Two-month-old baby rescued after transgender woman brings her to hospital
Chennai: A two-month-old baby girl was rescued by authorities in Tiruvallur on Tuesday after a transgender woman brought her to the Tiruvallur Govt Hospital for treatment. The hospital staff grew suspicious and informed the police and child welfare committee officials. Police said the transgender woman, identified as Mavathi alias Malathi (30), brought the sick baby to the hospital. When the doctor asked about the baby’s family, Malathi gave confusing answers, which made the hospital staff suspicious. During questioning, Malathi told police that she bought the baby from a poor couple in Andhra Pradesh for 2.1 lakh, adding that the parents could not afford to raise the child. An officer said, “We are checking her statement and trying to find the baby’s real parents. The reason for buying the baby is not yet clear.” Officials from the child welfare committee (CWC) later examined the baby at the hospital and said she was healthy and safe. The baby was then moved to a government-run home for infants. Police have registered a case and are looking for the baby’s biological parents. 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
Cong netas sought cash for ticket: MLA
Patna: Internal disputes in the Congress have come to the fore in Purnia with sitting MLA Md Afaque Alam on Sunday accusing Purnia MP Pappu Yadav and the party’s state incharge, Krishna Allavaru, of engaging in corrupt practices and brokering the assembly ticket for crores of rupees. Alam’s allegations followed the announcement of Md Irfan Alam as the Congress candidate for the Kasba constituency. He also appealed to party leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge to intervene and investigate the matter. A purported audio clip of Alam discussing the ticket with state Congress president Rajesh Ram has circulated widely on social media, although its authenticity has not been verified. The Congress candidate, Md Irfan, is considered close to Pappu Yadav. Alam alleged that Congress leader Shakeel Ahmad assisted in finalising a deal worth crores in exchange for the ticket. “We have been continuously becoming MLAs from Congress. I appeal to Kharge and Rahul ji to conduct an investigation. The party’s image is being tarnished. They have made such people candidates who have worked to defame the grand alliance,” he said. In the three-minute sixteen-second audio, Alam can be heard discussing the ticket, while Rajesh Ram is purportedly heard saying that the process has been finalised but is pending further action. The audio, however, remains unverified. Congress has denied ticket renewal to four-time sitting MLA Alam from Kasba and awarded it to Md Irfan, who is considered a close associate of Pappu Yadav. Md Irfan’s own distress over the ticket issue was captured in a video on Oct 17, in which he was seen crying profusely. The video went viral on social media, showing him overcome with emotion. On the same night, Pappu Yadav confirmed on social media that Irfan had been given the ticket by Congress. 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
‘Resign or Die’: Principal, Two Instructors Booked for Harassing Dalit Woman at UP Training Institute
Police have filed an FIR against the principal and two employees of the Government Industrial Training Institute for allegedly harassing a Dalit woman employee, officials said on Friday. Kotwali Station House Officer (SHO) Kshitij Tripathi said the case was registered based on a complaint filed by the husband of the woman employee. The accused have been identified as principal Amit Kumar Dwivedi, radio instructor Ravindra Singh, and electrical instructor Dhananjay Singh. According to the FIR, the complainant’s wife, Arun Kumari, works as a work manager at the institute. On October 14, Ravindra Singh and Dhananjay Singh allegedly used caste-based slurs against her while she was on duty and pressured her to take voluntary retirement. When Kumari reported the matter to the principal, he too allegedly used caste-based remarks against her. The complaint further states that the principal threatened her with death and asked her to quit her job. Police said the case has been registered and an investigation is underway. Courtesy : The Observer Post 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 man beaten, urinated on over dispute in Madhya Pradesh’s Katni; four booked under SC/ST Act
A Dalit man in Madhya Pradesh’s Katni district has alleged that he was brutally assaulted, urinated on, and subjected to caste-based abuse by a group of upper-caste men, sparking anger and drawing comparisons with earlier cases of caste violence in the state. The attack reportedly took place on October 13 in Matwara village under Bahoriband police station limits, following a dispute related to the construction of a Gram Panchayat office. According to officials, the altercation began when Rajkumar Chaudhary, a resident of the village, objected to the use of illegally mined gravel near his farmland for the Panchayat building. His objection allegedly provoked Sarpanch Ramanuj Pandey and three others — Ram Bihari Pandey, Pawan Pandey, and Satish Pandey who then assaulted him. In his complaint, Chaudhary claimed that the accused beat him and urinated on him while hurling casteist insults. Katni Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Santosh Dehariya said that a case has been registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. “Based on the victim’s statement, we have filed an FIR. Statements from villagers who witnessed the incident are being recorded since it happened in public view,” he said, adding that efforts were on to trace the accused. The ASP also confirmed that before Chaudhary’s complaint, the sarpanch had lodged a separate case against him on the same day, accusing him of using abusive language and issuing threats. “Chaudhary went to the district hospital for treatment and then filed his complaint. Both cases have been registered and investigations are ongoing,” Dehariya said. The incident has reminded many of the 2023 Sidhi district case, where a viral video showing a man urinating on a tribal youth sparked nationwide outrage and led to the demolition of the accused’s property. Rights groups have called for swift action in the Katni case, saying it reflects the persistence of caste-based violence despite strict laws intended to prevent such atrocities. Courtesy : MM Note: This news is originally published on https:/muslimmirror.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rightsC
Row over ‘caste bias’: college says student’s conduct was unsatisfactory
Pune’s Modern College of Arts, Science and Commerce, which has drawn criticism after former student Prem Birhade alleged caste discrimination for withholding a verification certificate, on Saturday said that his conduct as a student was “unsatisfactory”. In a statement posted on social media, college principal Nivedita Ekbote rejected claims of bias and said that the institute had earlier issued Mr. Birhade three recommendation letters and bona fide certificates. A day earlier, The Hindu had reported about the allegations levelled by Mr. Birhade, a Dalit youth based in London, saying that a U.K.-based company had “asked my college if I had studied there. The college did not respond. Why? Because you don’t want us to get ahead in life. This is the struggle of me, my family, my community”. In response to the principal’s statement, Mr. Birhade said he would file a defamation and harassment case against the college, reiterating his charge of caste discrimination. “If you want us to hang a broom and a pot around our necks now, that is not going to happen,” he said in a video statement on Saturday. Gajanan Ekbote, chairperson of the Progressive Education Society that runs the college and the principal’s father, dismissed the allegations as “false and baseless”. “The earlier recommendation letters were provided by faculty members who have now retired. When the request for a new recommendation letter came, we said we would first need to verify the records, as the principal did not know him. There was no delay. The company had not given us any deadline. We sent the letter as soon as we received a reminder,” he told The Hindu. Meanwhile, Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi leader Prakash Ambedkar issued a statement criticising the college. “Why was he [Mr. Birhade] fit for recommendation then, but now, he secured a place abroad, the college suddenly finds his character problematic? Let’s be honest. This isn’t about discipline. This is about discomfort. Discomfort with a Dalit student daring to rise beyond the limits society quietly sets for him!” Mr. Ambedkar added, “What the college has done isn’t just unethical, it’s a targeted and discriminatory act! It’s academic sabotage rooted in caste prejudice! Instead of celebrating his success, they chose to block his path. We need to call this what it is: caste-based discrimination. And it’s not just wrong, it’s criminal!” The Hindu Bureau Courtesy : The Hindu Note: This news is originally published on https:/thehindu.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Is Bihar’s caste census becoming an election issue?:Upper castes raise concerns, Dalits and OBCs insist on counting
The caste census is stirring debate across Bihar, with opinions sharply divided along community lines. Sita Sharan, 42, from the Bhumihar community, runs a fast food shop in Patna. “Caste census should happen. We should know how many people belong to each group. It won’t harm anyone,” he says. Likewise, 42-year-old Tinku Jha, a Brahmin from Vaishali, sees no threat in the exercise. In contrast, Prince, from the Rajput community, is firmly opposed to the census and also rejects caste-based reservations. Among supporters is Bhola Prasad, a 60-year-old Yadav farmer from Sonpur in Saran. “Caste census must happen. Work and opportunities should be distributed according to population. Those opposing it are already ahead in everything, including jobs,” he argues. Yet, a section of upper-caste voters remains apprehensive. Is the caste census shaping the Bihar Assembly elections? How do different communities view it, and which parties are likely to benefit or lose? To explore this, we spoke with residents in Saran, Vaishali, and Patna, and consulted experts on the potential electoral impact. Background: Caste survey and census in Bihar Bihar conducted a caste survey in 2023 under the Mahagathbandhan government, with CM Nitish Kumar and Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav in power. The caste-based census report was released on October 2, 2023. This was the first state-level caste survey in the country since independence. First, a look at Bihar’s population by caste according to the report… Following Bihar’s survey, the central government announced on April 30, 2025, that a nationwide caste census would be conducted. The exercise will take place in two phases alongside the general population census in 2026–27. The decision came after sustained pressure from both political parties and the public, as the last caste-based census in India was carried out in 1931. What communities regarded as upper caste think about the caste census Rajputs: Economic focus over caste 29-year-old Prince Ranjan Singh, a Rajput from Saran working in a medical lab, opposes the caste census. “In my view, the census should focus on the poor. Give resources to those who need them. Who is stopping anyone? With 500–600 crore, you could build 100,000 houses for the poor,” he says. Prince advocates for reservations based on economic criteria rather than caste, arguing that caste-based quotas have failed to address social backwardness. “Reservation should not be based on caste, but on poverty. Every caste has rich and poor. The current system is limping,” he adds. Bhumihars: Strong support for census 42-year-old Sita Sharan, a Bhumihar from Saran who runs a fast food shop and works as a Flipkart delivery partner, considers the caste census essential. “Caste enumeration is completely necessary, but a half-hearted survey is useless,” he says. Sita Sharan explains the practical benefits: “The caste census should happen, and it causes neither harm nor advantage. It will simply reflect the population of each community, giving them proportional strength. This will not create animosity in society. What use is reservation if people do not get access to education?” Brahmins: Census not harmful 42-year-old Tinku Jha, a Brahmin from Vaishali who supports his household through labor work, also backs the census. “Caste enumeration does not harm anyone. Each community will receive its share based on population. Those opposing it have their own views. Some may lose, some may benefit,” he says. For Tinku, bigger election issues are the poor state of government schools, unemployment, inflation, and migration. “If Bihar had better employment opportunities, people would not have to go to Chennai, Visakhapatnam, or Punjab for work,” he notes. What did communities regarded as Dalits-Mahadalits say about caste census? Reservation has become a joke, employment is key Ritik, a Dalit student at Patna University, says the reservation system has lost its effectiveness. “Reservations have become a joke because government jobs are declining. When institutions shut down, there are no jobs. Without jobs, where will reservation be implemented? The caste census is being conducted, but what is its operative purpose?” He questions the practical impact of the census: “The survey revealed that 33% of families earn less than ₹6,000 per month. What has been done after discovering this? They simply counted. Counting alone does not solve anything.” Caste census essential for children’s future Dilip Kumar Das, 45, from the Mahadalit Ravidas community in Khadka Tola, Saran, sees the census as crucial for planning his children’s future. A father of three, he wants them to become doctors and engineers. “The caste census is 100% necessary. It will help design schemes for every community, which will automatically support Bihar’s development,” he says. Addressing those who oppose the census, Dilip adds, “Reservation should be allocated according to population. Some people misuse the system—leaders like Chirag Paswan and Jitan Ram Manjhi already have advantages; they should now step aside.” He stresses that beyond education, health, and unemployment, the caste census remains a significant issue for Mahadalits. Views from OBCs and EBCs Upper-caste dominance and political opposition Bhola Prasad Yadav alleges that upper-caste groups opposing the caste census control jobs across sectors. He believes unemployment, migration, and inflation are bigger election issues than the caste census. “Still, caste enumeration will remain an issue for people, but during elections it becomes more of a political debate than a public concern,” he says. ‘PM Modi’s caste, yet no benefit’ Gautam Kumar, a Teli student at Patna University (Telis fall under Bihar’s EBC category), supports the caste census and insists reservations should reflect population share. “Even though PM Modi belongs to our caste, the community has seen no benefits,” he says. On its electoral significance, he adds, “We should benefit according to population, but nothing has happened so far.” Caste census as a tool for reservation reform Suraj Kumar, an OBC student at Patna University, describes the census as a means to reform reservations while highlighting economic inequalities. “The caste survey was correct because reservation must match caste population percentages,” he says. However, 20-year-old Shiv Kumar, also OBC, warns that political parties may exploit the census to increase casteism. “The census
Dalit graduate alleges caste bias by Pune college cost him Heathrow job offer
Pune: Prem Birhade, a Dalit student from Nandurbar who recently completed his postgraduate studies at the University of Sussex, has alleged that caste-based discrimination by Pune’s Modern College of Arts, Science and Commerce forced him to forfeit a job offer at Heathrow Airport in London. The allegation was brought to public attention by Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) chief Prakash Ambedkar, who accused the college of denying mandatory credential verification due to caste prejudice. According to Ambedkar, Prem had submitted all required documents to Modern College for verification, a standard process needed by employers abroad. However, the college allegedly refused to complete the verification after inquiring about his caste. Ambedkar claimed that the institution’s principal, Dr. Nivedita Gajanan Ekbote, who also serves as Maharashtra Vice-President of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha, allowed her political affiliation to influence administrative decisions. “This verification had earlier been issued when Prem went to pursue higher education in London,” Ambedkar said. “But when he requested it again for employment, the college administration’s behaviour changed once his caste became known.” He described Prem’s experience as “a stark example of how caste discrimination continues to follow Dalit youth, even after overcoming social and economic hardships.” In a viral video, Prem displayed his documents, stating, “I am not begging; I am demanding my rights.” In another post, he wrote, “The UK gave me a degree and a job, but a Pune college took away the opportunity,” adding that his struggle had now become “for society.” Responding to the allegations, Dr. Ekbote said the institution declined to issue a fresh education reference due to what she described as “unsatisfactory conduct and disciplinary concerns” during Prem’s time as a student. However, her statement acknowledged that the college had earlier issued him three Letters of Recommendation and one Bonafide Certificate. Social media users criticised Pune’s academic elite for perpetuating exclusion under the guise of meritocracy. Senior advocate Sanjay Hegde remarked that the case illustrated “the kind of merit-based gatekeeping that strengthens the argument for diversity quotas in all fields.” Academic commentator Prof. Ravikant observed that the ordeal revealed “the structural hate and humiliation marginalised caste students endure when seeking international opportunities.” Writer Raju Parulekar called the incident “an example of systemic Brahminism still dictating access to professional opportunities,” while advocate Priyadarshi Telang said the case shows how “caste discrimination can ripple across borders and derail lives.” Courtesy : Vartha Bharathi Note: This news is originally published on https:/varthabharathi.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Karnataka: Authorities deny permission for RSS march; tensions rise as Bhim Army, Indian Dalit Panthers plan protests
NEW DELHI: Local authorities in Chittapur, Karnataka, have denied permission for an RSS route march scheduled for Sunday, October 19, 2025, citing potential law and order disruptions. This decision comes amid tensions as the Bhim Army and Indian Dalit Panthers also sought permission for marches on the same route, and follows a recent state government order mandating prior permission for private organizations to use government property.The Chittapur Town Municipal Council removed RSS banners and cut-outs from the main road on Saturday under police protection, stating they were installed before obtaining route march permission. The state government’s new order, based on a Cabinet decision on Thursday, came after IT/BT Minister Priyank Kharge wrote to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah requesting a ban on RSS activities in public places. “To prevent disruption of peace and law and order in Chittapur and to avoid any untoward incidents, permission for the RSS route march scheduled for 19-10-2025 is hereby denied, and the request application is rejected,” stated the Chittapur tahsildar’s order dated October 18. The RSS had applied for permission to conduct a route march and Vijayadashami programme at 3 PM on October 19 in Chittapur town, Kalaburagi district, to commemorate the organization’s centenary and Vijayadashami festival celebration. The situation became more complex when the Bhim Army informed authorities of their intention to conduct a march on the same route and date. This followed an incident where an RSS worker allegedly threatened Minister Priyank Kharge, leading to protests across Karnataka. “If the RSS, Bhim Army and Indian Dalit Panthers conduct processions in Chittapur town along the same route, there is a high possibility of clashes between the groups, which could disturb public peace and law and order. This assessment has been confirmed based on information collected from the public and police informants,” the tahsildar explained in the order. The Bhim Army State Youth Wing, Kalaburagi, expressed their opposition to the RSS march through a letter, stating it was intentionally planned against the minister’s statement. They, along with the Indian Dalit Panthers, requested permission for their own march on the same route. The tahsildar’s decision was supported by police reports and intelligence gathering, which indicated potential conflicts if multiple groups held simultaneous processions. A case had also been registered at Bengaluru’s Sadashivanagar Police Station regarding the threats against Minister Kharge. “Therefore, since simultaneous processions by the RSS, Bhim Army, and Indian Dalit Panthers on October 19 in Chittapur may lead to disturbances and adversely affect law and order, it is deemed inappropriate to grant permission for the same as per the report submitted by police in Chittapur,” concluded the tahsildar’s order. 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
‘Trans rights reduced to dead letters’: SC, appoints panel to frame job, education policy
NEW DELHI: It was 11 years ago that Supreme Court recognised transgender people as the ‘third gender’ and upheld their fundamental right to equality and dignity. Observing that discrimination still continued, however, the court on Friday appointed a committee headed by a retired Delhi HC judge to frame a comprehensive equal opportunity policy for the community in the arenas of employment and education. It also directed setting up of a transgender protection cell and a dedicated nationwide toll-free helpline number. A bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan expressed its anguish over the “lethargic” attitude of the Centre and states to protect the community’s rights. It said the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019 — which sought to prevent social exclusion, discrimination, unemployment and lack of educational and medical facilities faced by transgender persons — remained in law books and was never implemented in true spirit. The law was “brutishly reduced to dead letters”, SC said, for which both Centre and states were to blame. “We are pained to observe that there has either been a superficial and sporadic, or a complete lack of implementation of measures to ensure the prevention of discrimination against transgender persons in various spheres of life, both public and private… The right against discrimination of transgender and gender diverse persons has long been recognised by this court ever since the judgment in NALSA (supra) wherein it was held that the ground of ‘sex’ under Article 15 of the Constitution also includes the analogous ground of gender identity,” SC said. The court said all stakeholders concerned had not only exhibited “a serious and perennial lack of action”, but also reinforced discrimination towards the community despite the existence of a statutory framework. It said govt authorities must provide due respect and consideration to the constitutional value underlying public participation. “There is no gainsaying that the Union of India and the states need to do a lot more to create mechanisms for the transgender persons to translate their rights into reality. The lethargy exhibited on part of the govt concerned has also led the non-state establishments to put the compliance of the 2019 Act and of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Rules, 2020 in a cold freeze. This abeyance of rights is a matter of serious concern,” it 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
Bihar polls: Congress releases second list of candidates; announces 5 nominees
NEW DELHI: The Congress party on Saturday announced its second list of candidates for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections, fielding nominees for Narkatiaganj, Kishanganj, Kasba, Purnia, and Gaya Town constituencies. Shaswat Kedar Pandey will contest from Narkatiaganj, while Qamrul Hoda has been fielded from Kishanganj. Irfan Alam, Jitender Yadav, and Mohan Shrivasta will represent the party in Kasba, Purnia, and Gaya Town, respectively. Earlier on Friday, Congress released its first list of 48 candidates. The Mahagathbandhan, which includes the RJD and Congress, has struggled to finalise a seat-sharing arrangement for the first phase of polls, whose nomination process ended on Friday. In some constituencies, the alliance is witnessing a “friendly fight” between its partners. BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari alleged that the Mahagathbandhan is facing internal conflicts. He said, “Aapsi ladai ke patake Mahagathbandhan main phoot rahe hain.” He added, as quoted by ANI, “Mahagathbandhan in Bihar has till not officially announced its seat sharing. There are reports that RJD wants to have a candidate against the Congress Bihar President. Mahagathbandhan in Bihar is fighting a massive Internal tug of war: Rahul Gandhi has asked his party men to not focus on RJD seats. RJD workers are fighting against Congress workers on ground.” Bhandari further claimed, “Tejasvi Yadav and Mukesh Sahni have no face to show their workers; after been humiliated by Congress and Rahul Gandhi.” Meanwhile, earlier during the day, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) announced it will contest six Bihar seats independently, rather than as part of the Mahagathbandhan. Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor also weighed in on the electoral battle, saying, “INDIA alliance is going to finish third this time. The fight is between the NDA and Jan Suraaj.” Polling for the Bihar elections will take place on November 6 and 11, with results scheduled for November 14. With the election season underway, campaign activities have intensified, especially in constituencies going to the polls in the first phase. 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