UP: Minor Dalit student who went for coaching in Jaunpur was kidnapped, brutalised and video was posted on social media, two accused arrested
In Jaunpur, a minor Dalit student was kidnapped and then subjected to caste-related abuse, beating and video was made viral Lucknow: A heart-wrenching incident has come to light in Jaunpur district of Uttar Pradesh. A minor Dalit student and his friend who had gone for coaching in the Zafarabad police station area were kidnapped by eight to ten bike-borne youths. The accused took both of them to a secluded place and beat and brutalised them in a closed room. The accused treated the minor Dalit student inhumanly and first beat him, then forced him to spit on the ground and lick it. Not only this, the video of this entire incident was also made from the victim’s mobile phone and posted from his social media account. During the incident, the accused used caste-related abuses and also threatened to kill him if he complained to the police. When the student’s father came to know about his kidnapping, he immediately informed the police. On the basis of the complaint, the police started action by registering a case under serious sections of the Indian Penal Code (BNS) and the SC/ST Atrocities Prevention Act. Taking immediate action, the police recovered both the kidnapped students safely and arrested two accused—Avnish Chauhan and Jaiprakash Chauhan—and sent them to jail. Both the accused are residents of Samopur Khurd village of Zafarabad police station area. An FIR has been registered against a total of six named accused in this case. The police is raiding to arrest the other absconding accused. DSP City Devesh Singh of Jaunpur informed that, “Immediate action was taken on the information of kidnapping of students who had gone to coaching in Zafarabad police station area. Both the children have been recovered safely. The victims have been treated and handed over to their families. In view of the seriousness of the case, necessary legal action is underway. The absconding accused will also be arrested soon.” Courtesy : Hindi News
UP: Brutality with Dalit minor in a moving bus! 50 people kept watching the spectacle, no one saved her – video viral
A 16-year-old Dalit girl was brutally assaulted in a moving bus in Lakhimpur Kheri, Uttar Pradesh, 50 passengers saw the spectacle, no one helped, video went viral. Uttar Pradesh: A shocking incident has come to light from Lakhimpur Kheri district, where a 16-year-old Dalit minor girl was assaulted by some youths in a moving bus. When the girl protested against the molestation, the accused beat her brutally. During this, when the driver and conductor of the bus tried to intervene, they were also beaten up. A video of the incident is becoming increasingly viral on social media, in which the accused can be seen slapping the victim and pulling her hair. The incident took place in Padhuva police station area falling under Nighasan area. The most surprising thing is that about 50 passengers present in the bus kept watching the entire incident silently, no one intervened. One of these passengers made a video of the entire incident, which has now gone viral on social media. Bus driver Salim told Dainik Bhaskar that he was going from Dehradun to Lakhimpur when this incident happened. He said, “A girl was going to Lakhimpur in the bus. Some boys were harassing her. When she informed me about this, I tried to convince those boys. But they started quarreling and started beating me.” Salim told that he stopped the bus at Padhuva police station and lodged a complaint against the accused. But he alleges that instead of taking any strict action, the police let the accused go after convincing them. Salim also claimed that during the quarrel, the accused robbed Rs 25,500 from him. Political reaction was also seen on this incident. Uttar Pradesh Congress criticized the government by sharing the video on social media platform ‘X’. Congress wrote in the post, “In Lakhimpur Kheri, miscreants molested a minor Dalit girl in a moving bus, when she protested, she was brutally beaten up. The miscreants were so emboldened that they did not spare even the driver and conductor who came to intervene and beat them badly too. Every day under Baba Ji’s rule, power-protected criminals tarnish the dignity of our sisters and daughters, but how dare Baba Ji admit his failure. Such a government is only worthy of curse!” Meanwhile, Lakhimpur Kheri police issued a statement saying that an FIR has been registered in Padhuwa police station area regarding the incident. Police say that the named accused have been arrested and legal action is being taken against them. Courtesy : Rajan Chaudhary, Hindi News
Low conviction rate in SC–ST cases! BANAE appeals to Rahul Gandhi to stop caste atrocities – Take concrete action in Congress-ruled states!
The letter said that most state governments, including Karnataka, lack the political and administrative will to implement the SC-ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 and the Protection of Civil Rights (PCR) Acts. According to government data, the conviction rate in Karnataka from 2012 to 2024 has been only 2.47%. Immediate and effective action is expected in Congress-ruled states like Karnataka, Telangana and Himachal Pradesh. Mumbai- The conviction rate in cases of atrocities against Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (SC-ST) in Karnataka was less than 1% in 2024, which is the lowest in the country. Regarding this worrying situation, Babasaheb Ambedkar National Association of Engineers (BANAE) has written a letter to Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi demanding immediate intervention. In his letter, BANAE national president Nagsen Sonare said that the Union Home Ministry had issued a consultation on July 2, 2024, which provided directions for effective implementation of the SC-ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 and the Protection of Civil Rights (PCR) Act, such as special courts, special police stations, special training for police and judges, collection of evidence in every case of atrocities, filing of chargesheet within 60 days, police protection to victims and witnesses, immediate relief and rehabilitation, public awareness about the PCR and POA Act, training on the Indian Constitution and rule of law. This consultation was sent to the Chief Secretaries, Home Secretaries and Directors General of Police of all states on July 3, 2024, based on the 27th National Review Meeting held on November 21, 2023. However, Sonare wrote in the letter that most state governments, including Karnataka, lack the political and administrative will to implement these Acts. According to government data, the conviction rate in Karnataka from 2012 to 2024 has been a mere 2.47%. A recent newspaper report has revealed that the conviction rate in 2024 will be less than 1%. Sonare has requested Rahul Gandhi to direct the Home Secretary, Director General of Police and Directorate of Social Welfare (DCRE) of Karnataka to fully implement the Home Ministry’s advisory and other advisories issued since 2011. This will increase the conviction rate and protect the dignity, life and liberty of the SC-ST community. Sonare also suggested that action should be taken against officials who are negligent in the implementation of the POA and PCR Act. He proposed that a special column be added by the Social Welfare Minister in the Annual Confidential Report (ACR) of IAS, IPS and State Service officers, evaluating their performance in the implementation of these Acts. This will increase the pressure on the officers to implement these Acts seriously. The letter expects immediate and effective action in Congress-ruled states like Karnataka, Telangana and Himachal Pradesh. “We want concrete steps to be taken in these states to stop atrocities against the SC-ST community and punish the culprits,” Sonare said. Senior journalist and Dalit leader Indudhara Honnapura recently welcomed the decision to set up special police stations in Karnataka, but warned that these stations have to work effectively. “These stations should be provided with adequate infrastructure and funds. Officers with social commitment should be appointed in them, and not made a place for punitive transfers. This step will be meaningful only if it is implemented effectively,” she said. Banaye has also attached copies of the Home Ministry’s consultation and newspaper reports with his letter. The organisation has appealed to Rahul Gandhi to take immediate action in the matter and ensure protection of the rights of the SC-ST community. Courtesy : Geetha Sunil Pillai, Hindi News
The Mooknayak Impact: Dalit groom’s Bindauli took place with great pomp, along with police security, Bhim Army also supported the family
This incident came into the limelight when The Mooknayak first published the news of this matter on May 2, the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) took suo motu cognizance and took immediate action. Rajsamand- A Dalit family in Tadawada Gujran village of Charbhuja police station area of Rajsamand district took out their son’s Bindauli on Saturday, May 3 amid tight police security. This incident came into the limelight when The Mooknayak first published the news of this matter on May 2 with the title “In this village of Rajasthan, when the Meghwal community took out Bindauli in 2022, the upper castes boycotted them, now the fear of the upcoming marriage started haunting them!”, the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) took suo motu cognizance and took immediate action. Suresh Meghwal, brother of the groom Dinesh Meghwal, had told The Mooknayak about his apprehensions. He said, “We have been ostracised in the village since 2022. I am afraid that my brother’s marriage may be disrupted by anti-social elements. The atmosphere in the village is still tense, and we cannot take any risk regarding the safety of our guests and family.” Suresh cited an incident in 2022, when a bindauli of the Meghwal community was disrupted by upper castes, following which the community has been facing social boycott since then. Following The Mooknayak report, the NCSC took suo motu cognizance of the matter and wrote to Rajsamand Superintendent of Police (SP) Manish Tripathi, directing him to ensure adequate security for the bindauli. The commission also sought a detailed report within 15 days. Following the directions, SP Tripathi deployed around 170 policemen led by an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) in the village on Saturday. Drones were also used to monitor the situation. The Bindauli was held on May 3 from 3 pm to 7 pm, with the groom riding a horse and passing through the main square, Charbhujanath temple and other places in the village. The wedding ceremony is scheduled for Sunday, May 4. “The Bindauli was conducted peacefully. The baraat will be held on Sunday for which we have sought police protection,” Suresh Meghwal said. The groom’s family had also invited the Bhim Army to the ceremony, which joined the Bindauli and extended support to the community. The police kept a tight vigil throughout, ensuring no untoward incident took place. The incident comes just a week after a Dalit groom was attacked during a Ghodchadhi in Madhya Pradesh. The Mooknayak report and the NCSC’s prompt action played a key role in handling the situation in Rajsamand in time, highlighting the importance of media and institutional support for communities facing caste discrimination. Courtesy : Geetha Sunil Pillai, Hindi News
UP: Former Congress Seva Dal leader sentenced to life imprisonment for raping Dalit woman
Dalit woman fought for justice for 7 years, court convicted Congress leader Achhan Khan and sentenced him to life imprisonment Lucknow: A special court in Ambedkar Nagar on Saturday sentenced former Congress Seva Dal official Achhan Khan (50 years) to life imprisonment for raping a Dalit woman – who was his colleague. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 22,000 on the accused. In case of not paying the fine, he will have to undergo an additional imprisonment of three months. Special Judge (SC/ST Act) Ram Vilas Singh convicted Achhan Khan under sections 376 (rape), 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC and sections of the Scheduled Castes/Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. This verdict comes almost seven years after the incident when the first complaint of sexual harassment was lodged. According to Special Public Prosecutor Sudeep Mishra, the victim, who was a grassroots worker of the Congress, alleged that Achchan Khan barged into her house on the evening of September 12, 2018 and raped her. The victim told the court that the accused, who knew her from party work, physically grabbed her, used casteist slurs and threatened to kill her if she told anyone. The victim said she pleaded for justice — lodged a complaint at the Akhbarpur police station and also approached the then Superintendent of Police — but no action was taken. Neither an FIR was registered, nor was a medical examination conducted. The woman also alleged that on September 17, 2020, Achchan Khan called her to Haria area in Basakhri police station area and raped her again. This time, the accused took objectionable photographs of her and threatened to make them viral on the internet if she approached the law. The victim says that one such semi-nude photo was in fact circulated on social media, causing further mental trauma to her. Frustrated by the police’s continued negligence, the victim sent a registered complaint to the Ambedkar Nagar SP on October 31, 2020, but received no response. She then approached the local court, which directed the Basakheri police to register an FIR. The case was registered on September 20, 2021, and the chargesheet was filed on January 28, 2022. Public Prosecutor Mishra said, “The victim’s detailed and consistent testimony in court formed the strong basis of the prosecution.” He further said, “Despite the initial negligence of the police, we ensured a conviction on the basis of her testimony and available evidence.” The court also observed that the delay in the police not taking the complaint seriously did affect the investigation, but it did not affect the credibility of the victim. Courtesy : Rajan Chaudhary, Hindi News
Andhra High Court’s big decision: Dalit Christians cannot avail the benefits of SC/ST Act, know what is the whole case
The court held that the caste system is not recognized in Christianity. The complainant, who has voluntarily converted to Christianity and is working as a pastor, cannot claim protection under the SC/ST Act. Amravati- In an important decision, the Andhra Pradesh High Court has quashed Spl.SC.No.36 of 2021 registered in the Special Sessions and SC/ST Court, Guntur against Akkala Rami Reddy, a resident of Kothapalem village of Pittalavanipalem Mandal of Guntur district and other petitioners. The court said in its order that the complainant (respondent), who has been working as a pastor for the last 10 years, misused the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 (SC/ST Act) and filed a false complaint. The court also held that the complainant, who has converted to Christianity, cannot claim protection under the SC/ST Act. Here is the full case The dispute pertains to Kothapalem village in Guntur district, where the complainant had been living with his wife Soujanya and two children, Jackson Paul (7 years) and Mahima Paul (5 years) for the past 11 years. The complainant claimed that he serves as a pastor and conducts Sunday prayer meetings at the house of Doma Koti Reddy in the village for the past 10 years, which is attended by 20-30 people. He also said that he conducted the prayers without any disruption to the peaceful atmosphere of the village. However, on January 26, 2021, the complainant lodged a complaint at the T. Sandole police station, alleging that in December 2020, he received threatening calls from several phone numbers, insulting him on the basis of his caste and threatening to eliminate him and his family. The complaint also stated that on January 3, 2021, while he was conducting a prayer meeting at the house of Doma Koti Reddy, the first accused (Akkala Rami Reddy) called him, slapped and punched him. The complainant said that he forgave the first accused due to his love for Christianity. Further, the complaint mentioned another incident dated January 24, 2021, in which the complainant claimed that while returning home after the prayer meeting, Akkala Rami Reddy and 25 others stopped him, attacked him and threatened to kill him and his family while insulting him on the basis of his caste. Based on this complaint, the police registered a case under Sections 3(1)(r), 3(1)(s), 3(2)(va) of the SC/ST Act and Sections 341, 506, 323, and 34 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The police filed a chargesheet after investigation, which included statements of 10 witnesses and the statement of the medical officer of Bapatla Regional Hospital, who described the injury of the complainant as normal. Based on the chargesheet, the case was registered as Spl.SC.No.36 of 2021 in the IV Additional District and Sessions Judge-cum-SC/ST Court, Guntur. The counsel appearing for the petitioners (Akkala Rami Reddy and others) argued that the FIR registered under the SC/ST Act is bad in law. He said the complainant himself has admitted that he is a pastor and conducts Sunday prayers. The counsel argued that a person converting to Christianity cannot claim to be a member of the Scheduled Caste. He cited the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950, which clearly states that a person professing any religion other than Hinduism shall not be deemed to be a member of the Scheduled Caste. The counsel for the petitioners referred to cases like 2016 1 ALD (Cri) 545 (Chinni Appa Rao vs State of Andhra Pradesh) and AIR Online 2024 SC 793 (C. Selvarani vs Special Secretary), where it was held that a person converted to Christianity cannot claim protection under the SC/ST Act. He also argued that the complainant vitiated the social fabric by inciting religious and caste sentiments in the village. The counsel for the complainant argued that the police have filed the chargesheet on the basis of statements of 10 witnesses and medical officer, who confirm the incident. He also said that the Tehsildar of Pittalavanipalem Mandal (witness no. 12) has confirmed the complainant to be of Hindu-Madiga caste, which falls under Scheduled Caste. Therefore, the complainant enjoys the protection of SC/ST Act. The lawyer cited cases such as 2009 LawSuit (SC) 624 (Kurapati Maria Das vs Dr. Ambedkar Seva Samajam) and (2016) 11 SCC 617 (Mohammed Sadiq vs Dabra Singh Guru), where the Supreme Court held that caste is attached to birth and conversion does not change caste. He also argued that the validity of the complainant’s caste certificate is a factual question, which should be decided in the trial court. What did the High Court say? Justice Harinath N of the High Court reviewed the arguments of both the parties and the material available on record. The court held that the SC/ST Act applies only to members of the Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe. The court analysed the complaint and the statements of witnesses, which clearly stated that the complainant has been working as a pastor for the last 10 years and is the treasurer of the fellowship of pastors in Pittalavanipalem mandal. The witnesses also confirmed that the complainant follows Christianity and conducts Sunday prayers. The court held that the caste system is not recognised in Christianity. The complainant, who has voluntarily converted to Christianity and is working as a pastor, cannot claim protection under the SC/ST Act. The court also said that the complainant’s caste certificate, which has not been cancelled, does not provide him the protection of the SC/ST Act, as he is no longer a member of the Scheduled Caste after converting to Christianity. With regard to the allegations under Sections 341, 506, and 323 of the IPC, the Court observed that except the statements of the complainant and witness No. 3, no other witness corroborates the presence of 30 people or the attack. Witness No. 9, who was with the complainant, also only stated that some people wanted to talk to the complainant and later she was threatened. The Court held that these allegations cannot be proved even after a full trial.
Dalit seers seek funds for mutts; meets CM Siddaramaiah
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah assured the seers that funds would be allocated to mutts in the coming days A delegation of seers from Dalit and OBC communities met Chief Minister Siddaramaiah at his residence in Bengaluru on Saturday. A delegation of seers from Dalit and OBC communities met Chief Minister Siddaramaiah at his residence in Bengaluru on Saturday. | Photo Credit: Seers belonging to the Dalit and OBC communities met Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday and demanded allocation of funds to mutts belong to the Dalit and backward communities. The Chief Minister assured the seers that funds would be allocated to mutts in the coming days. The delegation submitted a petition to the Chief Minister seeking allotment of land for opening a gurukula in Chitradurga district for providing training for OBC and Dalit priests. Mr. Siddaramaiah directed the officials to identify the land for the purpose. Courtesy : The Hindu Bureau, The Hindu Note: This news is originally published on https://thehindu.com/ and is for use by the non-military/non-commercial community, especially those in the human rights sector.
4 held for assault on Dalit wedding procession over Ambedkar songs
Bareilly: Four men have been arrested and sent to jail after they attacked a Dalit wedding procession over songs related to Dr B R Ambedkar in Bareilly’s Kotwali area, police said on Saturday. Sonu Yadav, Pinku Yadav, Kanchan Yadav, and Pramod Yadav, all from the OBC community, were part of a group that stopped the wedding procession and hurled caste-related remarks, triggering violence that left three people injured on Wednesday night. The group allegedly blocked the wedding procession of Kajal, daughter of Arjun from Rustampur village. Her groom, Suraj, had arrived from Dhanora Gori, Sirouli, when the incident took place around 11.30pm. The attackers, said to be drunk, objected to the songs being played and made offensive remarks before summoning relatives and attacking members of the groom’s party. Three of the groom’s cousins were seriously injured. One of the attackers allegedly took Rs 20,000 and a mobile phone from the wedding guests during the assault. Initially, local police tried to resolve the matter through mediation. However, once senior officials were informed, an FIR was registered late on Thursday after Girish Prasad, a cousin of the groom, filed a complaint. Harshita Singh, circle officer, said, “The four accused of assaulting the wedding guests and attempting murder have been sent to jail. The ST/SC case will also be investigated.” Courtesy: Times of India Note: This news is originally published on https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/ and is for use by the non-military/non-commercial community, especially those in the human rights sector.
Man gets life term for barging into house, raping Dalit woman.
Agra: A local court in Agra has sentenced a 30-year-old man from Firozabad to life imprisonment for raping a 32-year-old Dalit woman in front of her two minor children after forcibly entering her home in Etmadpur. Additional district govt counsel (ADGC) Hemant Dixit said the crime took place around noon on Sept 23, 2016. The woman was alone with her children as her husband was working in his farmland and her in-laws had gone to Etah to consult a doctor. The accused then barged into her room, raped her and threatened to kill her if she spoke about the assault. He locked her inside and fled the scene. After her husband returned, the woman informed him of the incident and a complaint was lodged at Barhan police station. A case was registered the next day under IPC sections 376 (rape) and 452 (house trespass), along with relevant provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The chargesheet was filed on Oct 10, 2016. “The accused was staying at his maternal uncle’s house and preparing for govt exams. He lived in the same neighbourhood as the survivor,” the ADGC said. He added, “On Thursday, special SC/ST court Judge Pushkar Upadhyay pronounced the judgement and imposed a fine of Rs 28,000 on the convict. Failure to pay the fine will result in an additional six months of imprisonment.” Agra: A local court in Agra has sentenced a 30-year-old man from Firozabad to life imprisonment for raping a 32-year-old Dalit woman in front of her two minor children after forcibly entering her home in Etmadpur. Additional district govt counsel (ADGC) Hemant Dixit said the crime took place around noon on Sept 23, 2016. The woman was alone with her children as her husband was working in his farmland and her in-laws had gone to Etah to consult a doctor. The accused then barged into her room, raped her and threatened to kill her if she spoke about the assault. He locked her inside and fled the scene. After her husband returned, the woman informed him of the incident and a complaint was lodged at Barhan police station. A case was registered the next day under IPC sections 376 (rape) and 452 (house trespass), along with relevant provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The chargesheet was filed on Oct 10, 2016. “The accused was staying at his maternal uncle’s house and preparing for govt exams. He lived in the same neighbourhood as the survivor,” the ADGC said. He added, “On Thursday, special SC/ST court Judge Pushkar Upadhyay pronounced the judgement and imposed a fine of Rs 28,000 on the convict. Failure to pay the fine will result in an additional six months of imprisonment.” Courtesy: Times of India Note: This news is originally published on https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/ and is for use by the non-military/non-commercial community, especially those in the human rights sector.
Article 15(5) in focus: Congress demands immediate implementation of reservations for OBC, Dalit, Adivasi in private institutions
NEW DELHI: The Congress Working Committee (CWC) has ramped up its demand for the immediate implementation of the legislation, alongside Article 15(5) to extend reservation to OBCs, Dalits, and Adivasis in private educational institutions. In a directive issued on Friday, AICC General Secretary (Organisation) K.C Venugopal detailed the Congress party’s roadmap to ensure that the caste census is not delayed under any bureaucratic pretext. The instructions are part of the party’s campaign during the ongoing Samvidhan Bachao rallies, which will continue till May 30 across all states and districts. Venugopal noted that this legislative step is a result of “sustained and principled pressure” by the Congress, with party president Mallikarjun Kharge having formally written to the Prime Minister reiterating the demand. Rahul Gandhi, he said, had been the most consistent voice advocating the caste census as a prerequisite for ensuring true social justice. CWC’s key demands: Immediate implementation of Article 15(5) to extend reservation for OBCs, Dalits, and Adivasis in private educational institutions. Timely and transparent rollout of the caste census, without bureaucratic delays. Time-bound execution with immediate parliamentary debate and full budgetary backing. Inclusive design of the enumeration process, with transparency in questionnaire framing, classification, and data release. Use of the caste data to improve reservation policies, education access, employment schemes, and targeted welfare programs. At its May 2 meeting chaired by Kharge, the CWC also adopted a resolution demanding accountability and urgency in implementing the newly passed caste census legislation. The resolution underscored the need for mobilising people at the grassroots to support the move. Caste census In a significant reversal of its earlier stance, the Centre on April 30 announced that a nationwide caste-based count will be carried out alongside the upcoming population census. The move marks a major policy shift after years of rejecting opposition demands for such an enumeration. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, while announcing the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs’ decision, said the Centre had taken note of the caste-based surveys recently conducted by several opposition-ruled states. These state-level efforts, he claimed, were politically motivated and lacked transparency, leading to confusion and mistrust in society. “Census is a constitutional responsibility of the Union government. However, some states have attempted caste enumeration through surveys that were neither consistent nor transparent,” Vaishnaw said. To avoid further division and politicisation, the government has decided to formally include caste data collection in the national census to ensure accuracy and maintain social harmony, he added. Courtesy: Times of India Note: This news is originally published on https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/ and is for use by the non-military/non-commercial community, especially those in the human rights sector.