Bareilly Dalit Assaulted, Head Shaved and Mud-Smeared in Alleged Caste-Based Attack
In Bareilly district’s Nawabganj area, a Dalit man, Pappu Diwakar, was allegedly subjected to caste-based assault and public humiliation over a financial dispute on Saturday. According to his complaint to the police, Diwakar had lent ₹4.5 lakh to Chandrasen, a resident of Geltanda village, to buy a tractor. When he asked for the repayment, he was allegedly attacked by Chandrasen, his son Pappu, Godhan Lal, and several others. The accused are said to have beaten him, abused him using caste-based slurs, forcibly shaved his head, cut his moustache and eyebrows, and smeared mud on his face in front of villagers to humiliate him. Following the complaint, Nawabganj police registered a case under relevant sections of the BNS and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Chandrasen and Godhan Lal have been taken into custody, while efforts are underway to arrest the third-named accused. Police also noted village claims that Diwakar practises occult rituals and allegedly misled people about buried treasure, which are being examined as part of the investigation. SHO Arun Kumar Srivastava confirmed that a thorough investigation is ongoing. 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
Dalit teenage girl molested in Hathras: Accused stopped her on the way while she was going to the toilet, fled after she raised an alarm, arrested
A case of molestation of a Dalit teenage girl has come to light in a village under the Hathras Junction police station area in Hathras. The police took swift action and arrested the accused youth, and a case has been registered against him. According to the information, the 14-year-old girl was going to the toilet when a young man from the same village stopped her on the way and started molesting her. The accused fled from the spot after the girl raised an alarm. Upon receiving information about the incident, the police reached the spot and started investigating the matter. The police questioned the people there. Based on the complaint filed by the girl’s father, the police registered a case against the accused under the relevant sections. The police promptly arrested the accused youth, Vinod. Further legal action is underway. Courtesy: Hindi News
Robbers target transgender persons in MP’s Morena; take away gold, cash
Morena (MP), A group of robbers targeted the house of a transgender person and looted gold and silver jewellery and cash at gunpoint in Madhya Pradesh’s Morena district in the early hours of Sunday, police said. The incident took place around 2 am at the house of Rabia in Ambah town, where four other trans persons were present, Sub-Divisional Officer of Police Ravi Bhadoria told PTI. He said the robbers entered the house through the terrace, held the occupants hostage by pointing a gun at them and tied them up before taking away 15 tolas of gold jewellery, four kg of silver ornaments and Rs 4 lakh in cash in a matter of half an hour. The robbers also allegedly mocked the persons of the third gender, the official said. Ambah police station in-charge Satendra Singh Kushwaha said the robbers appeared to have recced the area and studied the layout of the house, including the CCTV system, he said. “All the victims were confined to one room,” he said. The house is located in an isolated area, Kushwaha said, adding that police were scanning CCTV footage from surrounding areas to identify the suspects. A case has been registered and investigations are underway, police said. PTI COR LAL NR This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content. Courtesy : The Print Note: This news is originally published on https:/theprint.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
‘Cannot disclose, time will answer’: DK Shivakumar after meets Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge in Delhi amid power tussle speculation
NEW DELHI: Karnataka Deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar attended a meeting as an observer for the Assam elections at 10 Rajaji Marg, the residence of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, while refraining from commenting on his discussion with the party high command. Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi was also present at the meeting on Friday. Amid speculation over a power tussle in Karnataka, Rahul Gandhi and DK Shivakumar were face-to-face for the first three hours of the meeting. Afterward, Shivakumar went back to meet Mallikarjun Kharge, according to news agency ANI. Speaking to reporters today, he declined to discuss his meeting with the Congress high command. Shivakumar, who is in New Delhi after canceling his scheduled visit to Davos for the World Economic Forum 2026, asked the media “not make a big deal” out of his visit, stating he came to the national capital for government and party work. Maintaining that he would not disclose anything regarding the meeting, he said, “I cannot disclose it. Time will answer everything… We are all politicians; politicians do whatever politics they want. There is nothing wrong with that. We have met. Why do you make a big deal out of it? We come here for government work, for party work. We come here for politics.” His visit to Delhi comes amid speculation over a possible leadership change in Karnataka. As the state government crossed the halfway mark of its tenure in November 2025, a speculated tussle for the CM post began, with CM Siddaramaiah, Deputy CM Shivakumar, and Home Minister G Parameshwara in the fray. Earlier today, the Deputy CM said that he prefers not to speak even when there is “good news.” “When there is good news, we don’t talk about it. It’s Sunday, a good day. We are people who work for the people and wish well for them. We do not disclose or discuss anything related to such matters, including leadership change,” Shivakumar 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
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
Caste Still Biggest Admission Form In India, Need Anti-Discrimination Law: Rahul
Rahul Gandhi urged Dalit youth to raise their voices and demand implementation of the Rohit Vemula Act. New Delhi: On the 10th death anniversary of Dalit student Rohith Vemula on Saturday, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said the reality for youngsters from the community has not changed on campuses and stressed the need for an anti-discrimination law. Vemula, a 26-year-old Dalit student of the University of Hyderabad, died by suicide on January 17, 2016, following alleged harassment. In a post in Hindi on X, Gandhi said, “Today marks 10 years since Rohith Vemula’s passing. But Rohith’s question still resonates in our hearts: Does everyone in this country have an equal right to dream?” “Rohith wanted to study; he wanted to write. He wanted to understand science, society and humanity to make this country a better place. But this system could not tolerate a Dalit’s progress,” the leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha said. Institutionalised casteism, social exclusion, daily humiliation, language that reminded him of his “place” and inhumane treatment — “this was the poison that pushed a promising young man to a point where his dignity was stripped away, and he was left alone”, Gandhi said. “And today? Has the reality for Dalit youth changed? The same contempt on campus, the same isolation in hostels, the same feeling of inferiority in classrooms, the same violence — and sometimes, the same death. Because caste is still the biggest admission form in this country,” he added. That is why the Rohit Vemula Act is not just a slogan but a necessity, the Congress leader asserted. “So that caste-based discrimination in educational institutions becomes a crime, strict action is taken against the perpetrators and the freedom to break, silence and exclude any student on the basis of their caste is ended,” he said. This fight is not just in Parliament, it is a fight of the youngsters on campuses and “it is our fight”, Gandhi said. “Dalit youth — raise your voices, organise yourselves, stand with each other. Demand: Implement the Rohit Vemula Act now. We need an anti-discrimination law now,” he stressed. The Congress governments in Karnataka and Telangana are in the process of implementing the law as soon as possible, he said. “We want an India that is just, humane and equal — where no Dalit student has to pay for their dreams with their life. Rohith, your fight is our responsibility,” Gandhi said. The death of the 26-year-old Dalit student on January 17, 2016, triggered a nationwide agitation against casteism in institutions of higher learning. Gandhi had joined the student protests over Vemula’s suicide. Courtesy : ETV Bharat Note: This news is originally published on https:/etvbharat.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Life term till last breath for tantrik who raped, blackmailed minor Dalit girl
Agra: A 30-year-old tantrik has been sentenced to rigorous life imprisonment until his last breath by an Aligarh court for raping and blackmailing a 16-year-old Dalit girl for over two years. He used obscene videos he had recorded of the minor to blackmail her and threatened to kill her family members. In a complaint filed in Sept 2024, the girl’s father said the tantrik frequently visited their home to treat his ill son and exploited this access to repeatedly rape his daughter for nearly two years. “One day, my daughter told me that the tantrik molested her. He had physical relations with her and made a video, which he used to blackmail her,” he said. The father added that on Sept 11, the tantrik came to their house and “threatened to take away my daughter, set the entire house on fire, and would not leave anyone alive”. He also alleged that the tantrik took the girl to hotels and raped her there. “My family is living in fear and terror,” he wrote in his complaint. Based on the complaint, a case was registered under BNS sections 64 (rape) and 351-1 (criminal intimidation), along with provisions of the Pocso Act and the SC/ST Act. The man was arrested shortly thereafter and has remained in judicial custody. A chargesheet was filed weeks later. After hearing both sides, additional district and sessions judge (Pocso court) Abhishek Kumar Bagaria on Friday sentenced the convict to life imprisonment until his last breath, said additional district govt counsel (ADGC) Mahesh Singh. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 65,000. 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
YSRCP stages protests over activist’s murder
Several speakers stated that hundreds of Dalit families were driven out of Pinnelli, Salman’s last rites were initially blocked, and law and order worsened after the elections. VIJAYAWADA: YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) workers staged statewide protests at Dr BR Ambedkar statues across all district headquarters, condemning the brutal murder of Dalit YSRCP activist Manda Salman of Pinnelli village in Gurazala constituency, following a call given by party president and former Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy. Party leaders and SC Cell representatives held dharnas in Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Eluru, Krishna, NTR, Guntur, Palnadu (Narasaraopet), Kurnool, Tirupati (combined Chittoor), YSR Kadapa, and Anantapur districts, stating that constitutional governance has collapsed in Andhra Pradesh and that political killings and attacks on YSRCP workers have become routine. Leaders said Salman’s murder is a direct consequence of the prevailing ‘Red Book rule’ going on in the State and the police collusion and demanded immediate arrests, suspension of responsible officers, and strict action under the SC/ST Atrocities Act. Several speakers stated that hundreds of Dalit families have been driven out of Pinnelli village, that even Salman’s last rites were initially obstructed, and that law and order have deteriorated gravely after the elections. 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
Indore water contamination: Rahul Gandhi visits families of deceased
NEW DELHI/INDORE: The Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, today met the families of the victims who died due to the consumption of contaminated drinking water in Indore and also those who are undergoing treatment in hospital. Gandhi accused the BJP government in Madhya Pradesh of criminal negligence over the deaths and illnesses caused by contaminated drinking water in the Bhagirathpura area of Indore, saying the government must take responsibility and ensure compensation and assistance to the affected families. After meeting the victims and their families, Gandhi said access to clean drinking water remains a serious issue in the country even today. He alleged that the failure to provide safe drinking water and control pollution reflected the government’s inability to discharge its basic responsibilities. Several people have died and many others have fallen ill after consuming contaminated water in the area, he noted, adding that such incidents were a direct consequence of administrative negligence. “The affected families must be given proper compensation and support,” he demanded. Quoting local residents, the Congress leader said there was still no assured supply of clean drinking water in Bhagirathpura, and that alternative arrangements were temporary and largely symbolic. He warned that once public attention faded, the situation could revert to its earlier state. Residents, he said, were demanding a permanent and systematic solution, which was fully justified. Gandhi said that as Leader of the Opposition, it was his duty to raise the concerns of the affected families and stand with them in their struggle for basic civic amenities. He also questioned the implementation of the Smart City scheme, remarking that this appeared to be the new model of a “Smart City” where citizens did not even have access to clean drinking water. The problem, he said, was not limited to Indore but was prevalent in many cities across the country. Later, in a post on X, Gandhi alleged that the BJP’s “double-engine government” model was marked by poisoned water, air, medicine and land, and that when questions were raised, bulldozers were deployed instead of accountability. He said no one was held responsible for the deaths of the poor, and demanded punishment for those responsible, along with proper treatment and immediate compensation for the victims. 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
‘Your fight is our responsibility’: Rahul Gandhi calls for pan-India Rohit Vemula Act; Dalit scholar died by suicide in Jan 2016
NEW DELHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday called for a pan-India Rohit Vemula Act to tackle incidents of discrimination against the Dalit community. Vemula, a 26-year-old Dalit student at the University of Hyderabad, died by suicide on January 17, 2016, following alleged caste-based harassment. In a post in Hindi on X, Gandhi wrote, “Today marks 10 years since Rohith Vemula’s passing. But Rohith’s question still resonates in our hearts: Does everyone in this country have an equal right to dream? Rohith wanted to study, he wanted to write. He wanted to understand science, society and humanity to make this country a better place. But this system could not tolerate a Dalit’s progress.””Institutionalised casteism, social exclusion, daily humiliation, language that reminded him (Vemula) of his ‘place’ and inhumane treatment — this was the poison that pushed a promising young man to a point where his dignity was stripped away and he was left alone,” he added. The leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha further alleged that the reality for Dalit students on campuses has not changed, arguing that this is what makes the Rohit Vemula Act “not just a slogan, but a necessity.” “So that caste-based discrimination in educational institutions becomes a crime, strict action is taken against the perpetrators, and the freedom to break, silence and exclude any student on the basis of caste is ended. This fight is not just in Parliament, it is a fight of the youngsters on campuses — it is our fight,” Gandhi said. The Rae Bareli MP called on Dalit youth to raise their voices and demand the Rohit Vemula Act as an anti-discrimination law. “Dalit youth — raise your voices, organise yourselves, stand with each other. Demand: Implement the Rohit Vemula Act now. We need an anti-discrimination law now. The Congress governments in Karnataka and Telangana are in the process of implementing the law as soon as possible. We want an India that is just, humane and equal — where no Dalit student has to pay for their dreams with their life. Rohith, your fight is our responsibility,” Gandhi posted. Vemula’s death had sparked nationwide protests against casteism in institutions of higher learning, accompanied by demands for the resignation of the then Union HRD minister, Smriti Irani. Gandhi had also joined the student protests following Vemula’s death. 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