Dalit power engineer attacked in Ballia office, FIR against local neta
Lucknow: A Dalit superintending engineer (SE) was allegedly assaulted, abused with caste slurs and given death threat by a group led by a local politician in the Ballia office of the Purvanchal Vidyut Vitran Nigam Limited (PuVVNL). According to the FIR lodged by SE Lal Singh, 20–25 men led by Munna Bahadur Singh forcibly entered his office around 12.30pm on Saturday and attacked him without provocation. They hurled caste-based abuses and kicked and punched him, Singh alleged. “Munna Bahadur Singh tried to drag me out of my office. His associates vandalized the office and documents on my desk. When my clerk and computer operator, Jitendra Kumar Yadav, tried to intervene, he too was attacked. Despite the presence of other staff, no one came forward to stop them,” Singh stated in his complaint. He expressed concern for his and his family’s safety, citing ongoing threats from the accused. The FIR has been registered under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including 121(1), 132, 115(2), 352, 351(3), and 324(4), along with relevant provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 (as amended in 2015), including sections 3(1)(d), 3(1)(dh), and 3(2)(va). The Uttar Pradesh Rajya Vidyut Parishad Abhiyanta Sangh condemned the incident and has appealed to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to take strict action against the accused and expedite the enactment of the long-pending Engineer Protection Act. “If the highest-ranking officer in a district is not safe, how can other employees feel secure?” said association general secretary Jitendra Singh Gurjar. The association pointed to a similar incident on July 24 in Kushinagar, where SDO Shubham Agrahari was assaulted inside his office. Despite a complaint being filed, no FIR has been registered till date. Gurjar criticized the energy department for its inaction, saying that engineers—who play a vital role in revenue generation and ensuring uninterrupted power supply—are being left vulnerable. 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.
Safai Karmi dies of electrocution in Chennai: Angry community says- Such an incident every month, how long will Dalit women have to sacrifice?
The Tamil Nadu government has announced an ex-gratia payment of ₹5 lakh to the bereaved family, along with guaranteed employment for one family member at GCC. Chennai – A sample of the dangerous conditions under which sanitation workers have to work in the city came to light recently. In a heart-wrenching incident, R. Varalakshmi, a 30-year-old conservancy worker of the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC), died of electrocution early Saturday morning in Kannagi Nagar. Varalakshmi lived in a rehabilitation colony in South Chennai, which mainly houses the Dalit community. Varalakshmi, who is survived by her husband and two young children, was on her way to begin her morning cleaning duty when she accidentally stepped into stagnant rainwater that was covered by a broken electrical power cable. The incident, which occurred amid heavy rains in parts of Tamil Nadu, has once again highlighted how waterlogging in low-lying areas like Kannagi Nagar, a slum area known for inadequate infrastructure and flood susceptibility, is marred by administrative negligence. Eyewitnesses said a broken cable, possibly damaged by torrential rains, was carelessly left on the flooded road, killing a sanitation worker. Varalakshmi, who had been employed as a contracted sanitation worker for several years, collapsed after coming in contact with the live wire and was rushed to a nearby hospital where she was declared dead on arrival. Local residents and activists attributed her death to administrative negligence, including lack of timely maintenance by the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (Tangedco) and GCC’s negligence in preventing recurring problems in flood-prone slums. The incident could have been avoided had Tangedco fulfilled its responsibility, a community organiser in Kannagi Nagar said. Following the incident, users on social media platforms have been expressing their outrage over the systemic neglect towards the safety of workers. This is the fifth electric shock-related death in Chennai in the last seven weeks, four of which occurred during the recent rains, raising concerns over the city’s preparedness for monsoon challenges, said Dalit rights activist and author Shalin Maria Lawrence. Varalakshmi’s family has demanded accountability and compensation. The DMK-led Tamil Nadu government has announced an ex-gratia payment of ₹5 lakh to the bereaved family, as well as guaranteed employment for a family member at GCC. Chief Minister M.K. Stalin expressed condolences through a statement, directing officials to investigate the incident and expedite infrastructure improvements in vulnerable neighbourhoods. Critics from labour rights groups, however, argue that such reactive measures are inadequate, demanding mandatory safety equipment, mechanised cleaning tools and strict enforcement of protocols to protect sanitation workers who are mainly from marginalised Dalit communities. The GCC has launched an inquiry into the cable break, blaming it on weather conditions, but has not commented on wider safety lapses. Geetha Sunil Pillai Courtesy : Hindi News
The Mooknayak Impact: Dalit settlement in Amreli, Gujarat gets permanent drainage solution, report sent to Scheduled Caste Commission
The Amreli District Panchayat Office announced the construction of an underground drainage system in the SC area as a permanent solution. The project is funded under the 15th Finance Commission (rural component) and 10% district-level Finance Commission grant. The Gram Panchayat has passed the necessary resolutions for this. Amreli- There is a relief news for the Scheduled Caste (SC) community in Jaswantgadh village in Amreli district of Gujarat. The problem of sewage diversion here has now been resolved. On June 25, The Mooknayak published a report titled “In this village of Gujarat, upper castes released dirty water in Dalit settlement, administration mute spectator!”. The report said that the upper caste residents of the village had deliberately dumped their underground drainage system into an open monsoon drain near Dr. Ambedkar Colony, which is a predominantly SC settlement. This led to the garbage and faeces from their homes accumulating near the Ambedkar colony. After the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) intervened after the problem was highlighted, the gram panchayat has now passed proposals for an underground drainage system in the Dalit basti. The Mooknayak reported that the drain diverted to the Dalit basti, which was meant only for rainwater, became a drain that flowed into the houses with filth and faeces. Residents described it as a “permanent swamp of humiliation”. During rains, dirty water would flood their homes, increasing health risks. With an Anganwadi centre nearby, children were at risk of waterborne diseases and long-term developmental risks. Local health workers reported alarming mosquito infestations and a rise in diseases. Despite repeated complaints to the gram panchayat, taluka panchayat and the district administration, no action was taken. Local media Khabarantar highlighted the crisis, which led to The Mooknayak reporting and bringing it to national attention. Social activist Kirit Rathore, who provided photographic evidence and testimonies, said, “This is not just poor drainage; it is a well-planned form of caste oppression. Upper castes are using garbage as a weapon to humiliate Dalits.” Based on The Mooknayak report, T. Emmanuel Dhinakaran, former state co-incharge of the BJP Tamil Nadu Minority Morcha and a proponent of social justice, raised the issue before the NCSC. In his petition, Dhinakaran called the episode a “blatant violation of the constitutional rights of Dalits” and sought immediate action. His efforts garnered widespread support for the issue, cutting across political boundaries. “This is not a question of sanitation, but of dignity and equality,” he said. On 9 July 2025, just two weeks after The Mooknayak report, the NCSC began a formal investigation. The commission issued notices to the Amreli district collector, the district development officer (DDO) and the Scheduled Caste Welfare Department of Gujarat. The letter (reference number ESDW/BE/GJ/2025/300700, dated 7 July 2025) sought an action report within 15 days and warned of summons under Article 338 of the Constitution on non-compliance. In this village of Gujarat, upper castes released dirty water in Dalit settlement, administration mute spectator! In response to the NCSC’s direction, the Amreli district panchayat office submitted an action report (number PNC/8/Mis/Jashwantgadh/1012-1015/2025) on August 2. This letter, written to the NCSC Deputy Director in Ahmedabad, acknowledged that due to heavy rains, garbage had accumulated in the open drain, causing sanitation problems. The gram panchayat immediately started cleaning work with a JCB machine and the area was completely cleaned. Photographic evidence was also attached to confirm the work. Most importantly, the report announced a permanent solution: construction of an underground drainage system in the SC area. The project is funded under the 15th Finance Commission (rural component) and a 10% district-level Finance Commission grant. The gram panchayat has passed the necessary resolutions for it. “We have cleared the area and are committed to a long-term solution,” the letter said. As of August 24, local sources confirmed that the clearing had mitigated the immediate hazards and that preliminary work for the underground drainage system had begun, with completion expected in the next few months. Geetha Sunil Pillai Courtesy : Hindi News
New twist in gang rape of Dalit girl: Family alleges- Police made them change the FIR thrice, accused are pressurizing for compromise
New facts have come to light in the gang rape case of a 14-year-old Dalit girl in Kakwan area of Kanpur. The victim’s family presented their plight in front of MLA Rahul Bachcha Sonkar. The family said that the police made them change the FIR thrice. The victim was made to wander between Kakwan and Kalyanpur for medical examination. This is what happened The incident happened on Wednesday night. When the girl went to the field to defecate, four youths of the village caught her. Arun and Nikku held the girl’s hands and feet, while Ravindra and Deepu raped her. The accused also threatened to kill the girl. The police have arrested all the four accused and sent them to jail. The pain of the victim’s family spilled in front of the MLA The family members say that the police did not let them meet their daughter for 24 hours. Now the family members of the accused are pressurizing them to settle the case by giving money through other people. Villagers said that due to political animosity, the village head did not give the benefit of government toilet to about 50 families, while one thousand rupees were charged from each. BDO made for commission in drains and roads The MLA expressed displeasure over the negligence of the BDO in this matter. When the BDO did not pick up the phone, he talked to the DPRO and CDO and asked whether the BDO is made only to earn commission in drains and roads. Why has the BDO not reached the village yet? Why have the villagers not got the benefit of the toilet scheme yet? The government gives money, it does not go from the pockets of the officials. Assurance of all possible help The MLA assured the victim’s family that there is no need to fear anyone. If there is any problem, call us immediately. On the complaint of the villagers that the accused families have forcibly occupied the land of the village society and built a house, he called the Tehsildar and directed him to investigate the matter and take strict action. Anand Kumar Tiwari Courtesy: Hindi News
Insulting Dalits and backward classes is Akhilesh’s innate disease, alleges Keshav Prasad Maurya
Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya Sunday, slammed Samajwadi Party (SP) national president Akhilesh Yadav, alleging that ”oppressing the Dalits and backward classes was his ‘innate disease’. Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya Sunday, slammed Samajwadi Party (SP) national president Akhilesh Yadav, alleging that ”oppressing the Dalits and backward classes was his ‘innate disease’. He has said that Akhilesh, who sings the tune of fake PDA — (Pichde (backward classes), Dalit and Alpasankhyak (minorities) — forgets to pay tribute to former Chief Minister Kalyan Singh ‘Babu Ji’ on his death anniversary. Writing on his social media account X, Deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya said that ,”SP president Akhilesh Yadav, who sings the tune of fake PDA, forgets to pay tribute to former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Kalyan Singh ‘Babu Ji’, who comes from backward class, on his death anniversary in the greed for Muslim votes. Not only this, he showed no leniency in removing his party’s MLA Pooja Pal Ji, who comes from the same class”. Maurya further wrote, ”In fact, mafia, criminals, and hooliganism are the identity of SP, which does family politics.” Two days ago, during a programme organised in Aligarh on the death anniversary of Kalyan Singh, CM Yogi Adityanath attacked the opposition and said that ”The people who are dividing society in the name of PDA (Parivaar Development Authority) today, the same people used to incite riots and ban Hindu festivals. They used to ban the Kanwar Yatra, obstruct Durga Puja, and Dussehra festivals. When riots used to happen, violence erupted in Aligarh, Bareilly, Muzaffarnagar, and Meerut. Then, these people did not speak in favour of the oppressed Hindus, Dalits, and backward classes; then only the BJP stood with them.” Courtesy : The Statesman Note: This news is originally published on https:/thestatesman.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights.
Kancha Ilaiah Shepherd named in Congress’s OBC committee; denies taking membership in party
In a recent blog post Kancha Iliah has slammed the BJP’s “pretension” of furthering the OBC agenda through token representations while also criticising the Congress’s negligence towards the community. Dalit intellectual Kancha Ilaiah Prominent Dalit rights activist and author Dr Kancha Ilaiah Shepherd has denied joining the Congress after his name appeared in the party’s OBC Ideological Advisory Committee. Responding to rumours that he has joined the Congress, the former professor of political science at Osmania University clarified that he has not taken membership in the party and that his association with the OBC committee is purely ideological. “They are spreading rumours that I have joined Congress. I haven’t joined Congress,” Dr Ilaiah told TNIE. He added that he accepted the membership of the OBC committee as he felt the “need to expose the false narrative of the BJP and RSS” and show how they “cannot liberate” the Shudra, OBC communities. Dr Ilaiah has been campaigning for a caste census for several years, one of the key political causes taken up by Congress in recent years. He recently worked as vice chairman of the IWG that submitted a detailed report on the Telangana Socio-Economic, Educational, Employment, and Political Caste survey. Kancha Ilaiah has also actively supported Rahul Gandhi’s campaign for the protection of the constitution and was seen along the former Congress president during the Bharat Jodo Yatra. In a recent blog post, Dr Ilaiah has slammed the BJP’s “pretension” of furthering the OBC agenda through token representations while also criticising the Congress’s negligence towards the community, which he claimed caused the weakening of the party. “… in their hundred years of history, the BJP-RSS combine has not produced a single leader like Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel or Kamaraj Nadar from their organisation or party. Most of their OBC leaders were small, dependent leaders of no stature, who were given some visible political positions only after the Mandal period, more particularly after they started the Ram Temple movement,” he wrote. “No OBC leader from RSS or BJP is known for leading an agrarian movement. Every ideological issue was decided by the Brahmin leaders in RSS. The only leader, as the media now tells us, as the leader of decision-making capacity is said to be Modi, that too during his first term as Prime Minister. His second term onward, he is also going by the RSS direction,” he added. Coutyrsy : 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.
After Rini Ann George, Transgender Woman Alleges Youth Congress Leader Rahul Mamkootathil Of Sexual Assault Attempt And Obscene Messages
Avantika disclosed to the media that she had been receiving sexually explicit messages and calls from Rahul Mamkootathil for an extended period, and she reported these incidents to the BJP Palakkad district president. She stated, “Rahul is a sexual predator and told me to rape him.” After Rini Anna George, Transgender Woman Alleges Youth Congress Leader Rahul Mamkootathil Of Sexual Assault Attempt Rahul Mamkootathil, once a rising star in Kerala politics, resigned as Youth Congress president amid allegations of sending obscene messages. As he stepped down, further accusations of sexual assault and inappropriate communications surfaced. In a separate incident, Avantika, a transgender woman, accused Rahul of being a sexual predator, alleging he made offensive remarks. Avantika revealed to the media that she has been receiving sexually perverted messages and phone calls from Rahul for a long time and that she has told these things to the BJP Palakkad district president. Avantika said, “Rahul is a sexual pervert and he told me to rape him”. Actress Rini Ann George accused Youth Congress leader Rahul of sending obscene messages and misbehaving with her despite warnings, saying he had a careless attitude. Around the same time, phone recordings surfaced suggesting a young woman was forced to have an abortion, and police also received a complaint against Rahul. Following this, Rahul resigned as Youth Congress state president, though he denied the allegations, claiming no one had formally complained against him. Later, BJP leader and social activist Avantika, a trans woman, also came forward with accusations. She said she met Rahul during the Thrikkakara by-election, and though they first became friends on social media, he soon began making inappropriate remarks about sexual frustration and even mentioned rape. Avantika added that Rahul told her he could only meet outside Kerala in cities like Bengaluru or Hyderabad, and she had already informed some Congress leaders and friends about his behavior. Avantika said she had not revealed these matters earlier because she feared for her life, being a public servant and MLA. She explained that she chose to speak out only after actress Rini Ann George made her allegations public. According to Avantika, Rahul even called her on the same day, worried that she might expose him. She added that Rahul usually sends messages on Telegram that disappear after being read once, making it impossible to take screenshots, and this is how he destroys evidence. Written By : Lakshmi Ranjith Edited By : Lakshmi Ranjith Courtesy : News 24 Note: This news is originally published on https:/news24.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights.
Akhilesh, Stalin, Soren to join Rahul’s poll yatra
NEW DELHI: The ongoing ‘Voter Adhikar Yatra’ of Rahul Gandhi-Tejashwi Yadav is set to become a show of opposition unity, with senior netas of regional parties scheduled to join the 16-day roadshow ahead of its culmination in Patna on September 1. While Tamil Nadu CM and DMK chief MK Stalin will join the yatra on Aug 27, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav will be part of the show on Aug 30. Congress general secretary KC Venugopal said Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren and other opposition netas will also join the yatra in coming days. Among Congress CMs turning up for the roadshow are Karnataka’s Siddaramaiah, Telangana’s Revanth Reddy and Himachal’s Sukhwinder Sukhu. MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will be part of the yatra for two days on Aug 26 and 27. The roadshow designed to take forward opposition’s offensive of “vote chori” came after a rare unity in anti-BJP ranks which even led to a washout of proceedings in the just-concluded Monsoon session of Parliament. The participation of non-Congress stalwarts is seen as a fillip for the agenda which would also send out a message to BJP. Given that Bihar assembly polls will be announced after a few weeks, RJD and Congress also hope that it would boost the profile of the anti-BJP alliance and provide further traction with the people ahead of the tough contest 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.
Bihar has become epicentre of unemployment: Rahul
Patna: Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Saturday alleged that Bihar had become the “epicentre of unemployment” in the country and tops national charts for joblessness. Addressing a public meeting, Rahul alleged that young people in Bihar were being deprived of all avenues of employment. “The BJP govt had shut all the doors for the youth through which they could get jobs,” he said. He attributed the surge in unemployment to the closure of small and medium industries, which he blamed on demonetisation and the “wrong implementation of the GST”. The Congress leader also accused the BJP of attempting to manipulate Bihar’s upcoming elections by purging names from the voter rolls. “Now the BJP was trying to steal the elections in Bihar by deleting the names of lakhs of voters from electoral rolls in the state. This will not be allowed to happen in Bihar,” he said. Rahul framed the situation as part of what he described as a larger ideological struggle. “This is part of the bigger ideological battle between the forces which wanted to divide people and those who wanted to unite them,” he said. He recalled how Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated by Nathuram Godse, arguing that it was because Gandhi opposed an ideology that went against the values enshrined in the Constitution. “Mahatma Gandhi was killed by Godse just because he was opposed to the ideology enshrined in the Constitution, for which Gandhi ji devoted his entire life,” Rahul said. 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.
‘Voter Adhikaar Yatra’: Rahul Gandhi and RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav ride bikes in Purnea; watch
NEW DELHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and his RJD ally Tejashwi Yadav were seen riding motorbikes on the eighth day of their “Vote Adhikaar Yatra” at Purnea in poll-bound Bihar. While both leaders and their security personnel wore helmets, many supporters on two-wheelers flouted traffic rules by riding without helmets. On Saturday, while passing through Kursela, leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi made an unscheduled halt at Makhana fields near Simaria, where he interacted with farmers to learn about the cultivation process, yields, and export potential of Bihar’s famed fox nut. Farmers shared their concerns, pointing to exploitation by middlemen and the absence of fair pricing mechanisms. Gandhi noted that while Makhana fetches around Rs 700 per kg locally, it is sold abroad, including in the US, at several times that price, underscoring the lack of government support for producers. Bihar Congress president Rajesh Ram echoed the sentiment, saying that despite rising global demand, farmers and fishermen remain trapped by middlemen and denied a fair share of profits. Why Vote Adhikaar Yatra? The Vote Adhikaar Yatra is a mass outreach kicked off by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to highlight what he calls an attack on the core principle of democracy, the right to vote. Covering more than 1,300 kilometres across over 20 districts, the Yatra seeks to mobilise people against alleged “irregularities” in the revision of electoral rolls during the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) Special Intensive Revision (SIR). The opposition has alleged that the process is being “manipulated to delete the names of poor, minorities, and migrant workers, amounting to a new form of vote theft”. 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.