Rahul Gandhi to take ‘Chhatron ki Goonj’ to Pune on August 22, focus on women’s issues
NEW DELHI: Leader of opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Saturday said that the next edition of “Chhatron ki Goonj” event, highlighting student issues, will be held in Pune on August 22. Rahul launched the campaign from Kota, a coaching hub in Rajasthan, on June 17 to highlight issues in the education sector and problems faced by students. He addressed the second and third segments of the outreach programme in Dehradun and Prayagraj on July 17 and August 8, respectively. “The fourth segment of ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ (voice of students) will be held in Pune on August 22 in the presence of Rahul Gandhi, who will address issues which are women-centric,” MPCC president Harshwardhan Sapkal said. Rahul urged students to join the “Chhatron ki Goonj” campaign and said that what the girls of the country needed was equality, safety and opportunities, but instead, they got insecurity, discrimination, and a long wait for their real rights. “What do the girls of the country need? Equality, safety, opportunities, and the freedom to speak their minds. What have they received? Insecurity, discrimination, and nothing but waiting for their real rights. No more,” he said. During the ‘Chhatron ki Goonj’ event in Prayagraj last week, Rahul described India’s youth as the country’s biggest strength, but said a lack of jobs, expensive education, paper leaks, poor access to credit and the growing use of AI were holding them back. “You are the power and pride of India; when I say this, I talk about every Indian citizen,” he had said. He said he wanted to speak about “dard (pain), data, and daulat (wealth)”, framing his address around the problems facing young Indians and the economic resources he believes should belong to them. 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
Dalit Women Allegedly Attacked for Entering Shiva Temple in Odisha, One Arrested
Tension was reported in Atimati village under Erasama police limits in Odisha after a group of Dalit women were allegedly stopped and assaulted when they tried to enter a Shiva temple to offer prayers during Shravan. The women alleged that some villagers prevented them from entering the temple, hurled casteist and abusive remarks at them, and threatened them with physical violence if they did not leave the premises. According to police, the incident took place on Monday when the women visited the local Shiva temple. Some villagers allegedly carrying sticks and lathis stopped them from entering, leading to an argument between the two groups. Dalit Woman Allegedly Attacked With Knife The situation reportedly escalated after the women refused to leave the temple premises. The villagers allegedly snatched their puja offerings and threw them on the ground. During the confrontation, one of the accused, identified as 40-year-old Satya Rout, allegedly attacked a 55-year-old Dalit woman with a knife, leaving her seriously injured. He is also accused of kicking and physically assaulting her. The injured woman later approached the Erasama police station and filed a complaint against eight people. Based on her complaint, police registered a case against all eight accused persons. Police Arrest One Person Erasama IIC Parthsarthi Beura confirmed that a case had been registered and said Rout had been arrested in connection with the alleged assault. He was subsequently produced before a court. Police are investigating the role of the other accused named in the complaint. “The involvement of the other accused persons would be verified during the investigation and appropriate action would be taken if they are found guilty,” Beura said. He added that the situation in the village was currently under control, but police personnel had been deployed to prevent any further escalation. “The situation is now normal, but police are maintaining strict vigil in the village to prevent any untoward incident,” he said. 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
Lakhimpur Kheri: Dalit Woman Found Dead, Family Alleges Rape and Murder; 12 Police Teams Deployed
12-Year-Old Dalit Girl Allegedly Gang Raped by Five Juveniles in Uttar Pradesh’s Shahjahanpur A pall of grief and anger has descended over the Neemgaon police station area of Lakhimpur Kheri district in Uttar Pradesh following the suspicious death of a young Dalit woman. Her distraught family has leveled serious allegations, claiming she was raped and then murdered by strangulation. They further alleged that her body was dragged after the killing. Police have launched a large-scale investigation, though they have stated that these allegations remain unconfirmed until the postmortem report and forensic findings are complete. Family’s Anguish and Allegations The father of the deceased woman has spoken out about the brutality he believes his daughter suffered. He said that simply looking at the condition of the crime scene gives a clear indication of the seriousness of the incident. “The way things were at the spot, one can understand what happened to my daughter,” he expressed, his voice heavy with grief. However, he has not yet named any specific individual as a suspect. Police are considering all possible angles as the investigation unfolds. Massive Police Operation Underway Upon receiving information about the incident, a police team immediately rushed to the location and conducted a thorough inspection of the crime scene. A forensic team was also called in to gather scientific evidence. According to police, several items including the deceased woman’s sickle were recovered from the spot. Investigators are now meticulously scanning footage from CCTV cameras installed in the surrounding areas.The scale of the police response is significant. Neemgaon Station House Officer Praveer Kumar Gautam and Circle Officer Mitauli Yadavendra Yadav confirmed that over a dozen police teams have been formed to crack the case. These include SWAT teams, the Local Intelligence Unit, and police station-level squads, all working on different aspects of the investigation. Teams under the leadership of the Mitauli Inspector are also gathering information on the activities of suspects. Forensic and Technical Evidence Key to Probe Police officials emphasized that they are making progress. “We are receiving important clues and are getting closer to solving the case. Efforts are being made to reveal the truth very soon,” said a senior officer. Raids are being conducted continuously to locate and detain suspects, and several people have already been questioned. Despite the swift police mobilization, the final truth behind the young woman’s death remains shrouded. Authorities have made it clear that the exact cause of death and the identification of the perpetrators will depend entirely on the postmortem report, the forensic evidence collected from the scene, and the technical data still being analyzed. 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
Three arrested in linked cases involving Dalit woman in Kollur
Byndoor: Kollur police have arrested three people in connection with two separate but related cases involving alleged caste-based abuse of a Dalit woman and a subsequent assault on a youth in Bellala village. The incidents reportedly occurred on Thursday, August 6, within the limits of Kollur police station. Police have registered separate cases based on complaints from both sides and are investigating the allegations. Youth arrested under SC/ST Act In the first case, police arrested Sanath Kundapur following a complaint filed by a Dalit woman. According to the complaint, Sanath allegedly approached the woman near her residence and behaved in a manner that outraged her modesty. She also alleged that he verbally abused her using casteist slurs. Based on the complaint, Kollur police registered a case under provisions of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and arrested Sanath in connection with the allegations. Police are examining the circumstances surrounding the alleged incident and recording statements as part of the investigation. Counter-case filed after alleged assault Meanwhile, a counter-case was registered following a complaint filed by Sanath Kundapur. In his complaint, Sanath alleged that after the earlier incident, members of the woman’s family tied him up, assaulted him and attempted to kill him. Acting on his complaint, police registered a separate case under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including the section relating to attempt to murder. Following the complaint, police arrested two people identified as Ram Kumar and Nandish Kumar in connection with the alleged assault. The arrests have resulted in three people being taken into custody in the two connected cases. Police investigate both complaints Police are now investigating the allegations made by both parties to establish the sequence of events and determine the circumstances that led to the two incidents. The cases involve serious allegations on both sides, including offences under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and an alleged attempt to murder. Investigators are expected to examine witness statements and other available evidence before taking further action. Police have stated that the investigation into both cases is currently underway. Officials are also working to identify and apprehend any other people allegedly involved in the incidents. Police said remaining accused persons, if their involvement is established during the investigation, will be apprehended in accordance with the law. Investigation underway The linked cases have drawn attention because of the serious allegations made by both sides. While the first complaint concerns alleged caste-based abuse and behaviour against a Dalit woman, the counter-complaint alleges that the accused in the first case was subsequently assaulted and subjected to an alleged attempt on his life. Police are treating the two complaints separately while examining whether and how the incidents are connected. Further details are expected to emerge as the investigation progresses. Authorities have not yet disclosed additional information regarding the condition of those involved or the specific circumstances surrounding the alleged assault. The Kollur police are continuing their investigation and are expected to take further legal action based on the evidence gathered. Courtesy : News Karnataka Note: This news is originally published on https:/newskarnataka.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
‘Visible change of heart’: Rijiju challenges Rahul Gandhi to support women’s quota Bill
NEW DELHI: Parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju on Saturday targeted Lok Sabha leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi over his recent remarks on women’s freedom of expression and challenged him to support the BJP-backed Women’s Reservation Bill “unconditionally”. Rijiju’s remarks came after Rahul Gandhi posted a video calling for greater freedom of expression for women and arguing that India cannot fully develop without women being able to express themselves freely. Responding to the senior Congress leader, Rijiju said Rahul Gandhi’s message appeared to be a positive change and urged the Congress to support the Women’s Reservation Bill without conditions. “This seems to be a positive message from the Congress Party. There’s a visible change of heart in Shri Rahul Gandhi Ji about the Women. Now, I hope the Congress Party will support the Women’s Reservation Bill unconditionally,” the Union minister posted on X. The Congress and other opposition parties have supported the Women’s Reservation Bill but have opposed linking its implementation to the delimitation exercise. The opposition has demanded that women’s reservation be delinked from delimitation, which would determine the number of Lok Sabha seats. The Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, 2023, was passed by both Houses of Parliament. However, its implementation did not move forward after the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill failed to secure the required two-thirds majority of members present and voting in the Lok Sabha on April 17. The legislation provides for 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies and links its implementation to delimitation. Earlier, Rahul said in a social media video that women in India should be given greater freedom to express themselves in all areas of life. He said, “The energy of India’s women is trapped. It is not allowed to express itself. It is not allowed to imagine. For me, no country can be successful if its women are not expressing themselves. And I think a lot of my politics, and a lot of what politics should be in this country, is about making people understand that our country is stunted and incomplete without the expression of women.” Rahul further said, “It’s not just them doing well in business or politics, but being able to express in their houses, walk the streets comfortably, them putting a point of view that many don’t agree with, questioning their parents, husbands, brothers.” “A certain amount of freedom from patriarchy and the rigid control men put on women is required if India wants to develop. It has been assaulted and put in the back seat, and we have to bring back women into conversation and allow them to express,” the Congress leader added. Rahul posted his message on women’s freedom after meeting Gen Z protesters and highlighting the repercussions they have faced following their protests amid the crackdown. 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
Justice after 19 years: Five convicts sentenced to life imprisonment for kidnapping a Dalit woman to prevent her from testifying; victim remains missing
A special court in Aligarh has sentenced five convicts to life imprisonment for kidnapping a Dalit woman in 2007 to prevent her from testifying in a rape case. However, even after 19 years, no trace of the abducted victim has been found. Uttar Pradesh: A special SC/ST court in Aligarh has sentenced five convicts to life imprisonment in a 2007 kidnapping case. These perpetrators abducted a 19-year-old Dalit woman solely to prevent her from testifying in a rape case. The court termed it a deliberate conspiracy to eliminate a key witness and derail the trial. However, the most tragic aspect is that despite nearly two decades of extensive search and investigation, the victim has still not been found. The perpetrators of this horrific crime are now between 40 and 50 years old. All of them were convicted and sentenced under Section 364 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which deals with kidnapping with intent to murder, and Section 3(2)(v) of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Delivering the verdict in this important case on Thursday, Special Judge II (SC/ST Act) Pratibha Saxena made a sharp remark. She noted that even after 19 years, the abducted girl has not been recovered. The court clarified that any undue sympathy in such serious cases would embolden the criminals and discourage victims and witnesses from coming forward. This tragic incident began on September 28, 2007. That day, the victim’s father filed a police complaint, stating that the accused had entered their village home in Aligarh district armed with weapons. These men, armed with country-made pistols, included Amar Singh, Lekhraj, Babulal, Suresh, and Usha Devi, all from Hathras. According to the father, these men forcibly abducted his daughter so that she could not testify against the accused in her own rape case. During the trial, the prosecution presented seven witnesses. Government lawyers strongly argued in court that the accused deliberately targeted this Dalit family to intimidate them and obstruct the course of justice. On Friday, Special Public Prosecutor Chaman Kumar Sharma shared a shocking fact while providing information about the case. He explained that the accused had been acquitted in the rape case related to this kidnapping earlier this year. The main reason for this was that the victim never appeared in court and the remaining witnesses recanted their statements. The father filed this kidnapping case just six months after the rape case was filed. Now, in this kidnapping case, the court has sentenced each of the accused to life imprisonment under Section 364 of the Indian Penal Code and the SC/ST Act, along with a fine of ₹10,000 for each offense. Meanwhile, a co-accused named Satish Pandey was acquitted due to lack of sufficient evidence. The accused pleaded for leniency in court, but the judge flatly rejected it. The court’s decision sent a strong message that the justice system must assure the vulnerable and vulnerable sections of society that crimes against them will result in the harshest punishment, no matter how influential the accused are. Rajan Chaudhary Courtesy: Hindi News
Four get 20 years’ RI for gang rape of Dalit woman
Mangaluru: The Second Additional District and Sessions (Special) Court here on Friday sentenced four to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment for the gang rape of a Dalit woman. The second additional district and sessions (special) court Friday sentenced four men to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment for the gang rape of a Dalit woman in 2018. According to the prosecution, the convicts, Prajwal, Arun Amin, Adithya Salian and Abdul Riyaz, sexually assaulted the woman on Nov18, 2018. At 12.30pm that day, the accused and three minors approached the victim, asked her name, hometown and caste details, intimidated and physically assaulted the friend who was with her. They then took the friend away and restrained him while dragging the victim into the bushes. The accused threatened her and gang-raped her in turns. They also threatened to kill the victim and her friend if they revealed the assault or filed a complaint. Mangaluru Women’s Police registered a case under IPC sections 341, 323, 354, 376(D) and 506, and sections 3(2), (v-a) and 3(1)(w)(i) of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The then police inspector, Kalavathi K, and assistant commissioner of police (ACP) Manjunath Shetty investigated the case. Later, the then ACP Srinivasa Gowda R filed the chargesheet. Special public prosecutor Jyothi Pramod Nayak conducted the prosecution. The court examined 40 of the 65 witnesses listed by the prosecution. Judge Jagadeesh VN held the accused guilty Thursday. Prajwal, Arun Amin, Adithya Salian and Abdul Riyaz were awarded 20 years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 10,000 each under IPC section 376(D) read with 34 and sections 3(2), (v-a) of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The court also awarded one year imprisonment and a fine of Rs 5,000 each under IPC Section 354 read with 34 and sections 3(1)(w)(i), 3(2), (v-a) of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. In addition, the court imposed one year’s imprisonment and a fine of Rs 2,000 each under IPC Section 506 read with 34 and sections 3(2), (v-a) of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The accused were further sentenced to six months’ imprisonment and fined Rs 1,000 each under IPC Section 323 read with 34 and sections 3(2), (v-a) of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, besides a fine of Rs 500 each under IPC Section 341 read with 34. All sentences will run concurrently. Of the total penalty amount, Rs 60,000 will be paid to the victim. 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
Rape of Dalit girl in Nasirabad… Accused still absconding: Lok Janshakti Party and villagers protest, Samajwadi Party threatens agitation.
Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) workers and villagers protested on Thursday against the non-arrest of the absconding accused in the rape case of a Dalit girl in the Nasirabad police station area of Rae Bareli. Meanwhile, a delegation of the Samajwadi Party (SP) also met with the victim’s family and demanded immediate action. The incident dates back to last Tuesday, when a case was registered under sections of the rape and SC/ST Act for the rape of a Dalit girl. Police have arrested Prem Sagar Tiwari, but the other four accused are still reported to be absconding. Lok Janshakti Party, Amethi District President, Dharmraj Paswan, visited the victim’s family. The family alleged that the arrest of the remaining accused was being delayed and they were receiving constant threats. Following this, party workers and villagers protested in the village and demanded the immediate arrest of all the absconding accused. Assurances given to protesters Upon receiving information about the protest, Paraiya Namaksar outpost in-charge Atul Kumar Tripathi arrived at the scene with police force. During this, there was a minor altercation between the protesters and the police regarding the arrest of the accused. The police assured the protesters that continuous efforts were being made to arrest the absconding accused and that action would be taken soon. Following this, the protest ended. Demand for fair and strict action Meanwhile, a delegation from the Samajwadi Party also met with the victim’s family. SP leader Chaudhary Suresh Nirmal warned that if the absconding accused were not arrested within 24 hours, the party would launch a major agitation regarding the matter. He demanded fair and strict action from the police administration. LJP’s Chhavilal Pasi, Rakesh, Pushpendra, Ramesh and several other villagers were present on the occasion. Ashar Fapur (Salon), Rae Bareli Courtesy: Hindi News
Dalit woman denied payment, subjected to casteist slurs: Casteist slurs and assault upon protest; FIR filed a month later
In Vidyarthipuram village, under the Bichhwan police station area of Mainpuri, a Dalit woman was denied payment after purchasing goods from a shop. When she protested, the accused used casteist slurs against her and assaulted her, leaving her injured. An FIR has been filed a month after the incident. Vidyarthipuram resident Sapna, wife of Mansingh Jatav, stated in her FIR that on June 21st, at 2 p.m., she was alone at her grocery store when Akash, son of Sukhpal, and Nitin Chauhan, son of Guddan, from the neighboring village of Garh Nagla Bhagat, came to her shop and purchased goods. When Sapna asked for money, the accused began abusing her. They used casteist slurs and threatened to kill her if she complained. When Sapna asked for money, the accused also assaulted Sapna, leaving her injured. The woman filed a complaint with higher authorities. Subsequently, a case was registered on July 25th, and the woman underwent a medical examination on July 26th. Station House Officer Ashish Dubey stated that an FIR has been registered based on the complaint, and further action will be taken after the investigation. Shashikant | Orandh (Kurawali), Mainpuri Courtesy: Hindi News
Dhampur: Two accused arrested and charged after altercation with woman
Dhampur police have arrested and charged two young men in connection with the assault of a Dalit youth. The incident occurred after an alleged altercation with a woman. The incident occurred near Chak Sahajani village in Dhampur, where a Dalit youth was assaulted by three or four unidentified youths. Vivek Kumar, son of Pramod Kumar, a resident of Nangli Ladan village in the police station area, filed a police complaint. Vivek told police that he works as a mechanic at a local business. He had frequent disputes with a woman, Sonu, and her family at the same business. This dispute occurred on Wednesday. According to police, two young men living in the neighborhood, along with their friends, assaulted Vivek at the instigation of Sonu’s family. Inspector Ravindra Pratap Singh stated that the arrested accused have been identified as Adnan from Bamnoli and Ali from Delhi Bhatpura. They were accompanied by two other unidentified individuals. Police have arrested Adnan and Ali and issued a challan against them. Based on Vivek’s complaint, police have also named Sonu, wife of Manish. Shahbaz Anwar | Dhampur Alaihpur (Dhampur), Bijnor Courtesy: Hindi News