social issues she cared about at home. She left diplomacy to join politics in 1985, encouraged by her father and by Rajiv Gandhi, the then prime minister of India. She ran in a by-election for a seat in the Lok Sabha from a constituency in Uttar Pradesh state defeating two other Dalit candidates. Being close to the politically powerful Gandhi family and representing the oppressed castes, Kumar’s political career progressed steadily within the Indian National Congress (INC) and she quickly made a name for herself as a strong advocate for human rights and the abolition of the caste system. Meira Kumar is a highly accomplished politician who has been a member of numerous decision-making bodies within the INC, serving twice as its General Secretary. Meira Kumar is a highly accomplished politician who has been a member of numerous decision-making bodies within the INC, serving twice as its General Secretary. She became a member of the Congress Working Committee, the organisation’s highest decision-making body in 1990 and continued it for a decade till 2000. She resigned from the Congress Party in 2000, citing differences with the party leadership but rejoined it after a gap of two years. In 2004 and 2009 she contested and won the Lok Sabha seat from Sasaram in Bihar state, the constituency once represented by her father. Advocacy for social justice During her political career, she has served on various committees, including the Public Accounts Committee and the Joint Committee on the Empowerment of Women as a Member of Parliament. Additionally, she also served as Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment (2004-2009) which deepened her activism against caste exclusion. She challenged private sector reservation opposition and said sustainable growth needs ending Dalit and tribal marginalisation. Her focus shifted from handouts to true empowerment. Appointed as the Minister of Water Resources in the 14th Lok Sabha shortly after her victory in the elections of 2009, in June of the same year, she achieved a tremendous historical feat as the first woman Lok Sabha Speaker. This moment symbolically meant a lot to women in the state of India. During her role as the Speaker, Meira Kumar achieved many milestones to bring gender equality to the politics of India. She started the gender-neutral rules in the House, replacing gendered terms with gender-neutral expressions in the rules of the House. This action brought a remarkable revolution in the setting of the Parliament to be friendly to all its members irrespective of gender. During her term as the Speaker, in 2011, Kumar reduced paper usage by 30% in the Lok Sabha with tablets and also expressed her support to the increasing nationwide protests against violence on women in the nation. She also announced the formation of a Parliamentary Friendship Group to improve relations with the nation of Bhutan. In speeches, Meira Kumar calls for ‘zero tolerance on prejudice‘ and the end of the caste system. In the 2017 presidential election, Kumar secured the United Progressive Alliance’s nomination as their joint candidate for President of India. This was a testament to her widespread respect as a symbol of social justice, secularism and constitutional values as she said, ‘Democratic values, social justice, transparency, freedom of speech, inclusiveness, destruction of caste system, end of poverty — these are part of the ideology which is close to my heart. For this very reason, on the plank of this ideology I will compete.‘ Thus, her 2017 presidential bid stressed destruction of caste barriers and inclusion. ‘Democratic values, social justice, transparency, freedom of speech, inclusiveness, destruction of caste system, end of poverty — these are part of the ideology which is close to my heart. For this very reason, on the plank of this ideology I will compete.‘ – Meira Kumar At her first press conference after being selected as joint candidate for President, with BJP’s Ram Nath Kovind, whose Dalit
Dalit Woman Raped After Accused Conceals His Religious Identity, Obscene Videos Made: Repeated Sexual Exploitation Through Blackmail, FIR Registered on Court Order
A case of sexual exploitation of a 22-year-old Dalit woman by concealing religious identity has come to light in the Garhmukteshwar police station area. It is alleged that the accused hotel owner gained the trust of the woman and her family by identifying himself as a Hindu, then drugged her, raped her, and made obscene photos and videos to blackmail her. Through this, the accused repeatedly sexually exploited the woman. The victim stated that about eight months ago, two young men came to her house to buy a buffalo. The deal did not go through, but they kept coming back to her house. One of these men introduced himself as Ajay Kumar and a hotel owner. The accused said he needed an employee to work at the hotel counter and arranged a job for the woman’s mother at a salary of Rs. 15,000 per month. It is alleged that after taking the woman to the hotel, the accused gave her a narcotic substance. While she was unconscious, he raped her and made obscene photos and videos. Fearing social stigma and disgrace, the woman did not share this with anyone and stopped going to the hotel. After some time, the accused called and revealed that his real name was not Ajay, but Yunus. He threatened that if she did not comply with his demands, he would make the photos and videos go viral on social media. After this, the accused called the woman to different places and raped her several times. The victim alleged that when she resisted, the accused would use casteist slurs and verbally abuse her over the phone, mentally harassing her. Police Station In-charge Inspector Devendra Singh Bisht said that on the orders of the court, a case has been registered against Yunus, a resident of Mohalla Madrasa in Garhmukteshwar city, under serious sections including rape, threats, blackmail, and the SC/ST Act. The police are conducting a thorough investigation into the matter. Shahrukh Khan | Garhmukteshwar Courtesy: Hindi News
Hatred fuelled on basis of caste and religion, claims Congress after Dalit woman’s killing in U.P.
The party claims the State tops in crimes against SCs, flags delay in releasing crime data The Congress on Monday criticised the Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh over the alleged killing of a Dalit woman in Meerut, accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party of fostering hatred on the basis of caste and religion and selective use of State power. A Dalit woman was allegedly killed and her 20-year-old daughter abducted in a village in Meerut district last Thursday. The police said a 22-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the crime. The incident led to tension in the area, following which additional police forces were deployed. The abducted daughter was later traced to neighbouring Saharanpur district on Saturday, officials said. Addressing a press conference in the national capital, Congress Scheduled Caste department chairman Rajendra Pal Gautam alleged that caste-based animosity and religion-based hostility was being encouraged under BJP rule. “Hatred is being fuelled in the country on the basis of caste and religion, and this is happening under the patronage of BJP governments,” Mr. Gautam alleged. The Congress leader accused the Uttar Pradesh administration of targeting Dalits, tribals and backward classes through what he described as the selective use of coercive measures. Referring to the State government’s practice of demolishing properties of alleged offenders, he said such action appeared to be guided by caste and religious considerations. “When a Dalit is oppressed in the State, the bulldozer does not move,” he alleged. Recounting the Meerut incident, the Congress leader said the woman was killed when she attempted to resist the abduction of her daughter. He also claimed that Congress party representatives were stopped from meeting the victim’s family. “If the police showed the same diligence in preventing crime and ensuring punishment for the guilty, such incidents would not recur,” he said. Mr. Gautam further alleged that if the accused belonged to a Dalit, tribal or backward community, action such as demolition would have followed swiftly. “The law should not operate on the basis of caste or religion. If it does, the country will weaken,” he said. ‘No data since 2022’ He also criticised the government for not releasing data on atrocities committed against Dalits after 2022, calling it a failure of governance. Claiming that Uttar Pradesh accounted for the highest number of cases of atrocities against Dalits in the past five years, he said that BJP-ruled States together contributed a majority of such cases nationally. Questioning restrictions on protests, Mr. Gautam said the authorities had earlier denied permission for demonstrations citing procedural requirements. “If a rape or killing occurs, do we have to wait 10 days to demand justice?” he asked. The Uttar Pradesh government has not yet responded to the Congress’s allegations. 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
Mentally ill Dalit woman sexually harassed
Bagalkot: It has come to light that a Dalit divorcee woman was sexually harassed by a group of men at Sangam Cross in Bagalkot district on Jan 5. The woman’s brother told reporters that the 40-year-old woman is mentally ill and was wandering around. “She was found thrown near the national highway at Sangam Cross. Some passers-by alerted police, and later we were informed by police. Police should arrest the miscreants immediately,” he demanded. Hunagund police, who registered a case, said that the woman was sexually harassed. “We are investigating whether she was raped. She was admitted to the taluk hospital in Hunagund, and was later sent to the district hospital in Bagalkot,” they added. Bagalkot SP Siddarth Goyal said that based on CCTV footage, a list of 72 suspects was prepared. “We will nab the accused soon,” he added. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Hatred being spread on basis of caste, religion under BJP rule’: Congress after Dalit woman’s killing in UP
Congress claimed that five BJP-ruled states –Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Bihar– accounted for 76 per cent of Dalit-atrocity incidents in the country. NEW DELHI: The Congress slammed the Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh on Monday over the alleged killing of a Dalit woman in Meerut and said hatred is being fuelled on the basis of caste and religion under the patronage of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) dispensations. A 22-year-old man allegedly killed the Dalit woman and abducted her daughter in a village in Meerut on Thursday morning, police said. The incident triggered tension in the locality, prompting authorities to deploy additional police forces. The deceased was identified as the mother of a 20-year-old woman. The 20-year-old Dalit woman, who was abducted from Kapsad village in the Sardhana area, was found from Saharanpur district on Saturday and the accused arrested, police said. Addressing a press conference, Congress’s SC (Scheduled Caste) department head Rajendra Pal Gautam alleged that “hatred is being fuelled in the country on the basis of caste and religion, and this is happening under the patronage of the BJP government.” “Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogiji is openly using resources to crush Dalits, tribals and backward classes. Chief Minister Yogi’s bulldozer often operates only after considering caste and religion. When a Dalit is oppressed in the state, their bulldozer does not move,” he said. “In Meerut, a girl was going towards the forest with her mother. The daughter was abducted and when the mother came to save her, she was brutally killed… When we went to meet the victim’s family, we were stopped,” Gautam said. “If the Uttar Pradesh Police showed the same diligence in preventing crime and ensuring punishment for the guilty, crimes would stop happening altogether,” he added. Gautam claimed that if the perpetrator was a Dalit, tribal or from the backward classes, the “chief minister’s bulldozer” would run down his place within 24 hours. “We believe that the law should not do its work by looking at caste and religion. If this is done, the country will weaken. The situation is such that the government itself has not made public the data on Dalit oppression after 2022. This is a complete failure of the government,” the Congress leader said. In the last five years, the highest number of cases of atrocities against Dalits in the country has surfaced in Uttar Pradesh, he claimed. “Five BJP-ruled states in the country — Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Bihar — account for 76 per cent of Dalit-atrocity incidents. The shocking fact is that 26 per cent of Dalit-atrocity incidents have come to light in Uttar Pradesh alone,” Gautam claimed. “The government did not allow our protest earlier by saying that in any case, one must inform 10 days in advance to hold a protest. Our question to the government is — if a rape or killing happens anywhere in the country, will we have to wait for 10 days to demand justice?” he asked. 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
A village in Meerut is on edge after the murder of a Dalit woman and the abduction of her daughter; the terrified administration has turned the village into a fortress.
The murder of Sunita, a woman from the Scheduled Caste community, and the abduction of her daughter Ruby in Kapsad village of Sardhana in Meerut have sparked a new political storm in the state. In Uttar Pradesh, where Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is being promoted as a strict administrator by BJP leaders, workers, and his supporters, who claim that the Yogi government has brought law and order back on track during its tenure, the incident in Kapsad village of Meerut exposes the hollowness of these claims. It also raises questions about the “Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao” (Save the Daughter, Educate the Daughter) slogan, which has been widely promoted for the past fourteen years. She too was someone’s daughter, who was abducted in broad daylight by thugs. Her mother was attacked and killed with a sharp weapon, and even after three days, the abducted girl has not been found. The incident took place in Kapsad village of Meerut district. The village has been fortified; if more than 50,000 police personnel, including 20 inspectors and 150 sub-inspectors, have to be deployed in a village, one can imagine that a major incident has occurred. Kapsad village in Meerut has currently been transformed into a military camp. Movement of people has become extremely difficult. The reason for this police crackdown is the abduction of a daughter from a Scheduled Caste family in Kapsad village and the murder of her mother while she was trying to save her daughter from the abductors. The atmosphere is so tense that the police had to conduct a flag march. How did the incident happen? This is an incident from Thursday, January 8th. Sunita, from a Scheduled Caste family, was going towards the fields with her daughter Ruby. It is alleged that Paras Som, Sunil, and their accomplices from Kapsad village attacked Sunita with an axe and abducted her daughter Ruby before fleeing. Ruby was scheduled to get married in April of this year. Ruby’s mother, Sunita, who was injured in the attack, died at a hospital in Modipuram during treatment. This sparked outrage throughout the entire area. Moreover, the abducted girl is still missing, and the police have not yet arrested the named accused. On Friday, the family kept Sunita’s body at home all day. The family categorically stated that they would not perform Sunita’s last rites until their daughter was found. What are the implications of Vinay Katiyar’s involvement? However, later, the family was given a check of Rs. 10 lakh by the government. They were also assured that a family member would be granted a firearms license. In addition, a police force would be deployed in the village for security. Following this assurance, Sunita’s last rites could finally be performed around 7:45 pm. Her son, Narsi, lit the funeral pyre. Earlier, Samajwadi Party, BSP, Bhim Army, ASPA leaders and workers, and local people continued to protest. The police had also transformed the village and the surrounding area into a fortified zone. There was also a commotion when SP MLA Atul Pradhan was stopped outside the village. The victim’s family allowed the MLA to enter the village. Ruling party and opposition face off: The murder of Sunita, a Scheduled Caste woman, and the abduction of her daughter Ruby in Kapsad village of Sardhana has heated up the politics of the state. On Friday, on one hand, there was the grieving family of the abducted daughter, and on the other hand, there was a barrage of accusations and counter-accusations between the leaders of the ruling party and the opposition in the village. Seeing the gathering of the opposition to corner the government, the village was transformed into a fortified zone with police deployed all around since morning. Barricades were erected 2.5 km before the village boundary. More than 500 police personnel, including the SSP, SP Rural, SP Traffic, four COs, 20 inspectors, and 150 sub-inspectors, were deployed in the village. The RAF team was also seen on alert. Samajwadi Party MLA Atul Pradhan was stopped at the border of Kapsad village, where tensions had reached a peak since 7:30 AM. The police had cordoned off the village. The family members refused to perform Sunita’s last rites until the accused were arrested. Samajwadi Party MLA Atul Pradhan, Bhim Army District President Charan Singh, and other activists, along with Congress leaders, set out for the village, but the police stopped them at the border. After nearly 19 hours of struggle, in the presence of former MLA Sangeet Som, SP Rural Abhijit Kumar, and ADM City, the police gave a written promise that Ruby would be found within 48 hours. A family member would also be given permanent employment at the local sugar mill. Following this, the MLA and others sat on a dharna (protest) on the road outside the village. The situation remained tense throughout. At one point, it seemed as if the police might resort to a lathi charge, although this did not happen. The Samajwadi Party MLA said that a Scheduled Caste woman had been murdered and her daughter kidnapped. If this had been a case involving another community, bulldozer action would have already been taken. The victim’s family sat on the dharna with the MLA. After about an hour and a half of slogans and arguments, Sunita’s husband Satendra and son also arrived and joined the protest. The situation became so volatile that the police had to give way. After this, everyone reached Sunita’s house. The most emotional moment during the protest came when Sunita’s eldest son, Narsi, weeping, hugged MLA Atul Pradhan. He asked, sobbing, “MLA, just tell me, will my sister ever come back?” This question brought tears to the eyes of everyone present. The family is demanding that their daughter, Ruby, be rescued from the clutches of the kidnappers and brought back safely. They are also demanding the immediate arrest of the main accused, Paras Som, and his accomplices. They want bulldozers to be used to demolish the houses of the accused. They
MP: Tribal Woman Gang-Raped in Harda; Four Accused, Including Dhaba Owner, Two in Custody
This incident once again brings to light the horrific reality of the exploitation of tribal women in the name of safety and employment. Bhopal. A very serious and shocking case of gang rape of a tribal woman has come to light in Harda district of Madhya Pradesh. Four people, including the owner of a roadside eatery (dhaba) located on Khudiya Road under the Sirali police station area, are accused of holding a 27-year-old tribal woman captive and raping her. The police have taken swift action and taken two of the accused into custody, while the search for the remaining two is underway. Lured with the promise of a job, then subjected to brutality In her statement to the police, the victim said that on January 6, the dhaba owner, Anand Rajput, lured her with the promise of a job at his eatery. Using this pretext, he took the woman to the dhaba on Khudiya Road on his motorcycle. According to the victim, she was given alcohol there at night, which rendered her semi-conscious. During this time, Anand Rajput, along with his three accomplices, raped her. The victim also stated that Kanha Rathore, a resident of Sirali, also played an active role in this inhumane act. According to the woman, she was threatened when she resisted and was held captive under duress. Giving details of the case, Robert Girwal, Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDOP) Khirkiya, said that a case was immediately registered on Thursday based on the victim’s complaint. After preliminary investigation, the police have rounded up two of the accused. Separate teams have been formed to arrest the remaining two accused, and raids are being conducted at possible locations. The SDOP said that the case is being investigated seriously, and necessary evidence is being collected while the victim’s medical examination is being conducted. A case has been registered against the accused under stringent sections of the law. Questions raised again about the safety of tribal women This incident once again brings to light the horrific reality of the exploitation of tribal women in the name of safety and employment. Cases of women being lured from rural and tribal areas under the pretext of providing employment, being drugged and then subjected to crimes, and subsequently threatened and intimidated, are constantly coming to light. Social organizations say that incidents of crimes against women are increasing in the name of providing work at roadside eateries, brick kilns, and in the unorganized sector, but the system of monitoring and accountability is weak. In a conversation with The Mooknayak, tribal activist Sunil Adivasi said, “The gang rape of a tribal woman in Harda district is not just a single criminal incident, but it shows how insecure women in tribal society are. They are lured under the pretext of providing work and then exploited. This is a failure of the system. In such cases, not only should arrests be made, but the accused should receive the harshest possible punishment, and the victim should receive complete protection and justice. Until there is a strict policy and concrete action on the ground regarding the safety of tribal women, such crimes will not stop.” Tribal Congress attacks the government In a conversation with The Mooknayak, Ramu Tekam, the state president of the Tribal Congress, targeted the BJP government, saying, “The continuous incidents against tribal women in Madhya Pradesh show that law and order have completely collapsed under the BJP government. There is neither security nor sensitivity from the government in tribal areas. Tribal women are being exploited in the name of work and employment, but the government is turning a blind eye. In this case, not only superficial action should be taken, but the accused should be given strict punishment after a trial in a fast-track court, and the victim should be guaranteed justice and security at every level.” Investigation underway, arrests claimed The police say that the identities of the remaining accused are clear and they will be arrested soon. During the investigation, the activities at the roadside eatery, the statements of other people present there, and CCTV footage (if available) are also being examined. Situation alarming in NCRB data Madhya Pradesh has long been a subject of discussion across the country for crimes against women, especially rape cases. The situation did not improve much in 2023 either. The NCRB report shows that the state ranked third in the country in terms of rape incidents. 2,979 cases were registered here within a year. Rajasthan topped the list with 5,078 incidents, while Uttar Pradesh saw 3,516 cases. These figures clearly show that the safety of women in the state remains a major challenge. Although the government has launched several schemes and helpline numbers for the safety of women, their impact at the ground level is very limited. Ankit Pachauri Courtesy: Hindi News