“How can you hold wedding in hall?”: Dalit family attacked by caste-Hindu men in UP for hosting wedding in marriage hall
A Dalit family was attacked by a group of caste-Hindu men wielding sticks and rods for holding a wedding ceremony on Friday in a marriage hall in Rasra, Uttar Pradesh. Though two Dalits were seriously injured, no arrests have been made so far in connection with the incident. According to the First Information Report (FIR), the assailants reportedly shouted, “Being from a Dalit community, how can you hold a wedding in a hall?” before launching the attack. A group of around 20 individuals armed with sticks and rods stormed the Swayamvar Marriage Hall at approximately 10:30 pm and attacked those attending the wedding, said the complainant Raghvendra Gautam, the brother of one of the victims. Gautam’s relatives, Ajay Kumar and Manan Kant, sustained serious injuries and are undergoing treatment. The assailant group was reportedly led by Aman Sahni, Deepak Sahni, Rahul, and Akhilesh, along with 15–20 other unidentified individuals from the Mallah Toli locality, according to PTI news agency. A case has been registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Courtesy : Maktoob Media Note: This news is originally published on https://maktoobmedia.com/ and is for use by the non-military/non-commercial community, especially those in the human rights sector.
Who is Priya Saroj MP? Rinku Singh’s fiancée wanted to become a judge to protect Dalits before Akhilesh Yadav fielded her in Machhlishahr!
Daughter of Samajwadi Party strongman Toofani Saroj, Priya was a Supreme Court lawyer before she was handpicked by Akhilesh Yadav to contest against BJP’s sitting Lok Sabha MP Bholanath Saroj India and Kolkata Knight Riders middle-order batter Rinku Singh will get engaged to Samajwadi Party MP Priya Saroj on June 8 in Lucknow, the politician’s father Toofani Saroj confirmed on Sunday. The wedding is slated for November 18 this year and will be a traditional affair at Hotel Taj in Varanasi. Rinku Singh, 27, has played 2 ODIs and 33 T20Is for India in the last couple of years and is an important member of IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders. The 26-year-old Priya is a first-time MP from Jaunpur’s Machhlishahr constituency. Rinku Singh is getting engaged Toofani, a seasoned Samajwadi Party politician, informed that the “engagement ceremony will be an intimate affair, attended by close family members, friends, and relatives.” Invitations for the wedding are expected to be extended to prominent personalities from the worlds of cricket, Bollywood, business, and politics. The marriage was fixed with mutual consent after both families met in Aligarh. Rinku and Priya have known each other for some time. They met through Priya’s friend’s father, who is a cricketer himself. With the blessings of both families, they decided to get married, the would-be bride’s father told mediapersons. Who is Priya Saroj, MP? Priya Saroj became the Machhlishahr Lok Sabha MP in 2024, beating Bholanath Saroj of the BJP by a margin of 35,850 votes. Machhlishahr is a reserved constituency that includes five legislative assembly areas: Mariyahu, Kerakat, Machhlishahr, Zafrabad, and Pindra. After completing her BA from the University of Delhi, she went on to earn her LLB from Noida’s Amity University. Her father Toofani Saroj entered Parliament from Saidpur, Ghazipur, and Machhlishahr between 1999 and 2009. When the SP chief asked her to contest against Bholanath, she was only 25 years old and was preparing for the Judicial Services Examination. However, she did manage to practice law at the apex court for a brief period. According to a Jansatta report, she believed that becoming a judge was her way forward to deliver justice to the oppressed Dalit communities. But when Akhilesh Yadav personally suggested that the educated young woman should represent the party at her father’s bastion, there was no turning back. After her father’s defeat in Machhlishahr in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the family moved to an apartment in Delhi’s Dwarka. She started her journey in Socialist politics when she campaigned for her father in Kerakat during the 2022 assembly elections. A staunch critic of the BJP, Priya was vocal about the need to protect the country from the saffron party’s anti-democratic tendencies. “Hindus don’t need to prove if they are real or fake. Why do we need to prove if we are Hindu? We have had Hindu PMs since Nehru’s time, but how come ‘Hindu khatre mein’ is brought up after you (Modi) come to power?” Priya Saroj had famously said during a media interview ahead of the General Elections. Courtesy : The Week Note: This news is originally published on https://theweek.com/ and is for use by the non-military/non-commercial community, especially those in the human rights sector.
Bihar Dalit rape victim dies after being made to wait for hours in ambulance
The victim’s family alleged that the minor girl had to wait in an ambulance for several hours before getting a bed. PATNA: A nine-year-old Dalit girl from Bihar’s Muzaffarpur, who was raped and brutally attacked on May 26, died at Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) on Sunday morning, amid allegations that she was left waiting in an ambulance for several hours before getting a bed. She was brought to PMCH from Muzaffarpur-based SKMCH in a critical condition on Saturday. Former Congress MP Ranjeet Ranjan said the party would ensure justice for the victim’s family. She also lashed out at state health minister Mangal Pandey over the deteriorating condition of premier hospitals like PMCH. “I demand Mangal Pandey’s resignation. He has no moral right to remain in office when the poor are being denied healthcare despite the state government’s tall claims of improving infrastructure in government-run hospitals,” she said. Rajesh Rathod, media in-charge of Congress, said that the rape victim had to wait in ambulance for several hours in the premises of the PMCH. “Her family members reached the PMCH at 11 am on Saturday. It took the hospital administration more than four hours to arrange a bed for her,” he added. Bihar Congress president Rajesh Ram slammed the state government for its insensitivity towards women, citing the rising incidents of sexual assault. “The law-and-order machinery has completely collapsed in the state,” he said. Sushil Kumar, senior superintendent of police (SSP) of Muzaffarpur district, said that the accused, identified as Rohit Sahni has already been arrested. Muzaffarpur residents alleged that the accused Rohit Sahani had earlier committed the same offence with another 12-year-old girl at the village and attempted to kill her. However, she had survived in the incident. Meanwhile, the Muzaffarpur unit of the Congress staged a protest at Saraiyaganj Tower Chowk, condemning the incident and threatening to intensify their agitation. Party members alleged that three cases of rape have been reported in the district in recent days. Courtesy : Ramashankar, TNIE Note: This news is originally published on https://thenewindianexpress.com/ and is for use by the non-military/non-commercial community, especially those in the human rights sector.
“Double-engine government was negligent”: Rahul Gandhi slams NDA over Dalit girl’s death at PMCH
Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Sunday lashed out at the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government, led by Nitish Kumar, over the death of a minor Dalit girl, alleging negligence in her treatment at the Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH). In a post on social media website X, LoP Gandhi alleged that the “double-engine” government’s negligence led to the dalit girl’s death. “The brutality against a minor Dalit girl in Muzaffarpur and the subsequent negligence in her treatment is extremely shameful. If she had received timely treatment, her life could have been saved. But the double-engine government was negligent not only in providing security but also in saving his life,” he said. The Congress leader further in his post assured that justice would be served to the victim’s family. “We will not sit quietly until the victim’s family gets justice. Strict action should be taken against the culprits and negligent officers,” the post read. Earlier on Sunday, several Congress workers held a protest demanding justice in the case. Speaking at the protest, Bihar Congress Chief Rajesh Ram said, “There are two aspects to this case. First, that she was raped. After the rape, there was a brutal attempt to murder her. And second, the government left no stone unturned in its negligence. Due to the delay in treatment, that girl is no longer alive. For this, the government is directly responsible for the failure of the healthcare system. Go see for yourself.” This comes after a minor girl from Muzaffarpur’s Kundli, who was brought to the PMCH four days after she was denied treatment by AIIMS, PATNA. The minor girl was a victim of rape, as per officials. However, PMCH Incharge Superintendent Abhijit Singh denied the claims made by the victim’s family on the delay of treatment and stated that the girl who was brought to PMCH in a severely injured condition had been given proper medical care. “When she was admitted here, we provided complete medical care from our side. The claims made by the family that there was a delay in treatment are baseless. We did everything we could. We consulted all the departments that needed to be involved and ensured she received treatment in the ICU as well,” he told ANI. Courtesy : The News Mill Note: This news is originally published on https://timesofindia.com/ and is for use by the non-military/non-commercial community, especially those in the human rights sector.
Dalit woman alleges sexual exploitation in Lucknow
Lucknow: A Dalit woman accused a man from Hardoi of sexually exploiting her under the pretext of marriage, filming obscene videos without consent and later blackmailing her. The accused also pressured the woman to convert to Christianity, threatening to circulate the videos when she demanded marriage. According to the victim, the incident dates back four years when she met the accused, Rakesh Kumar Pandey alias Avinash Pandey, at his mobile repair shop in Sarvodaya Nagar. Their acquaintance soon turned into an affair. She alleged that about three years ago, Rakesh took her to a relative’s house on the pretext of a birthday party, spiked her drink and sexually assaulted her while filming the act. Despite promising marriage, he kept delaying and eventually refused. When she insisted, he began to blackmail her with the videos and forcibly continued sexual exploitation. The woman said she severed all contact, but the harassment continued through calls from different numbers. Later, Rakesh allegedly revealed his Christian faith and demanded that the woman and her family convert. When she resisted, he sent her obscene videos and photos to friends and relatives and began demanding money and property. She also claimed to receive death threats. ACP Ghazipur (Indiranagar) Anindya Vikram Singh confirmed that a case was registered and efforts are underway to trace and detain the accused. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https://timesofindia.com/ and is for use by the non-military/non-commercial community, especially those in the human rights sector.
When ‘Beta’ Becomes A Death Sentence: Unmasking The Caste Discrimination In India
The death of Nilesh Rathod will always serve as a stern reminder of the still persistent legacy of caste-based discrimination in India. A 20-year-old Dalit man named Nilesh Rathod died from injuries he got after being brutally attacked in Gujarat’s Amreli district for calling a shopkeeper’s son “beta” (son). This conveys the persistence of caste-based discrimination in India. In addition to highlighting the widespread impact of caste hierarchies, this incident raises concerns about the continuation of these stereotypes in future generations. About the incident Nilesh Rathod went to buy snacks at a neighbourhood store in Jarakhiya village on May 16, 2025. He called the shopkeeper’s son “beta” in a gesture of familiarity or perhaps just courtesy. This seemingly harmless and everyday term was met with violent outrage. Source: TNM Rathod allegedly suffered a stick attack from the shopkeeper, Chotha Khoda Bharwad, and the attack intensified as more people joined in, using sickles and sticks and hurling casteist slurs. Before an old man stepped in, Rathod and his friends were constantly chased and beaten. Rathod died from his injuries six days later, on May 22, 2025, even after being treated by doctors. Youth and caste: A disturbing continuity This incident screams that the idea that discrimination based on caste was a thing of the past and was only passed down by older generations. The active participation of younger generations in such violent acts hints that caste prejudices are still being promoted across generations. It demonstrates the fragile nature of caste dynamics and the deeply rooted insecurity people have about social hierarchies that a harmless word like “beta,” which is used as a word of affection by people of all ages and backgrounds, could be the source of such a violent reaction. When words become weapons Language, in India, is strongly entangled with social and caste hierarchies. Some languages to be spoken are considered to be superior to what other castes are speaking, which commonly reflects and reinforces social hierarchies. Here, a Dalit man using “beta” to address a person of higher caste was seen as a violation, a desecration of the existing social order. This incident clearly sheds light on how language, if passed through the prism of caste, can be the source of violence even where it’s not required, showing us the universal nature of caste hierarchy in everyday conversations. The role of silence: Political and social apathy After the incident, there was a deafening silence from political leaders and the mainstream media. The case only gained close attention after constant protests by activists like Congress MLA Jignesh Mevani, who demanded justice and compensation for the victim’s family. Such a delayed response, which is definitely not the first time, reflects broader societal apathy and ignorance towards caste-based violence, especially when the victims come from marginalised communities. The spotlight towards caste-based violence is determined according to each caste’s convenience. Justice delayed is justice denied Police responded to the incident by arresting eight people and detaining a minor. Source: India Today The accused were charged under the SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including those relating to murder, rioting, unlawful assembly, and distressing hurt. While these legal measures are in the right direction, the efficacy of such actions is often downplayed by systemic delays and societal pressures that can strongly influence the process of justice. Not an isolated incident: Persistence of caste discrimination This tragic incident is not isolated in itself but a part of an even larger disturbing pattern of caste-based violence in India. From incidents like the Una flogging in 2016 to the lynching of Jagmael Singh in 2019, there have been numerous incidents where Dalits have faced brutal assaults for everyday harmless tasks due to the norms of caste. Such events present the stubborn and systemic nature of caste-based violence and discrimination in India. Caste-based discrimination remains deeply rooted in Indian society, surpassing age and generational boundaries. While the thought goes that younger generations today are protected from such evils and prejudices, recent incidents suggest something else. Several recent events highlight the involvement of young individuals in caste-based discrimination and violence. In Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, in May 2025, five schoolboys allegedly gang-raped a 12-year-old Dalit girl inside a school’s principal office. The boys reportedly gave her a spiked drink, filmed the assault, and threatened her to keep silent. All five were arrested following the incident. In Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, a Dalit groom’s wedding procession was attacked by upper-caste people who were enraged just by the use of a DJ and a chariot. The groom was allegedly pulled and pushed out of the chariot and the guests were assaulted and threatened to stop the procession before any more harm. In Mahoba, Uttar Pradesh, a newlywed Dalit couple was reportedly attacked by upper-caste people who forced the groom and the family to pass them by removing their slippers. When they refused to do so, they were assaulted. This incident did draw criticism from political leaders, highlighting the ongoing caste tensions but did not make any difference. While extensive, up-to-date statistics specifically focusing on youth involvement in caste-based discrimination are limited, broader data indicates the persistence of such biases. It was found by a Pew Research Centre survey in 2021 that a significantly large portion of the Indian population still admits the existence of caste-based discrimination and violence. And to note, members of the SC and ST were more prone to such discrimination against themselves. Reports from many human rights organisations and NGOs also consistently highlight that caste-based violence and discrimination still prevail largely across India, affecting all ages. These reports also highlight the need for systemic changes and the need to take measures to remove the presence of such deep-rooted beliefs and prejudices. The way forward: Education and empathy Addressing such strong, deep-rooted beliefs of caste-based prejudice, we need effective and multifaceted approaches. Source: ABC Firstly, education systems should incorporate detailed modules on caste history and social justice to promote empathy
If you are seen in the village, we will rape you… Recording of threats by bullies goes viral, Dalit couple wandering for justice
Shravasti Hindi News: A shocking case has come to light from Shravasti. Where some bullies of the village have forced a Dalit woman and her husband to leave the village. Let’s know the whole matter… Shravasti Latest News/Santosh Kumar: A shocking social media recording is going viral from Shravasti, Uttar Pradesh, in which it is alleged that some bullies of the village even told the victim that if she is seen in the village, she will be raped. After this incident, there was a stir in the area. Where is the case from? Actually, this case is being told of Bhamepara village of Ikouna police station area of the district. Where a Dalit woman and her husband have been forced to leave the village by some bullies of the village itself. The victim alleges that the bullies had threatened them and driven them out of the village about six months ago and even now they are constantly talking obscenely on the phone and threatening to kill them. According to the Dalit couple, after being thrown out of the village, they had to spend many days wandering in the fields. Currently, they are taking shelter at a relative’s house away from the village. The woman said that she is being threatened by three people of the village. It is alleged that the bullies even said that if they are seen in the village, they will be raped and killed. Recording of obscene talk goes viral The victim has given a written complaint to the police in this regard and pleaded for justice. The woman also has a recording of the threats made on the phone, which is now going viral on social media. The police has taken the matter seriously and started investigation and is questioning the concerned persons after reaching the village. Officials say that strict action will be taken against the culprits and the safety of the victim’s family will be ensured. Courtesy : Hindi News
Bihar court sentences two persons to death for rape-murder of 8-yr-old Dalit girl
Madhubani (Bihar), May 31 (PTI) A court in Bihar’s Madhubani district on Saturday sentenced two persons to death after convicting them for the rape and murder of an eight-year-old Dalit girl. Special judge for SC/ST cases and Additional District and Sessions Judge, Syed Mohammad Fazlul Bari, also slapped a fine of Rs 1.2 lakh each on the two convicts — Sushil Kumar Rai and Om Prakash Jha. The case pertains to the incident that took place on June 22, 2023 in Jaynagar police station area. Speaking to reporters after the verdict, special public prosecutor Sapan Kumar Singh, said, “It was a ‘rarest of the rare’ case and the prosecution urged the court to award the death penalty. Defense counsel argued in favour of the accused, but the court upheld the prosecution’s demand for the death sentence to both accused.” Narrating the incident, he said, “The deceased’s family members were not at home. The accused lured the girl to Jaynagar market. Then they took her to a room in Koshi Colony, where they raped her. When the girl tried to raise an alarm, the accused strangled her to death. The very next day, police arrested the accused and recovered the girl’s body.” Family members of the accused refused to interact with the media. (This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI) Courtesy : The Week Note: This news is originally published on https://theweek.com/ and is for use by the non-military/non-commercial community, especially those in the human rights sector.
A long way from deliverance
Neeraj Ghaywan’s Homebound — a film about the marginalised — might have received a standing ovation at Cannes this year, but films around Dalit themes remain an unformed genre, argues author Sadgati, adapted from a short story by Munshi Premchand, was Satyajit Ray’s first and only black-and-white telefilm for Doordarshan. Sadgati means deliverance. The film depicts the persisting caste system and its varying manifestations in post-Independence India. Premchand wrote the story in 1931; Ray adapted it in 1981, much after the Government of India officially outlawed the discriminatory practice of untouchability. The 50-minute film features Om Puri as the Dalit farmhand Dukhi, Smita Patil as his wife Jhuria, Mohan Agashe as the Brahmin priest and Geeta Kak as the priest’s wife. The black-and-white form enhances the edginess of the tragedy. Puri’s skeletal frame, bent body and almost complete silence when asked to do heavy chores, the action of his blunt axe on the unrelenting block of wood under the blazing sun, all of it makes the telling only too real. Sadgati is neither the first film on Dalit oppression nor will it be the last. Even if one argues that with films such as Achhut Kanya, Sujata, Ankur, Aakrosh and Sairat, the Dalit found a robust platform within the narrative and cinematographic space of Indian cinema, the Dalit perspective has been largely absent. The points of view are mainly of a third person, often an upper-caste filmmaker. And while it is true that some significant films have conveyed compellingly the dehumanisation of this class through stories of individual oppressions, it is also true that these individual stories were not representative of the larger Dalit condition. Bimal Roy’s Sujata is an example and so is Govind Nihalani’s Aakrosh. There have been exceptions wherein classical literature on celluloid has brought the Dalit struggle to the forefront. Among these are — Ray’s Sadgati, Mrinal Sen’s Oka Oorie Katha and Trilok Jetley’s Godaan, all based on Premchand’s works. These films convey the raw reality of being born Dalit. Ray focused on the irony of the priest who was forced to pull Dukhi’s dead body with a rope tied to his feet. Dukhi was not the priest’s servant. He had only sought a meeting with the priest to fix a time and date for his daughter’s wedding. But the priest made him do very tough work on an empty stomach under the blazing sun and Dukhi, who was already running a high fever, collapsed and died. His wife’s angry lament — she keeps knocking on the closed door of the priest’s house — is all in vain. Sen’s Oka Oorie Katha suggests just the opposite. It shows how some Dalits can bring about their own ruin and remain immune to the tragedy of the women in the family. Sen was criticised by Premchand scholars for not showing the famous drunken scene wherein the father and son spend the alms collected for the young bride’s kafan or shroud on drinks. And who can forget Gautam Ghose’s Paar (1984)? It is a screen adaptation of Samaresh Bose’s Bengali story Paari. Instead of simply turning the novel into a film, Ghose used the original story as his base but made the narrative sharper and more hard-hitting. “To the untouchable, Hinduism is a veritable chamber of horrors,” Ambedkar had once said. Not a single film exploring the Dalit identity has been able to establish that brutal truth. Prakash Jha’s Aarakshan led to protests by some pro-Dalit groups in Kanpur. They were against the casting of Saif Ali Khan as a Dalit. They objected to the actor’s royal background and regarded this casting as an insult to the community. These films get rave reviews but do little to change the mindset of the upper castes. In contrast, Nagraj Manjule’s Fandry is convincing because Manjule is himself a Dalit. There is an aspect to Fandry that merits specific comment. It has to do with the portrayal of the family’s vocation which is pig-catching or breeding. Family members are shown unable to go about it effectively. For instance, when their task is to capture a pig, they throw stones at it, which only drives it away. They hate the occupation thrust on them by birth. They despise it so much that they are not bothered about gaining expertise. They know that this source of livelihood is the reason why they are ostracised by society. The domestic help in Shyam Benegal’s Ankur is shown to be Dalit and also mute. He cannot express his anger even when he understands that his wife is being sexually exploited because she is a servant and the wife of another servant. Talking about the commercialisation of the Dalit identity, one has to mention Aamir Khan’s box office hit Lagaan. Bhuvan accidentally discovers that Kachra with his limp hand can spin the ball brilliantly. And that is how his disability becomes an asset. Bhuvan includes him in the team. This angers other members who refuse to play with an untouchable but Bhuvan persuades and then at some point Kachra’s talent makes them shed their prejudices. There are many lesser-known, small-budget films that present a more serious, socio-political image but since the directors were not famous and their films, if released, had a meagre run at the theatres, they remain almost invisible. Some such films are Masaan, Manhole, Chauranga, Kosa, Life of an Outcast, Kastoori, Guthlee Laddu and Swaha. Films focused on the Dalit identity, unlike Dalit literature, cannot and do not count as a movement towards positive changes in the Dalit condition. It has been nearly half a century since Ray made Sadgati. Courtesy : Shoma A. Chatterji, The Telegraph Note: This news is originally published on https://thetelegraph.com/ and is for use by the non-military/non-commercial community, especially those in the human rights sector.
Attack on Dalit girl’s wedding in marriage hall, case filed against 24 people
Ballia (UP), (Language) In Rasra area of Ballia district, people present there were attacked in protest against organizing the wedding ceremony of a Dalit girl in a baraat ghar. Two people were seriously injured in this incident and a case has been filed against 24 people in this connection. Police sources told on Sunday, citing the report filed, that Raghavendra Gautam, a resident of Mission Road, Rasra town of Rasra Kotwali area, has told in the filed case that on May 30, his sister’s wedding was taking place in a marriage hall in the town. According to the complaint, after the baraat arrived, at around 10:30 pm, people named Aman Sahni, Deepak Sahni, Rahul and Akhilesh of Mallah Toli came with sticks, rods and pipes along with 15-20 unknown people and started abusing, and also said that how are you getting married in a marriage hall despite being from Dalit caste. Sources said that according to Gautam, after this the attackers attacked the people present in the wedding ceremony. Ajay Kumar and Manan Kant were seriously injured in this incident. Sources said that in this connection, on the complaint of Raghvendra Gautam, a case has been registered on Saturday against 24 people including Aman Sahni, Deepak Sahni, Rahul and Akhilesh and 20 unidentified people under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Atrocities Prevention Act. Courtesy in-charge Vipin Singh said that the police is investigating the matter. No arrest has been made so far. Bhasha Editor Salim Netrapal Vaibhav This news has been taken by ‘auto-feed’ from ‘Bhasha’ news agency. ThePrint is not responsible for its content. Courtesy : Hindi News