Haryana police arrest social media influencer Hansi Khan for offensive remarks against Dalit community
Hansira, sitting in her car at a petrol pump, compared long CNG queue to Dalit community in an offensive and obscene manner PTC Web Desk: The Haryana Police have arrested Mewati social media influencer Hansira, also known as Hansi Khan, from Punhana sub-division after she allegedly made derogatory remarks against the Dalit community. The case has been registered under the SC-ST Act. According to a police spokesperson, the Punhana City Police Station registered an FIR following a complaint by a local youth. Due to the sensitive nature of the matter, Hansira was taken into custody during the investigation and later sent to jail under judicial custody. The complaint stated that in a viral Facebook video, Hansira, sitting in her car at a petrol pump, compared the long CNG queue to the Dalit community in an offensive and obscene manner. This hurt the sentiments of the community, prompting the complaint. Although Hansira later posted an apology video on social media, the police continued the investigation under the SC-ST Act and proceeded with her arrest. The police have described the case as highly sensitive and are carrying out further investigations. Reports also note that Hansira has a significant following on social media, with over 1 lakh followers across YouTube, Facebook and Instagram. – With inputs from agencies Courtesy : PTC News Note: This news is originally published on https:/ptcnews.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Heart-wrenching incident in Meerut: Dalit mother murdered for resisting compounder’s molestation, daughter abducted by the accused who then fled.
Angry villagers pelted stones, and a large police force from Sardhana and surrounding police stations has been deployed to control the situation. Meerut – A heart-wrenching incident in a small village under the Sardhana police station area of Meerut district in Uttar Pradesh on Thursday shocked the entire area. Local compounder Paras Rajput murdered Dalit woman Sunita with an axe. Sunita, approximately 40 years old, was going towards the fields with her daughter when Paras attempted to molest Ruby. When the mother intervened, the accused angrily attacked Sunita’s neck with a sharp weapon. After this, Paras put Ruby in his Scorpio car and fled. Sunita was taken to the hospital where she died in the evening during treatment. Upon receiving news of her death, people created a ruckus and vandalized the hospital. Angry villagers created a disturbance as soon as Sunita’s body arrived in the village in an ambulance. They pelted stones at the ambulance and damaged the vehicle. When the police tried to send the body for post-mortem, the villagers stopped them, shouting slogans like “Give us justice, don’t take the body.” A large police force from Sardhana and surrounding police stations has been deployed to control the situation. The police somehow managed the situation and sent the body for post-mortem. Upon receiving the information, SSP Dr. Vipin Tada and SP Rural Abhijit Kumar reached the spot with their forces. The police conducted raids to arrest the accused, but no one was apprehended. The accused’s house was found empty by the police. The victim’s brother, Narsi Kumar, reached the police station and filed a complaint. Based on the complaint, the police have registered a case against the accused Paras. SSP Dr. Vipin Tada has formed five teams under the leadership of the SP Rural in this matter. Police have taken the grandparents of Paras Rajput, the accused in the murder and kidnapping case, into custody, while the accused’s parents and brother are reportedly on the run. Police teams are conducting raids in search of the main accused, Paras. There is still no trace of Ruby, and the family has appealed for her safe return. This sensational incident has raised serious questions about law and order in Uttar Pradesh. Samajwadi Party MLA Atul Pradhan visited the hospital and met with the victim’s family. He has demanded immediate justice from Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. The Congress party also strongly criticized the state of law and order in the state and demanded justice for the affected family. Bahujan Samaj Party chief and former Chief Minister Mayawati issued a statement on social media describing the incident as “extremely tragic, shameful, and worrying.” She said that the government should take such incidents of molestation and murder of women very seriously and take immediate strict action against the culprits so that criminal elements are deterred from committing such heinous acts. Mayawati specifically drew the government’s attention to the issue of women’s safety. Geetha Sunil Pillai Courtesy: Hindi News
Dharamshala: Violent protest outside DC office over Dalit student’s death, fatherbreaks down in tears, says ‘We only want justice’
15-day ultimatum: In the absence of forensic evidence, a medical board will now conduct the investigation; father says, ‘We only want justice’ Dharamshala: The case of the death of a 19-year-old Dalit student in Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh, is escalating. On Thursday, various Dalit organizations, along with the deceased’s parents, staged a strong protest outside the Deputy Commissioner’s (DC) office. They were demanding swift justice in the case of the student’s death, which occurred on December 26. It is noteworthy that the victim was a student at Government College, Dharamshala. Following her death, allegations of continuous ragging, along with severe physical, sexual, and mental harassment, have been made. Father’s pain: ‘We just want justice for our daughter’ The atmosphere became somber during the protest when the deceased’s father, Vikram Kumar, addressed the media. While speaking, he couldn’t control his tears and said with a choked voice, “We want justice for our daughter… that’s all I have to say.” He expressed gratitude to all the people and organizations who stood with the family during this difficult time and said that now they are only waiting for justice for their daughter. 15-day ultimatum to the administration The workers of Maharishi Valmiki Guru Ravidas Mahasabha and Baba Deep Singh Kalipul Seva Organization (Una), who participated in the protest, have given a clear warning to the administration. They clearly stated that if appropriate legal action is not taken within 15 days, they will be forced to intensify their movement. The organizations warned that they might even resort to measures such as blocking the Punjab-Himachal Pradesh border and staging a road blockade in Dharamshala city. Questions raised about the intentions of the police and administration Amit Valmiki, president of Maharishi Valmiki Guru Ravidas Mahasabha, expressed deep anger over the slow pace of the investigation. He said that many days have passed since the incident, but justice is still a long way off. Questioning the administration, he said, “If the government and the administration were serious, justice could have been delivered in a single day.” Valmiki expressed suspicion about the kind of pressure the administration and police were under, which was causing the case to be handled so sluggishly. He said that the parents’ participation in the protest shows how frustrated they are with the progress of the investigation. Meanwhile, Balwant Singh, a worker of Baba Deep Singh Kalipul Seva Organization, Una, submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner of Kangra, demanding swift action. He said, “Today this has happened to one student, tomorrow it could happen to someone else. If pressure is exerted for compromises, the crimes will not stop.” Lack of Forensic Evidence and Formation of a Medical Board Currently, several agencies, including the police, UGC, State Education Department, Scheduled Castes Commission, and Women’s Commission, are investigating the case. The police are meticulously examining the deceased student’s mobile call records and social media activity to find any clues related to ragging or the attack. However, the biggest challenge for the investigating agencies is the lack of crucial forensic evidence. The fact that the student’s post-mortem was not conducted and the cremation was done hastily has prevented investigators from obtaining DNA samples and vital medical inputs. To compensate for this deficiency, officials at Dr. Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College and Hospital, Tanda, have constituted a five-member medical board. This board will examine the records of the hospitals where the student was treated before her death. Kangra Superintendent of Police (SP) Ashok Ratan said that the board will submit an evidence-based report, which will help determine the exact cause and circumstances of death. Rajan Chaudhary Courtesy: Hindi News
Corrupt BJP’s Double Engine Governments Have Ruined People’s Lives, Rahul Gandhi Lashes Out at BJP
Rahul Gandhi said that the corrupt BJP’s double-engine governments across the country have ruined the lives of the people. Corruption, misuse of power, and the poison of arrogance have spread from top to bottom in BJP’s politics. New Delhi: Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Friday targeted the Modi government and the BJP on various issues. Rahul Gandhi said that the corrupt BJP’s double-engine governments across the country have ruined the lives of the people. Corruption, misuse of power, and the poison of arrogance have spread from top to bottom in BJP’s politics. Which BJP VIP is being protected by the protection of power? The Congress MP said in an X post, “In their system, the lives of the poor, helpless, laborers, and the middle class are just statistics, and a system of extortion is running in the name of “development”. Rahul Gandhi said, “The brutal murder of Ankita Bhandari in Uttarakhand has shaken the entire country. But the question remains the same today. Which BJP VIP is being protected by the protection of power? When will the law be equal for all?” Criminals were protected in the arrogance of power: Rahul Rahul Gandhi said, “In the Unnao incident in Uttar Pradesh, the entire country has seen how criminals were protected in the arrogance of power and how much the victim had to pay for justice.” Whether it is deaths due to drinking poisonous water in Indore or complaints of “black water” and contaminated supply from Gujarat, Haryana, and Delhi – there is fear of diseases everywhere. Whether it is the Aravalli range of Rajasthan or natural resources – wherever the greed and selfishness of billionaires have reached, the rules have been trampled upon. Mountains are being cut down, forests are being destroyed – and in return, the public is getting: dust, pollution, and disaster. The direct impact of corruption Deaths of children due to cough syrup, rats killing newborns in government hospitals, collapsing roofs of government schools – this is not “negligence,” but the direct impact of corruption. Bridges collapse, roads cave in, families are wiped out in train accidents, and the BJP government does the same thing every time: photo-ops, tweets, and the formality of compensation. Rahul Gandhi said, “Modi ji’s double-engine government is running – but only for billionaires. For the common Indian, this double-engine government of corruption is not a pace of development, but a pace of destruction – crushing someone’s life every single day.” Curated by: Varun Shailesh About the Author Varun Shailesh is an Assistant News Editor at Navbharat Times Online. He has over 15 years of experience in current affairs, politics, social issues, and features. He started his career with the news agency IANS in 2009. He worked on the central desk of Hindustan (Hindustan Times Group) for more than 5 years. Courtesy: Hindi News
Will take fight against G RAM G Bill to villages: CM
Hyderabad: Chief minister A Revanth Reddy on Thursday announced a statewide political mobilisation against the Centre’s new rural job guarantee scheme — G RAM G Bill — declaring that the Congress would take the fight from the assembly to the village level through public meetings and gram sabhas. The CM said he would address nine public meetings across the nine erstwhile districts, urging party leaders to campaign aggressively against the Bill and pass resolutions in every village. He added Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi or Priyanka Gandhi would participate in one of the meetings. Addressing the TPCC extended meeting, Revanth said the campaign would follow a comprehensive action plan finalised by the AICC in response to what he referred to as the ‘Ji Ram Ji’ law. He recalled that the state assembly had unanimously passed a resolution opposing the legislation and announced that similar resolutions would be adopted in all 12,702 villages between Jan 20 and 30. He stressed this was not merely the responsibility of village sarpanches but of every MLA. The CM asked TPCC president B Mahesh Kumar Goud and AICC Telangana affairs in-charge Meenakshi Natarajan to appoint ministers as party in-charges for 15 parliamentary segments, excluding Hyderabad and Secunderabad. He said national, state and district-level leaders would participate in the programme, with each leader assigned responsibility for one mandal. Revanth said he too would personally take charge of one mandal. “We will invite Sonia (if her health permits) or Rahul or Priyanka in Mulugu district, represented in cabinet by panchayat raj minister Seethakka,” he said. Large public meetings, each expected to draw one lakh people, will be held in the nine districts outside Hyderabad starting Feb 3, beginning in the undivided Mahabubnagar district. The meetings will oppose what the CM described as the Modi govt’s attempt to weaken the rights of the poor and agricultural labourers. Each meeting will be overseen by a different minister. Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy will coordinate the programme, while Mahesh Goud, deputy CM Bhatti Vikramarka and Natarajan will monitor the campaign. Revanth accused the Modi govt of trying to undermine the employment guarantee scheme, calling it a globally recognised programme that brought transformative change. He alleged the BJP, having failed to secure 400 seats to amend the Constitution, was now attempting to curtail people’s rights through other means, including the special intensive revision. ‘PM should apologise’ He said the right to vote was the only weapon of the poor and alleged that its dilution would affect access to Aadhaar, ration cards and welfare schemes, amounting to a return to bonded labour. He said the Congress would not relent until the PM apologised to the nation and restored the employment guarantee scheme, particularly in the Telugu states. Calling for a clean sweep in the upcoming municipal elections, Revanth urged party cadres to ensure Congress control of local bodies. “We will be in power for the next eight years in the state, and only if we have a hold on local bodies can we develop these local bodies,” he 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
Rahul Gandhi and Udit Raj’s troubles increase, they will have to appear before the court, also know about the case related to Mayawati
Poonam Singhal, Additional District Judge and Special Judge POCSO Act First, in Badaun, Uttar Pradesh, has issued notices against Congress MP Rahul Gandhi and Udit Raj. Badaun: Additional District Judge and Special Judge POCSO Act First, Poonam Singhal, in Badaun, has issued notices against Congress MP Rahul Gandhi and Udit Raj. Both Rahul Gandhi and Udit Raj have been ordered to appear in court on January 29, either in person or through their lawyer. The court issued this order while hearing a criminal revision petition filed by advocate Jai Singh Sagar in the case of objectionable remarks made by Congress leader and former MP Udit Raj against the BSP supremo. According to advocate Jai Singh Sagar, on February 16, 2025, Congress leader and former MP Udit Raj made objectionable statements against BSP supremo Mayawati and even talked about killing her. In this regard, an application was filed in the MP-MLA court the next day, February 17, to file a case. The MP-MLA court dismissed it, stating that the incident took place in Delhi. After this, advocate Jai Singh Sagar filed a criminal revision petition in the District Judge’s court on August 25, 2025. The case was then transferred to the Additional District Judge and Special Judge POCSO Act court. Since then, the hearing in this case has been ongoing. In this case, Additional District Judge and POCSO Act First, Poonam Singhal, has issued notices to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, son of late Rajiv Gandhi, resident of 10, Delhi district, and Udit Raj, son of late Kallan, 192 North Avenue, near RML Hospital. In the notice, January 29 has been fixed as the date for both leaders to present their side, and they have been ordered to present their case either in person or through their lawyer. Curated by: Abhishek Shukla About the Author Abhishek Shukla is a Senior Journalist at Navbharat Times. He works here as a Senior Digital Content Creator. I have 9 years of experience in journalism. I have been working at Navbharat Times for the past 6 years. Here, I specialize in covering current affairs, politics, crime, administration, utilities, social issues, fact-checking, breaking news, and research-based stories. Courtesy: Hindi News
Humanity shamed in Bijnor: Dalit youth returning with medicine brutally beaten with shoes and slaps, forced to touch their feet
A video has surfaced showing a young man being brutally beaten in Bijnor. The incident is reported to have taken place near Dhokalpur village in the city’s Kotwali area. Dalit youth beaten in Bijnor Bijnor: In Dhokalpur village of Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh, a Dalit youth returning with medicine was stopped on the way by some influential young men who not only brutally beat him but also slapped him repeatedly and hit him on the head with shoes. After the video of the entire incident went viral on social media, the police took action and registered a case against three people and started searching for them. The viral video, which is about one minute and 36 seconds long, shows some young men surrounding the victim, first verbally abusing him, and then taking turns slapping and beating him with shoes. In the video, the victim is seen constantly pleading for forgiveness with folded hands. He even begs for mercy by holding the feet of the accused, but the bullies continued to beat him. According to local people, the accused first removed the victim’s cap and then continuously slapped his face and head. After that, one of the accused took off his shoe and hit the young man on the head with it. In just a few moments, the victim was hit with more than ten slaps and over a dozen shoes on his head. During the beating, the victim kept mentioning his mother’s illness and said that he was returning with medicine, but despite this, the accused did not listen to him. According to sources, the victim is a resident of Dhokalpur village, while the three accused are said to be from another nearby village. It is being said that the victim and the accused belong to different communities and the young man belongs to the Dalit community. A past dispute is also being cited as a possible reason behind the incident. Meanwhile, CO City Sangram Singh said that a video is going viral in which Kamal, a resident of Dhokalpur village, is being beaten by Himanshu and his two other companions from the same village. In this case, based on the victim’s complaint, the police have registered a case under serious sections of the law and are conducting raids to arrest the accused. Compiled by: Abhishek Shukla About the Author Abhishek Shukla is a Senior Journalist at Navbharat Times. He works here as a Senior Digital Content Creator. He has 9 years of experience in journalism. He has been working at Navbharat Times for the past 6 years. Courtesy: Hindi News
The plight of sanitation workers from the Valmiki community in Jodhpur: The District Collector is bent on making them do the work of four people, a complaint will be filed with the Human Rights Commission against this inhumane treatment!
BJP government accused of ‘Manu mentality’ Jodhpur – The sanitation workers’ movement in the Jodhpur Municipal Corporation of Rajasthan is no longer limited to street protests, but has also become a sharp written struggle at the administrative level. Sardar Prakash Singh ‘Vidrohi’, the district president of the All India Safai Mazdoor Congress, has written a strong letter to the District Collector, directly targeting the shortcomings in the sanitation system. The letter makes serious allegations against Municipal Commissioner Siddharth Palanichamy of suppressing the Valmiki community, protecting non-Valmiki employees, and issuing arbitrary orders. Vidrohi has warned that if the demands are not met, the organization may file a complaint against the officials with the Human Rights Commission and pursue legal action. Vidrohi termed this the ‘Manu mentality’ of the BJP government, which is a violation of constitutional rights. This letter marks a significant turning point in the movement that has been ongoing for the past few months, starting from November 17, 2025. From semi-naked protests in the cold to threats of a broom-down strike, the sanitation workers’ struggle is centered on the dignity of the Valmiki community and the issue of equal workload. Vidrohi’s letter highlights the burning problems of the sanitation workers in three main points. This letter not only questions the policies of the Municipal Commissioner but also points a finger at the role of the District Collector, who himself is actively involved in sanitation system meetings. The main points of the letter are as follows: Impractical order for nighttime sanitation system: According to Municipal Commissioner’s letter number 3585, dated January 4, 2026, instructions have been issued to ensure sanitation services from 8:00 PM to 2:00 AM. Ward in-charges have been ordered to provide sanitation workers. The protesters have questioned the rationale behind such an order, given that ward in-charges do not have any reserve sanitation workers at their disposal. Even if employees were available, what arrangements are in place at the municipal level for their safety and security? Who will be responsible for the lives and property of sanitation workers who are forced to work in the dark of night? This order is not only impractical but also jeopardizes the safety of the employees. Opposition to undue pressure on Valmiki employees and the appointment of non-Valmikis: The letter directly questions the Collector, asking why he himself gives directives in sanitation meetings at the municipal office, but these directives only apply to Valmiki sanitation workers? Has he ever requested a list from the Commissioner of those sanitation workers who have not been performing sanitation duties for the past 7 years? Most of these are non-Valmikis, and their inaction is causing the entire sanitation system to collapse. The protesters argued that if the responsibility for sanitation rests solely with Valmiki employees, then why are non-Valmikis being appointed to sanitation positions? These employees accept the appointments but then shirk their primary duty of sanitation work. The Collector is accused of pressuring Valmiki employees in meetings – trying to make them do more and more work, even attempting to make one employee do the work of four. This is inhumane. The Municipal Act stipulates 5 sanitation workers per 1000 population, but in reality, a ward has a population of 10-15 thousand, and there are only 15-20 employees. The protesters suggested that if a well-organized sanitation system is desired, then sufficient employees should be appointed in each ward to reduce the burden and ensure proper functioning. Biased Use of the Monitoring Team: The Collector has formed a supervisory team to improve sanitation, but this team is only monitoring the working (primarily Valmiki) employees. The activist asked whether such monitoring has ever been imposed on the negligent, lazy, and non-performing non-Valmiki employees? The answer is no, because the administration itself is protecting them. This is why they are acting with impunity, and the commissioner remains a silent spectator. At the end of the letter, the activist issued a strong warning: “For this, the organization will be forced to file a complaint with the Human Rights Commission against such officers and initiate legal proceedings, for which you will be solely responsible.” BJP Government Accused of ‘Manu Mentality’ In a conversation with ‘The Mooknayak’, the activist delved deeper into the root of the movement. He said, “Things are very bad for sanitation workers in Jodhpur. The municipal commissioner is working to suppress the Valmiki community. The current BJP government has a Manu mentality towards the Valmiki community. They are giving benefits to non-Valmiki sanitation workers, not making them do sanitation work, and have placed them in other departments. This is against the Constitution, but the municipal commissioner is running his own law. He is issuing orders as he pleases, acting arbitrarily. The opposition Congress is also helpless. The struggle has been going on since November 17, 2025, but the solution is still zero.” The activist emphasized that there are 3300 sanitation workers in Jodhpur, of which 700 are non-Valmiki. Due to their failure to perform sanitation work, the entire burden has fallen on the Valmiki community. The area of 60 wards has now increased to 100, doubling the pressure. The ward changes for 2000 employees on November 15, 2025, added fuel to the fire. He reminded that the agreement reached in the presence of MLAs Atul Bhansali and Devendra Joshi is not being followed, where the promise was made to restore original positions and assign women and disabled employees to nearby wards. Geetha Sunil Pillai Courtesy: Hindi News
The search for livelihood has robbed him of his existence; a Dalit son from Telangana is searching for proof of his Indianness in Dubai’s dungeon.
An Indian laborer who went abroad 8 years ago is now forced to languish in a Dubai jail due to the lack of a passport and other documents; his Dalit family has appealed for help. Dubai/Hyderabad: A man who went abroad with dreams of a bright future is now struggling behind bars to prove his citizenship. The case concerns a Dalit laborer from Telangana who has been stranded in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for nearly two decades. He has been jailed for illegally staying, but ironically, he has no documents left to prove his Indian identity. Now, his family is running around government offices to bring him back. What is the whole matter? 59-year-old Mandula Rajanna, a resident of Madhapur village in the Son Mandal of Nirmal district in Telangana, went to the UAE in 2007 in search of livelihood. There, he started working in a construction company. But circumstances led him to flee the company after just a year and has been living there as an illegal resident ever since. Rajanna belongs to the Scheduled Caste (SC) and hails from a remote village in the erstwhile Adilabad district. Being illiterate, he has no educational records. Today, 18 years later, when he wants to return home, proving his citizenship has become a herculean task. Neither Rajanna nor his family has a copy of his passport. His name is also not on the voter list. When he left India 18 years ago, Aadhaar was not mandatory, which is why he didn’t have an Aadhaar card. Lack of Documents and the System’s Fault According to Rajanna, when he arrived in Sharjah in 2007, biometric registration wasn’t in place. Employer companies often kept workers’ passports, and this is exactly what happened to Rajanna. The company he worked for later closed down, and no trace of his passport (either original or photocopy) was found. Debt Burden and the ‘Gold Loan’ Trap A major reason for Rajanna’s illegal stay was debt. Rajanna, a father of two, had taken a loan under the ‘Gulf Gold Loan System,’ prevalent in Telangana. Under this system, people borrow gold in tolas (tolas) and are required to repay the excess weight as interest. Rajanna had borrowed 4 tolas (tolas) of gold and was required to return 6 tolas (tolas). Unable to repay the loan on time due to employment problems, he did not take advantage of the amnesty schemes announced by the UAE government from time to time and continued working there secretly. Through hard work and odd jobs in the desert, he repaid his debt. Meanwhile, his children, Nitish and Nikhita, grew up, but Rajanna himself found himself in trouble with the law. Only a passbook is his support. Rajanna is currently in jail on charges of illegal residence. Indian Embassy officials visited him at the detention center, but they demanded a copy of his passport or other proof of citizenship for his release, which Rajanna was unable to provide. Now, his wife, Lakshmi, has appealed for help. She has contacted the Chief Minister’s Grievance Cell in Hyderabad and the Nirmal District Collector to help prove her husband’s Indian citizenship. Ironically, the family has only a bank passbook (with a photo) in Rajanna’s name as proof. Now, it remains to be seen how the administration will help this poor laborer return to his homeland. Rajan Chaudhary Courtesy: Hindi News
Karnataka Honor Killing Case: Dalit Husband’s Anguish After Pregnant Wife’s Murder, Father Destroyed His Own Daughter’s World
Caste Pride Destroyed a Happy Family: Husband Vivekananda’s Painful Revelation After Pregnant Daughter’s Murder, Read the Full Story of the Hair-Raising Incident in Dharwad, Karnataka. New Delhi: “Manya’s father and my father were friends for a very long time,” Vivekananda Dhoddmani’s voice trembles as he says this. It is difficult for 22-year-old Dalit youth Vivekananda to understand how the wall of caste became so high that a father took the life of his own 20-year-old pregnant daughter. Two weeks have passed since this heartbreaking incident, but the question remains the same. Everything was fine until the friendship, but as soon as Vivekananda and Manya got married and crossed social boundaries, things changed. Speaking to the Indian Express with teary eyes, Vivekananda says, “I had a dream that perhaps one day my child would play in Manya’s father’s lap. I never imagined that the poison of caste would blind a father to such an extent that he would become his daughter’s murderer.” An Incident That Shook the Entire State Incidents of caste violence or ‘honor killings’ have occurred in Karnataka before, but the brutality with which pregnant Manya was murdered has shaken the entire state. While Dalit organizations have protested against it, Lingayat groups have also strongly condemned it and observed a ‘Repentance Day’. Currently, Manya’s father Prakashgouda Patil and his relatives Veerangouda Patil and Arunagouda Patil are in police custody. They have been booked under charges of murder and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Government and Administration Take Strict Action Considering the seriousness of the case, on January 4, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced that a fast-track court and a special public prosecutor would be appointed to hear the case so that the victim gets justice as soon as possible. He also said that his government would consider bringing in special legislation to curb evil practices like ‘honor killings’. In Inam Veerapur village in Dharwad district, where both Vivekananda and Manya lived, the administration has increased security. Dharwad SP Gunjan Arya said that eight CCTV cameras have been installed for surveillance at the police station level. Vivekananda and his family have been provided with 24-hour security. To maintain peace in the village, the police have held meetings with the villagers and are also taking the help of local religious leaders. The love story that ended tragically Vivekananda, a final-year BA student, says that he and Manya met three years ago when Manya was in pre-university. At the time of the murder, she was an engineering student. Inam Veerapur is a small village with about a hundred houses. Here, 60% of the population belongs to the Lingayat community, while 25% are from the ST (Talwar group). There are only six houses belonging to the Dalit Madiga community, to which Vivekananda belongs. Being from the same village, they knew each other since childhood, and their families were also acquainted. Vivekananda said that when he expressed his love, Manya accepted it, but due to the circumstances in the village, they could not meet often. Elopement and police negligence A year ago, when Manya’s father got wind of their relationship, restrictions began. Manya’s family wanted her to marry someone else. Fed up with the harassment, Manya decided to leave home. The couple eloped, got married in a temple, and registered their marriage. When Manya’s father filed a missing person report, the couple appeared before the police and stated that they had married of their own free will. Vivekananda recalls that Manya’s father had also threatened them at the police station, but he thought it was said in anger and that everything would be fine with time. Two constables from the Hubli Rural Police Station have been suspended following Manya’s murder. SP Arya acknowledged that there was negligence on the part of the police and that they should have anticipated the possibility of an attack. The ‘Dark Evening’ and the Unfinished Exam After the marriage, fearing threats, the couple started living at a relative’s house in Haveri city. Vivekananda started working at a shop. He says those were some of the happiest days of their married life. Manya was very happy, but even the news of her pregnancy did not soften her family’s hearts. On December 21, when this heartbreaking incident occurred, they had come to the village to update their Aadhaar cards. The hospital had advised that Manya’s records should include her husband’s name. Besides, Vivekananda had to take the Railway Recruitment Board’s ‘Group D’ exam in Dharwad the next day. Around 5 PM, when Manya was at Vivekananda’s parents’ house, Prakashgouda Patil and his relatives attacked. Vivekananda was not there at the time. When he returned, he saw the attackers assaulting Manya and his parents. Vivekananda was chased away, but by then, the father had taken his daughter’s life. Vivekananda’s parents were also injured in the attack and had to spend two days in the hospital. Irony: The very tradition they followed took their lives The greatest irony in this entire incident is that Vivekananda’s family followed the Lingayat traditions. Vivekananda says, “I was given Linga initiation in my childhood. We follow the principles of Basavanna (the founder of Lingayat beliefs), and we don’t even cook non-vegetarian food at home.” Despite this, caste pride destroyed a happy family. Rajan Chaudhary Courtesy: Hindi News