Dalit woman murdered in Karnataka! Huge uproar over ‘love jihad’ claims; Rafiq stabbed her after she refused to marry him.
Dalit woman killed in Yellapur: Karnataka police said a 30-year-old Dalit woman was stabbed to death in broad daylight in Yellapur town, Uttara Kannada district. The victim has been identified as Ranjita Bhansod. The body of the accused, Rafiq Imamsaab, was also recovered. Dalit woman killed in Karnataka: A 30-year-old Dalit woman was stabbed to death on the street in Yellapur town, Uttara Kannada district, Karnataka. It is alleged that the murder was committed by an acquaintance. Superintendent of Police (SP) Deepan MN said the body of the accused, Rafiq Imamsaab, was also found hanging from a tree in a forest near Yellapur on Sunday (January 4). The incident has sparked communal tension in the town. Several Hindu organizations called for a shutdown in Yellapur on Sunday, calling the murder a case of ‘love jihad’. The deceased has been identified as Ranjita Bhansod of Kalamma Nagar, Yellapur. According to police, Rafiq, a resident of the same area, was the main accused in the woman’s murder. Police said Rafiq and Ranjita were friends since school. A police officer said, “Preliminary investigation reveals that the accused was pressuring the woman to marry him. When she refused, he allegedly attacked her with a knife in public.” The woman was married 10 years ago Police said on Sunday that the incident occurred on Saturday afternoon when Ranjita was returning home from school. Police said Ranjita had married in Maharashtra about 12 years ago and they have a 10-year-old son. Police said she was living separately from her husband with her family in Yellapur, where she worked as a mid-day meal assistant at a government school. The accused often visited her home for meals, but tensions escalated when she insisted on marriage. However, Ranjitha and her family protested. Following the murder, angry residents and Hindutva activists protested in front of the Yellapur police station, alleging a delay in the arrest of the accused. The attacker also died. Meanwhile, Rafiq’s body was found hanging from a tree in the forest. Police said the circumstances of his death were being investigated. It is being claimed that he committed suicide. Karnataka BJP president B.Y. Vijayendra attended the woman’s funeral. He demanded compensation of ₹50 lakh and two acres of land for the bereaved family. He also announced immediate assistance of ₹5 lakh from the party. Sri Ram Sena chief Pramod Muthalik said, “This is a clear case of ‘love jihad.’ In this, unmarried, widowed, or divorced women are targeted.” Security beefed up In view of the situation, police have tightened security by deploying additional forces in Yellapur and surrounding areas. Vijayendra condemned the incident and alleged that such crimes are recurring due to the inaction of the state government and the Home Department. He alleged, “Whenever such incidents occur, even before the police begin an investigation, the Chief Minister and Home Minister offer clarifications, saying it’s not a case of ‘love jihad.’” Vijayendra demanded a thorough investigation and justice for the victim’s family. The term ‘love jihad’ was coined by right-wing groups. It is used to allege that Muslim men conspire to lure Hindu women into relationships and marriages in order to “convert them to Islam.” AKHILESH NATH TRIPATHI Courtesy: Hindi News
Khaki uniform tarnished in UP! Policeman drugs Dalit woman and rapes her, court delivers justice
Uttar Pradesh News: A shocking incident that shames humanity has come to light from Ambedkar Nagar district. Here, the protector became the predator. A policeman drugged a Dalit woman and raped her. Surprisingly, the landlady also aided the accused in this heinous act. This case has become a topic of discussion in Uttar Pradesh News. Following a court order, the police have registered a case against the accused constable and the landlady. The conspiracy was hatched in a rented house The incident took place in the Jauhardih locality of Akbarpur Kotwali area. The victim, a Dalit student, lived there in a rented house while pursuing her studies. Constable Rajesh Yadav also lived in the same building. It is alleged that the constable obtained the victim’s phone number from the landlady. He started harassing her by sending her lewd messages. One day, Rajesh offered the woman food. When the victim refused, the landlady pressured her to eat it. The food contained a sedative, which caused her to lose consciousness. When she regained consciousness, her world had been shattered When the victim regained consciousness, she was naked. Constable Rajesh was present there. He threatened the woman and started blackmailing her. The accused said that if she told anyone, the consequences would be dire. The constable sexually exploited the woman for several months. When the woman protested, the constable told everything to her husband. After this, her husband also abandoned her. Police finally act after court’s reprimand The victim went from the police station to the SP’s office seeking justice. But the police department did not take any action against its own employee. Finally, the victim approached the court. Now, on the court’s order, the Akbarpur Kotwali police have registered a case against Constable Rajesh Yadav and the landlady. The police have registered a case under the SC/ST Act and sections related to rape and have started an investigation. Poonam Sharma Courtesy: Hindi News
Riley Gaines takes bold stand to attend Supreme Court hearings on transgender athlete participation in women’s sports
Riley Gaines has once again stepped into the national spotlight. The former collegiate swimmer announced that she plans to attend two major Supreme Court hearings that could shape the future of women’s sports in the United States. The cases focus on whether states can legally restrict transgender athletes from competing in women’s categories. Gaines said the upcoming decisions are extremely important. She believes the rulings will determine whether laws designed to protect women’s sports are constitutional. The hearings involve laws from West Virginia and Idaho. Both cases have drawn national attention and sparked strong opinions on fairness, safety, and equal opportunity in sports. Riley Gaines backs state laws and supports female athletes speaking out — riley_gaines_ (@riley_gaines_) Riley Gaines confirmed she will be present at the Supreme Court in two weeks for the hearings of West Virginia v. B.P.J. and Little v. Hecox. She explained that these cases will decide if states are allowed to protect women’s sports under the Constitution. Gaines also encouraged her supporters to make their voices heard by signing a related petition. The West Virginia case centers on a state law that prevents transgender girls from competing in female sports categories. A middle school athlete named Becky challenged the law, arguing that it violates constitutional rights and Title IX protections. Becky has reportedly been on medication since the start of puberty. Gaines believes the case will have a major impact on youth and school sports nationwide. The second case, Little v. Hecox, involves Idaho’s HB 500 law. This law banned transgender athletes from women’s sports. Lindsay, a transgender college student at Boise State University, was affected by the rule and challenged it in court. The Supreme Court agreed to review both cases. In addition to her legal advocacy, Gaines recently voiced strong support for San Jose State University volleyball player Brooke Slusser. In a Fox News interview, Slusser shared the emotional stress she faced after learning a transgender athlete, Blaire Flemming, was competing on her team. Gaines accused the school of failing to inform female athletes about the situation. Gaines said Slusser only spoke up after realizing she had been living with and sharing hotel rooms with a biological male during team trips. She added that Slusser eventually left school and returned home due to concerns for her safety and mental health. Gaines described the situation as abusive. Slusser later revealed that the experience deeply affected her health. She said the stress led to an eating disorder and caused her to temporarily lose her menstrual cycle. Gaines continues to argue that these stories highlight why women’s voices must be central in discussions about sports policies. 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
BJP govt insulted Dalits by not installing portrait of Savitribai Phule on her birth anniversary, says Saurabh Bharadwaj
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Friday called out the BJP-led Delhi government for insulting dalits by choosing to install portraits of Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Madan Mohan Malaviya in the Delhi assembly on the birth anniversary of Savitribai Phule, instead of honouring the pioneering social reformer herself, AAP said in a press release. AAP Delhi unit chief Saurabh Bharadwaj and Kondli MLA Kuldeep Kumar emphasised that the government not only failed to acknowledge a dalit icon who laid the foundation of women’s education in India, but also went a step further by initiating a privilege breach case against MLAs who raised the demand, calling it a clear reflection of the BJP’s anti-dalit mindset. During a press conference, AAP Delhi state president Saurabh Bhaadwaj stated, “It is a very strange thing that on the birth anniversary of Mata Savitribai Phule, portraits of Pandit Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya are being installed. If even a Dalit icon’s portrait had been installed today, we could have struck a blow against the stigma of casteism that has existed for thousands of years. But the Delhi government missed this opportunity and instead installed portraits of two Brahmins. When it comes to installing the portrait of a Dalit icon, they face so much discomfort that they initiated a privilege breach case against MLAs, some of whom are Dalits and from the AAP.” Meanwhile, AAP MLA Kuldeep Kumar said, “A few days ago, a meeting was held in which we placed a proposal before the Assembly committee. Our MLAs said that Mata Savitribai Phule, whose birth anniversary is today, who opened the first school for women in this country, who faced immense atrocities yet never stopped educating women, should have her portrait installed inside the Delhi Assembly. I say this with great sadness that to suppress our voice, they initiated a privilege breach motion against our members, including against me personally, but they did not install Mata Savitribai Phule’s portrait there. Because she spoke about educating women. Because she came from the Dalit community and the backward community, her portrait was not installed.” Pointing to contrasting decisions, Kuldeep Kumar added, “Inside the Assembly, the entire government, along with the central government spent lakhs of rupees to install portraits of Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Madan Mohan Malaviya. We have no objection to that. But we say this clearly that if you insult Dalit heroes and show hatred towards them, then we will not tolerate a BJP that insults Mata Savitribai Phule and refuses to install her portrait on her birth anniversary while installing portraits of Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Madan Mohan Malaviya. This is their anti-Dalit mentality.” 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
Karnataka: Dalit woman stabbed to death in Yellapur, later accused found dead in forest; Hindu outfits call for bandh
KAWAR: A 30-year-old Dalit woman was stabbed to death on a public road in Yellapur town of Uttara Kannada district on Saturday, allegedly by a man known to her, police said. The accused, identified as Rafique Imamsab, was later found dead on Sunday. His body was discovered hanging from a tree in a forest near Yellapur, police said. The killing has led to tension in the town, with several Hindu organisations calling for a Yellapur bandh on Sunday. They described the murder as a case of “Love Jihad”. The woman has been identified as Ranjitha Bhanasode (30), a resident of Kalamma Nagar in Yellapur. The accused, Rafiq, also lived in the same locality. Police said the two had known each other since their school days.“Preliminary investigation suggests that the accused was pressuring the woman to marry him. After she refused, he allegedly attacked her with a knife in public,” a police officer said. The attack took place on Saturday afternoon when Ranjitha was returning home from work. Police said Ranjitha had married Sachin Katera from Solapur in Maharashtra around 12 years ago and had a 10-year-old son. She had been living separately and was staying with her family in Yellapur. She worked as a mid-day meal helper at a government school. According to police, the accused frequently visited her house for meals. The situation worsened when he began insisting on marriage, which Ranjitha and her family opposed. After the murder, local residents and Hindutva activists staged a protest outside the Yellapur police station, alleging delay in the arrest of the accused. They warned that protests would continue until action was taken. Meanwhile, Rafiq was found hanging from a tree in a nearby forest. “It’s a 100 per cent case of Love Jihad where single women, widows or divorcee are targeted,” Sri Ram Sena chief Pramod Muthalik said. BJP state president B Y Vijayendra is expected to meet Ranjitha’s family on Sunday. In view of the situation, police have deployed additional personnel and tightened security in and around Yellapur. 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
Dharamshala Dalit Student’s Death Case: College Claims Deceased Was Not Enrolled, Failed 3 First-Year Subjects
A 19-year-old woman allegedly subjected to ragging, sexual harassment and mental torture at a Dharamshala college died, sparking statewide outrage. Police booked four students and a professor, while the college denied her current enrollment, citing failed subjects. The family questioned the role of the college and police as investigations continue. Dharamshala: After the death of a 19-year-old female student, who was allegedly subjected to ragging and sexual harassment at her college, triggered widespread outrage across Himachal Pradesh, the college administration has come out in support of the accused professor and said that the woman was not enrolled as a student after she failed 3 subjects in the first year. About The Case The deeply disturbing case came to light on Friday from Dharamshala, where Pallavi, who was allegedly subjected to ragging and sexual harassment at her college, died while undergoing prolonged treatment. This case triggered widespread outrage and has raised questions over the role of the college and police administration. In connection with the case, police have registered an FIR against four female students and a college professor. However, the matter has taken a controversial turn as the college administration has refused to recognise the deceased as a student of the institution for the current academic year. This has led the victim’s family and guardians to question the conduct of both the college authorities and the police in handling the case. Following the death Pallavi, who was associated with Dharamshala Degree College, serious allegations of ragging, sexual harassment and mental torture have surfaced. Acting on a complaint filed by the victim’s father, Vikram Kumar, the Dharamshala police have registered a case under Sections 75, 115(2) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), which deal with sexual harassment, voluntarily causing hurt and common intention. The FIR also includes Section 3 of the Himachal Pradesh Educational Institutions (Prohibition of Ragging) Act, 2009. Confirming the development, Kangra ASP Veer Bahadur said the matter had earlier been taken up on the Chief Minister’s helpline. Addressing questions over police action, he said, “Questions are being raised about the police; the truth is that as soon as they received information about the case, they immediately contacted the victim’s family and learned that they were out of town for their daughter’s treatment.” He added that the family had been requested to inform the police after returning to Dharamshala. “The police are now investigating it, in which four female students and one professor have been named as parties,” the ASP said. Meanwhile, the deceased student’s father, Vikram Kumar, has raised strong objections to the conduct of the college administration, the police and what he described as the prevailing mindset of society. He alleged that the very institution where he had sent his daughter to pursue her studies failed to protect her. “Not only did the college students mistreat her, but even the professor did not leave any stone unturned in torturing her,” he alleged. Vikram further claimed that his daughter was subjected to casteist slurs and immense mental harassment. “My daughter was so mentally tormented that she ultimately left this world. This is a highly condemnable incident. If strict action is not taken today, then in the near future, other daughters will also continue to be tormented in the same way as my daughter, and there is no guarantee that they will get justice,” he told reporters. Expressing disappointment with the police, he said that the family was compelled to approach the CM’s helpline. “In this situation, they too had to take the matter to the CM’s helpline. If the police had been vigilant here, perhaps this wouldn’t have happened,” Vikram said. After the incident, the college administration has openly defended the accused professor. College Principal Rakesh Pathania said there was no dispute that the deceased had earlier been a student of the college, but claimed she was not enrolled during the current academic year. “Therefore, saying that she was studying in this college would not be fair to the college’s image,” Pathania said. He explained that the student had failed in three subjects in her first year and was repeatedly pressuring the department professor for admission to the second year, which was against university rules. “She left the college and was neither admitted to the first year nor the second year. However, she was seen in college again in July and then left again in September. Therefore, currently, the student has no connection with the college as a regular student,” he said. Pathania also asserted that the college follows a zero-tolerance policy on ragging. “Anti-ragging committee numbers are written in every block, yet we did not receive any complaint from anyone on which an enquiry could be conducted,” he said. Vikram Shri Vats, Associate Professor of Physics and Head of the Professors’ Unit at the college, also came out in support of the accused professor Ashok. While expressing sympathy for the bereaved family, he said, “The ground reality is that the allegations levelled against our college professor Ashok are completely baseless. I condemn them and stand with the professor in this matter.” Similarly, Monica Makkar, Professor of Psychology at the college, defended the accused faculty member. “We stand 100 per cent with Professor Ashok because he has been teaching children in this college since 2006, and to this day, he has not been seen misbehaving with anyone in this way or in any other way,” she said. The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) has also stepped into the matter following the student’s death. Speaking to reporters, ABVP state secretary Nancy Atal said the organisation stands with the victim’s family and questioned the functioning of both the police and the college administration. “If they had taken timely action on this incident, perhaps this situation would not have arisen,” she said. Atal further accused the police of failing in their duty, alleging that they often delay action in criminal cases but act swiftly to suppress student movements. Meanwhile, an investigation is underway, and further details are awaited.
DH Changemakers 2026 | How a transgender woman is empowering her community through livestock farming
Arundathi, a transgender woman from Karnataka, is creating new opportunities for her community through livestock farming, skills training and legal support. From her small farm near Bharamasagara in Chitradurga, she helps transgender and other marginalised people raise goats and chickens so they can move away from begging and sex work and build steady, dignified livelihoods. Her simple pay-it-forward idea means that once someone becomes self-reliant, they pass on animals to another person in need, slowly spreading opportunity across districts. Along with livelihood support, Arundathi also helps people get Aadhaar cards, voter IDs and access to government schemes, making sure they are seen, recognised and included. Courtesy : DH Note: This news is originally published on https:/deccanherald.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
A man with his face covered raped an elderly Dalit woman, and then the victim’s son did this.
A very shameful incident has come to light from Fatehpur in Uttar Pradesh. A heinous crime was committed against an elderly Dalit woman, after which the woman fainted. Now, more details have emerged regarding this case. UP News: In our country, elders have always been respected. However, incidents of violence against the elderly are continuously increasing. Sometimes, some incidents are so shocking that they leave everyone ashamed. A similar case has come to light from Fatehpur in Uttar Pradesh. Here, an elderly woman went to the forest to defecate on Saturday night. But what happened to her there has shamed everyone. As soon as the elderly woman went to the forest to defecate, a man with his face covered came there and committed a heinous act against the elderly woman. It should also be noted that the elderly woman belongs to the Dalit community. As soon as the police were informed about this incident, there was a commotion. According to the information received, the man who committed this heinous crime against the elderly victim had his face covered with a cloth. After the incident, the victim fainted. When she regained consciousness, she went home and informed her neighbor about the incident. Nitesh Srivastava Courtesy: Hindi News
Why is Barmer Collector Tina Dabi being targeted? Bahujan society says: ‘Upper caste resentment against a Dalit topper, she’s not a reel star – she’s a role model!’
Society rallies in support of Tina Dabi on social media, sparking a new debate. Barmer – IAS Tina Dabi, the Collector of Barmer district in Rajasthan, is once again at the center of controversy. Last month, Tina Dabi proved that she is not only a UPSC topper but also a revolutionary warrior for water conservation, when Barmer received the national first prize under the ‘Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain’ from President Draupadi Murmu. But this time, police action during a protest against fee hikes by college students, where she was called a ‘reel star’, has landed her in controversy. The Bahujan society is calling it a clear casteist conspiracy – why are upper-caste forces targeting a Dalit woman topper? Tina, who became a national icon after securing AIR-1 in UPSC in 2015, is being described as a victim of ‘upper-caste resentment’. Bahujan thinkers believe that Dabi is targeted the most. The first reason is that she is a UPSC topper from a Scheduled Caste. The second is that she has many achievements to her name. The root of the controversy: ‘Reel star’ comment and police action The incident took place at Maharana Bhupal Government PG College. On Saturday, students protested outside the college against the increase in examination fees. They demanded to meet IAS Tina Dabi, who cleared the UPSC Civil Services Examination in her first attempt at the age of 22. The situation worsened when an officer described Dabi as a ‘role model’ for the students, which was opposed by students associated with the BJP-backed Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP). They said, “The Collector is not a role model. If she were, she would have come to listen to the students’ demands. She is a reel star and is busy making reels, but she doesn’t pay attention to our problems.” Following this, the students were allegedly detained by the police. ABVP condemned the alleged arrest of the students in a tweet on X: “The arrest of the students is an attack on democratic values. When the police asked them to talk to IAS Tina Dabi after calling her a ‘reel star’, the ABVP students gave a clear answer.” The students claim they were detained after the protest ended. Following this, several students gathered outside the police station, demanding the release of the arrested students and an apology from the administration. Senior police officer Manoj Kumar told NDTV, “No one was detained or arrested. Four boys were brought to the police station to calm the situation and were later asked to leave. But the students gathered near the police station and insisted on an apology. A discussion took place when senior officers arrived.” Rajya Sabha MP Priyanka Chaturvedi criticized the incident, writing on social media, “Another day of intolerance from a bureaucrat in India. Despite corruption, power intoxication, and now intolerance, they get away without any serious scrutiny.” The controversy is rapidly spreading on social media. Tina Dabi completely denied the allegations: “There were no arrests or detentions. The fee hike issue had been resolved, yet the students were blocking the road and creating a disturbance. My subordinates took them to the police station, spoke to them, and released them after two hours. The ground issue is over, but it’s being kept alive on social media for defamation and cheap publicity.” Support from the Bahujan community: ‘This is a casteist conspiracy, we stand with Tina’ Bahujan thinkers are calling this an attack on Dalit excellence. Political scientist and Assistant Professor at Jadavpur University, Subhajit Naskar, tweeted: “Some UC liberals started targeting Dalit woman IAS Tina Dabi. A little investigation revealed – RSS student wing ABVP leaders were organized there! Hopefully, things are clear now.” In another tweet, Subhajit wrote: “Tina Dabi has faced the most vile casteist online abuse – despite being a topper. Even when Dalits are not appointed as Chief Secretaries or DGPs, she is proving her merit.” Anti-caste activist Prof. Rehana Ravindran called it an attack motivated by political self-interest. IRS officer Netrapal, supporting Tina in his post, wrote, “Targeting Tina Dabi in this manner… If you want, study and get Rank-1. If the roads are not good, file a complaint against the responsible engineers… The MLA should be held accountable. The local councilor, panchayat members should be held accountable. Suddenly, they target a collector just because she is a role model.” Swayam Sainik Dal tweeted: “The attempt to belittle Tina Dabi is a casteist conspiracy. Insecurity due to her brilliant success. We stand with Tina.” In another post, they said: “This controversy is a conspiracy to divert attention from illegal mining and the destruction of the Aravalli range. We will not let Tina become a victim of media trial.” Mayur Pawar wrote: “The casteist system is hell-bent on destroying Tina Dabi despite her good work. ABVP broke the campus, she took action, so a fake narrative. Stay strong Tina, we are with you.” A user, Happy Singh, targeted Anuradha Tiwari’s tweet: “This Brahmin woman is not only insulting top Dalit IAS Tina Dabi but also mocking reservation and Ambedkar’s ideology. A case should be filed under the SC/ST Act.” Author Lokesh Bag wrote, “IAS Tina Dabi is being targeted once again, and this is clearly a well-planned conspiracy. The fact that a woman from our community topped the UPSC exam with AIR-1 is still something many casteists cannot digest. As the Collector of Barmer district in Rajasthan, Tina Dabi led a major water conservation initiative, which earned the district the first ‘Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari Award’ from the President.” Rahul wrote: “‘Merit’ is only believed in until a Dalit tops the exam. Then it’s injustice? If you can’t defeat a ‘reserved’ student in the open merit category, then your superiority is itself reserved. Tina Dabi bothers them for this reason.” Bahujan thinker Gurudayal said: “Tina Dabi bothers you because a Dalit daughter has reached great heights. Your Brahminical superiority complex is being shattered. Reservation is an account of centuries of slavery.” Just a month
Moradabad: Dalit woman pressured to convert religion, threatened with abduction, victim’s brother in jail… the case is complicated
A young woman from Moradabad has accused some people of pressuring her to convert her religion. She has also alleged that the police are acting unfairly. The victim’s brother is also in jail on charges of molestation. In the Majhola police station area of Moradabad, a Dalit woman was molested by two young men. It is alleged that after the FIR was registered, the two accused are pressuring the woman to convert her religion. They are also threatening to abduct her, using offensive language. In this case, the woman has released a video demanding strict action against the accused from the district police. She alleged that the police released the accused after filing charges under minor sections. The woman, who lives in the Majhola area, had complained to the police, accusing two young men from her village of entering her house and molesting her. In this case, the police registered an FIR and filed charges against both the accused under sections 126 and 135. On Friday, the woman uploaded a video on a social media platform. The woman alleged that the perpetrators are constantly stopping her on the road and making obscene comments. She has been subjected to incidents of molestation. Due to the actions of these bullies, it has become difficult for her to leave her house. She is constantly living in an atmosphere of fear. The accused are trying to silence her by sending offensive and threatening messages on Instagram. In the viral video, the woman alleged that the accused are pressuring her to convert her religion. Earlier, she had filed an FIR against the accused, but the police registered the FIR under minor sections instead of serious ones and released both of them after filing charges. In this case, the police say that action was taken against the victim woman’s brother in June in a case of rape against the sister of the accused. He is currently in jail. Published by: Vimal Sharma Courtesy: Hindi News