UP: Nine houses of Dalits burnt down in a village in Pratapgarh district
Pratapgarh, Nine houses were burnt to ashes in a fire that broke out in a Dalit locality in a village in Pratapgarh district of Uttar Pradesh on Friday evening. Officials gave this information. Antu police station in-charge Anant Pal Singh said, “The cause of the fire is not known. However, with the help of the fire department and villagers, we were able to control the fire after a lot of effort.” He said, “The houses of Rakesh Saroj, Ravindra Saroj, Sanjay Saroj, Govind Saroj, Motilal Saroj, Pradeep Saroj, Dharmdev Saroj, Radheshyam Saroj and Ram Samjhu were completely burnt in the fire.” According to officials, apart from household items, many goats also died in the fire. Deputy District Magistrate Nancy Singh said, “I have directed the revenue officer to make a thorough assessment of the damage and directed the local ration dealer to immediately provide food and essential supplies to the affected families.” Courtesy : IBC24 Note: This news was originally published on https://ibc24.com/30 and has been used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights.
Bansa Community Library: Empowering Dalit and Backward Class Children with Free Education in UP Village
From a village struggling with illiteracy to a hub of learning New Delhi. Bansa village, situated about 60 kilometers from Hardoi district in Uttar Pradesh, is setting a new example in education. Where children from Dalit and backward communities once felt compelled to leave their village for better studies, they are now learning for free in their own community at the Bansa Community Library—reading, growing, and shaping their dreams. Bansa has a population of around 11,000, with a majority belonging to Scheduled Castes. Due to a lack of education and resources, children here often remained disconnected from learning. But in 2018, when Jatin Lalit dreamed of opening a library in his village, the tide began to turn. The village temple committee supported this social initiative by providing space near the temple premises. With crowdfunding efforts from Jatin and outside well-wishers, the library’s foundation was laid in December 2020. Gradually, this effort evolved into what is now known as the Bansa Community Library. After completing his schooling, Jatin moved to Delhi to study law. During his time there, he got involved with a community library project that completely changed his perspective. He saw how a space—free from the barriers of caste, religion, or gender—could bring people together purely for learning. Jatin realized that his village needed something similar. When he returned to Bansa during the COVID-19 pandemic, he decided to bring books to the children of his community. Beyond Just Books Today, the Bansa Community Library has around 2,600 registered children, with 100 to 120 visiting daily—all without any fees. But the library is not limited to just books. It also offers: A Pathway for Dalit and Backward Communities Most residents of Bansa come from economically and socially marginalized backgrounds. Many children could not afford to study outside the village—lacking both funds and resources. The Bansa Community Library has emerged as an opportunity for these children, who were long deprived of their right to education. In a conversation with The Mooknayak, Jatin, the library’s founder, said, “Our village was once dominated by illicit liquor. There was no awareness about education. But now, children are reading books, discussions about studies are happening in the village, and this change is far greater than we ever hoped for.” Launching a Pop-Up Library for Women To increase women’s participation, the library initiated a new program. A survey revealed that girls aged 14 to 16 were unable to visit the library, primarily due to lack of permission from their families or restrictions after marriage. Niharika, the library’s director, told The Mooknayak that they addressed this issue by starting a “Pop-Up Library.” Under this initiative, the team sets up a temporary library at different locations in the village every week. Along with books, the pop-up includes storytelling sessions and open-mic activities. “Now, women are engaging on their own—from 14-year-old girls to 60-year-old women,” Niharika explained. “They’re getting access to books and a platform to interact with each other. This initiative is boosting their confidence.” Challenges Were Many, But Determination Was Stronger For Jatin and his team, starting the library was not easy. Limited resources, indifference from some villagers, and lack of experience posed hurdles. Yet, they persisted. Slowly, trust grew, and today, the library has become a community-driven movement. What began as a small effort has now turned into a symbol of change—proving that when education is made accessible, entire communities can rise. Courtesy : Ankit Pachauri, The Mooknayak
Bansa Community Library: Empowering Dalit and Backward Class Children with Free Education in UP Village
From a village struggling with illiteracy to a hub of learning New Delhi. Bansa village, situated about 60 kilometers from Hardoi district in Uttar Pradesh, is setting a new example in education. Where children from Dalit and backward communities once felt compelled to leave their village for better studies, they are now learning for free in their own community at the Bansa Community Library—reading, growing, and shaping their dreams. Bansa has a population of around 11,000, with a majority belonging to Scheduled Castes. Due to a lack of education and resources, children here often remained disconnected from learning. But in 2018, when Jatin Lalit dreamed of opening a library in his village, the tide began to turn. The village temple committee supported this social initiative by providing space near the temple premises. With crowdfunding efforts from Jatin and outside well-wishers, the library’s foundation was laid in December 2020. Gradually, this effort evolved into what is now known as the Bansa Community Library. After completing his schooling, Jatin moved to Delhi to study law. During his time there, he got involved with a community library project that completely changed his perspective. He saw how a space—free from the barriers of caste, religion, or gender—could bring people together purely for learning. Jatin realized that his village needed something similar. When he returned to Bansa during the COVID-19 pandemic, he decided to bring books to the children of his community. Beyond Just Books Today, the Bansa Community Library has around 2,600 registered children, with 100 to 120 visiting daily—all without any fees. But the library is not limited to just books. It also offers: A Pathway for Dalit and Backward Communities Most residents of Bansa come from economically and socially marginalized backgrounds. Many children could not afford to study outside the village—lacking both funds and resources. The Bansa Community Library has emerged as an opportunity for these children, who were long deprived of their right to education. In a conversation with The Mooknayak, Jatin, the library’s founder, said, “Our village was once dominated by illicit liquor. There was no awareness about education. But now, children are reading books, discussions about studies are happening in the village, and this change is far greater than we ever hoped for.” Launching a Pop-Up Library for Women To increase women’s participation, the library initiated a new program. A survey revealed that girls aged 14 to 16 were unable to visit the library, primarily due to lack of permission from their families or restrictions after marriage. Niharika, the library’s director, told The Mooknayak that they addressed this issue by starting a “Pop-Up Library.” Under this initiative, the team sets up a temporary library at different locations in the village every week. Along with books, the pop-up includes storytelling sessions and open-mic activities. “Now, women are engaging on their own—from 14-year-old girls to 60-year-old women,” Niharika explained. “They’re getting access to books and a platform to interact with each other. This initiative is boosting their confidence.” Challenges Were Many, But Determination Was Stronger For Jatin and his team, starting the library was not easy. Limited resources, indifference from some villagers, and lack of experience posed hurdles. Yet, they persisted. Slowly, trust grew, and today, the library has become a community-driven movement. What began as a small effort has now turned into a symbol of change—proving that when education is made accessible, entire communities can rise. Courtesy : Ankit Pachauri, The Mooknayak
UP: Dalit girl raped in Sultanpur after barging into her house, victim’s mother threatened with death
The police took the accused into custody and is questioning him at the police station. The victim is being medically examined. Lucknow: A case of rape of a 15-year-old girl has come to light in Sultanpur, Uttar Pradesh. The accused barged into the girl’s house in broad daylight and raped her when he found her alone. On the complaint of the victim’s father, the police took the accused into custody from the spot. The police have registered a case under serious sections including the POCSO Act and started action. A person from the Dalit community living in a village in Dostpur police station area lodged a complaint at the police station and said that for about a month, a young man from the Vaishya community of the same village started talking to his daughter on the phone. He was trying to have an illegal relationship with my daughter. On getting the information, he was explained, but he did not agree. On Tuesday afternoon, when my daughter was alone at home, the accused youth secretly entered the house. He had an illegal relationship with my daughter. At the same time, my wife reached there. Then the accused started abusing her using casteist words and ran away. It is alleged that he also threatened to kill the victim’s mother. At the same time, the girl’s father also arrived and informed the police. The police reached the spot and took the accused into custody and is questioning him at the police station. In this regard, CO Kadipur Vinay Gautam said that a case has been registered on the complaint of the girl’s father. The victim is being medically examined. After further action, the accused will be sent to jail. Courtesy : Hindi News
16-year-old Dalit girl kidnapped from Etah, gang-raped for months in Noida, SSP gave this assurance
Etah Dalit Girl Kidnapping Gangrape Case: A case of kidnapping and gang-rape of a minor Dalit girl has come to light from Etah. Two boys kidnapped the girl. Took her to Noida and gang-raped her for months. Now after the disclosure in this case, police action has started. Etah: A shocking case has come to light from Etah in Uttar Pradesh. Two people kidnapped a 16-year-old Dalit girl here. They kept the girl hostage in a small rented room in Noida near Delhi. The accused allegedly sexually abused the Dalit teenager for months. They also regularly made videos of the girl. According to the complainant, casteist remarks were constantly made on her during the abuse. Attempts were made to break her mentally. The incident with the minor girl started from Etah on 24 December 2024. She was first lured by a man to Noida. He also had another accomplice there. Both the accused are around 20 years old. It is alleged that both of them regularly abused the girl with casteist slurs. Both of them threatened the girl that if she made any noise, they would upload the video on social media accounts. Left in the village on April 19 The accused finally left the victim girl on April 19. They took her in their car. They left the girl in a village in Etah. From there, she somehow managed to contact the local villagers. Her father lodged a police complaint in this case on Tuesday. On the complaint of the father, an FIR was registered under sections 70(2) (gang rape), 115 (voluntarily causing hurt), 352 (intentional insult), 351(3) (criminal intimidation) of the IPC as well as POCSO and SC/ST Act. The girl’s father is a daily wage labourer. He pleaded for justice in this case. An audio clip has also surfaced online in this case, in which a person can be heard allegedly abusing the girl. In the viral audio clip, he can be heard saying that we will put acid on you. SSP assured Etah SSP Shyam Narayan Singh said in the case of kidnapping and gang rape of the girl that prima facie we have found that the girl knew one of the accused. The same accused took the girl to Noida. There the matter of the incident with her has come to light. The girl has been sent for medical examination on Tuesday. She is in shock, but is stable. He expressed confidence that the accused will be arrested soon. Further investigation is going on in the case. Courtesy : Reported by Sudeep Lavania | Curated by Rahul Parashar, Hindi News
Tamil Nadu: Row over DMK-led civic body naming public toilets in reverence to dalit leader Kakkan and CN Annadurai
Kakkan served as the Home Minister in the K. Kamaraj-led Congress government. In his later years, he lived a life without wealth, struggling for day-to-day needs It is yet another proof of how the DMK’s Dravidian Model Government respects deceased leaders who are still remembered for their role in state politics. Following public and social media outrage, the DMK government has painted over the names with black paint. Kakkan, a prominent Dalit leader (18 June 1908 – 23 December 1981), was known for his simplicity and honesty throughout his political career. He served as the Home Minister in the K. Kamaraj-led Congress government. In his later years, he lived a life without wealth, struggling for day-to-day needs. He received treatment at government hospitals. He reportedly owned only one or two dhotis and shirts even when he was a minister. On June 18, 2019, the 109th birth anniversary of the late P. Kakkan, one of the state’s formidable leaders and an Indian freedom fighter, was observed. His family’s poverty can be understood from the following two incidents: “Sometime around 1978, M.G. Ramachandran (MGR) saw a woman among the morning crowd, got out of his car, approached her and enquired about her husband. He invited her to eat and said a car would take her home. She was former Congress minister Kakkan’s wife. Kakkan had been unable to pay the Rs 170 rent and faced eviction from his government accommodation. Requesting a day’s time, his wife had approached MGR, who settled all rental dues from his personal funds. The next day, a government order announced free housing for Kakkan and granted a monthly stipend of Rs 500. MGR ensured that this continued for his family even after his death.” Kakkan, who came close to becoming the first Dalit Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, was fondly remembered as Kakkanji. He was a member of the Constituent Assembly, MP, President of the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee, and held many ministerial positions in Congress governments between 1957 and 1967. In his post-political years, he lived in a small, rented flat provided by the government. He never sought personal help from anyone, considering it beneath his dignity and self-respect. Once, when MGR, who was then Chief Minister, was visiting an acquaintance in the VIP ward, he was informed that Kakkan was being treated in the general ward without a bed, lying on the floor. On hearing this, MGR rushed to Kakkan’s ward and offered him a free government service. Kakkan was such a tall figure in Tamil Nadu’s political history. C.N. Annadurai, one of the founders of the DMK, was well-educated and had oratorical skills and literary talent. Both the DMK and AIADMK have named buildings, roads, colonies, and towns after him, besides installing statues at road junctions across the state. But the Stalin administration has shown its respect to them in an unfitting manner—by naming community toilets after them. This sparked off controversy. The public, politicians, and others joined together to voice their strongest condemnation of the way these two leaders were commemorated. The toilet, located in the Silver Jubilee area of Kurichi in Ward 85 under the Coimbatore Corporation’s South Zone, had the names “Thyagi Kakkan G” and “Perarignar Annadurai” painted in Tamil on its exterior, along with the text “Coimbatore Corporation, South Zone, Ward No. 95, Male – Female Toilet.” The naming drew condemnation from functionaries of the AIADMK and BJP, who called it disrespectful to the memory of two leaders widely regarded for their integrity, modesty, and simplicity. DMK leaders also condemned the act, seemingly to save face. Leaders of both the DMK and AIADMK criticised the Corporation’s decision, stating that such a gesture was inappropriate and hurtful to the legacy of the leaders. They demanded the names be removed and urged the civic body to clarify how the decision was approved. Former BJP State President K. Annamalai, in a post on his X handle, condemned the naming, calling it a degrading act and urging immediate action against those responsible. Annamalai said, “The names of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Annadurai and the honest leader Kakkan, who served in Perunthalaivar Kamaraj’s cabinet, have been used for naming a public toilet by the Coimbatore Corporation. I strongly condemn this demeaning act of the Coimbatore Corporation that insults two humble leaders. Chief Minister @mkstalin, who adorns his father’s name on bus stands and government buildings with public taxpayers’ money, has allowed the names of leaders far greater than him to be placed on a toilet—with what other intention but to humiliate them? I urge Chief Minister @mkstalin to immediately remove the names of these leaders from the toilet and take strict action against those responsible.” Following the criticism, Coimbatore Corporation Commissioner M. Sivaguru Prabakaran immediately ordered on April 22 that the names be painted over and initiated an inquiry into how the naming was authorised. The Corporation Commissioner, Sivaguru Prabakaran, told the media, “The names were written 15 years ago. Now we have repainted the building as part of renovation. We have not written the names of Kakkan and Annadurai. The Corporation has not officially named any toilet. No such resolution was passed. I will investigate how these names appeared there.” Critics suggest, “Why can’t the Corporation name retail liquor-selling TASMAC outlets after Karunanidhi? That would be fitting for the man who lifted prohibition and paved the way for liquor sales despite Rajaji’s objections.” Courtesy : TS Venkatesan, Organiser Note: This news was originally published on https://organiser.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights.
Used and forgotten: The untold stories of Dalits of 2002 Gujarat riots
Sejal ben’s day starts at 5 am with usual household chores. She then leaves for work. For the last 20 years, Sejal ben has worked as a manual scavenger around the villages in Ahmedabad district to earn a livelihood and raise her daughter. Forty-one-year-old Sejal is the wife of Dulat Parmar, one of the accused in 2002 Gulberg Society riots case. Her world fell apart in June 2016 when the Metropolitan Court in Ahmedabad found Parmar and 23 others guilty of murdering 69 Muslims including former Congress MP Ehsan Jafri in Gulberg Society, an uppermiddle class gated society in Naroda area of the city. Amongst the accused were VHP leader Jaideep Patel, former BJP corporator Vallabhbhai Patel, Bajrang Dal leader Rajubhai Patel, along with 19 others out of whom 6 belong to Patel community and the other 16 were Dalit men. The plight of Dalit families “When he got jailed in 2016, I had hope that the leaders will help us. After all, my husband was told he is an important member of the Hindu movement. But years passed and he remained in jail. I had to raise my daughter alone with no financial support from anyone. Manual scavenging fetched me around Rs 100 a day as people usually pay less to women. The VHP leaders wouldn’t even meet me. The only person who was accessible was Hitesh bhai (former BJP corporator). He kept assuring me that leaders have not forgotten him (Dulat) and his ‘sacrifice’,” Sejal ben tells The Federal. In December 2019, the Gujarat High Court acquitted 10 accused of Gulberg Society massacre case on ground of lack of evidence while upholding life sentence of 16 Dalit men on grounds that they were ‘positively identified’ by the victims. In April 2025, the Supreme Court upheld the High Court’s verdict. Amongst those acquitted were Jaideep Patel, Valabh bhai Patel, Raju bhai Patel and six other Patel men who had been out on bail. “It was the darkest day of my life. I lost all hope. For years, I have battled financial crisis, social boycott and threats in the hope that one day it will all be fine when Dulat comes home to us. But I feel lost now. They (public prosecutor) told me thecase is closed and nothing can be done,” shares Sejal as she breaks down. “We used to live in Sardarpura area (in East Ahmedabad). We did not have much but we were happy. Shalu, our daughter, was around four years old. I was pregnant with my second child. Dulat used to work in a chemical factory in the city. Money was enough for us sustain. But then he began to attend meetings. Leaders would come and call him and tell him how he had a responsibility as a Hindu to stand up against Muslims,” she says. “At first I told him not to go. But he was promised house and land that Muslims would vacate. And then one day in February 2002, he left saying he is going to attend a meeting and did not come back for a week. When he came back home finally, he had changed… in fact everything had changed. He was arrested in August 2002 and we had to shift out of Sardarpura. We couldn’t live there anymore. Incidents of violence followed many months after the riots. Muslims and Dalits would kill each other for revenge. I left the day I was threatened with rape. The next week, I had a miscarriage,” she adds. Sejal now lives in Vejalpur area of western Ahmedabad where around 60 other Dalit families live in a slum flanked by affluent societies. But the 60 huts of the slum have no access to water, sanitation, electricity or any other civic facility. In fact, the homes have been destroyed by local authorities as illegal encroachment several times already and they face a constant threat of eviction. “In the years, I have lived in many slums across Ahmedabad but have never been accepted by the other residents. Everyone called us murderers and wished my husband was given death sentence. Finally, in 2023, I shifted here in this slum where there are two more families like us whose men are accused of rioting,” tells Sejal. There are many women who face the same fate as Sejal and bear the brunt of being the family of men accused or convicted of rioting and killing people. In 2011, a special fast-track court in Mehsana had sentenced 31 people found guilty of killing and burning 39 Muslims to death and raping and murder of three women. All 31 were awarded life sentence, a fine of Rs 20,000 each. Six months of rigorous imprisonment were added for the accused that couldn’t pay the fine. This was the first verdict in the 2002 Gujarat riots cases. All accused were charged with murder, attempt to murder, arson, rioting and criminal conspiracy. By 2021, all accused belonging to Patel community including a local BJP leader were acquitted except for three men who belonged to Valmiki, a sub community amongst the Dalits. The then additional sessions judge, LG Chudasma, while acquitting the 28 men held that the prosecution case was based on “mere suspicion without any evidence on record”. “There were two parts of the case – one was murder of 39 Muslims, including seven children and the other was rape and murder of three Muslims women. In total 112 witnesses gave their testimony against the accused and identified them. Each witness told their own story of what they endured on the day and singled out the accused who killed their family members. But not one testimony was granted in the first case stating that it was merely the suspicion of the victims who cannot be certain that they saw the same men (accused). Ironically, testimonies of the same victims were admitted in the second case where accused were three dalit men,” says advocate Sohail Tirmizi who represented the victims. “We are not happy with the
‘Drove SUV back & forth many times’: 1 dead, 5 injured as driver ‘willfully’ runs over Dalits in Bulandshahr
MEERUT: A 62-year-old Dalit woman died and five others sustained injuries after a group of upper-caste men allegedly ran over them with an SUV following a dispute over rash driving in UP’s Bulandshahr, police said on Tuesday. Videos of the incident circulated widely on social media, showing the SUV mowing down people and the attackers fleeing the scene. An FIR has been filed and officers are searching for the men, the police said Investigating officers said Sheela Devi was sitting outside her home when the SUV — a Mahindra Thar — arrived at high speed on Monday night. A villager, Bhupendra, shouted, “Brother, drive slowly,” prompting Tapesh Singh and Priyanshu Singh from Sunehra village to get out of the vehicle and allegedly hurl casteist slurs. They argued with the residents before leaving. About 10 minutes later, six armed men returned in the SUV and deliberately ran over the people standing outside. “The vehicle was driven forward and backward several times with the intention of killing them,” the complainant alleged. Sheela Devi died on the spot, and five others were taken to the district hospital in Bulandshahr for treatment. Bulandshahr (city) SP Shanker Prasad said, “We have registered an FIR against six men — Tapesh Kumar, his son Priyanshu, and their associates Varun Kumar, Atul Singh, Krishna Singh, and Manav Kumar — under BNS sections 103 (murder), 109 (attempt to murder), 351 (criminal intimidation), 191 (rioting), and relevant sections of the SC/ST Act. We have constituted a team to apprehend the accused, who are absconding,” he said. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news was originally published on https://timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights.
Maya condemns attacks on Dalits, Ambedkar statues, urges strict action
Lucknow: BSP national president Mayawati on Tuesday called the desecration of Ambedkar statues and atrocities against Dalits in several states on Ambedkar Jayanti this year “shameful” and demanded strict action from the centre and respective state govts. In a series of posts on X, she specifically denounced the attack on an Ambedkar procession in Morena, Madhya Pradesh, in which a Dalit was killed and several others were injured. “This is extremely condemnable. The state govt has not taken strict action against those responsible till now, which puts it in the dock for its clear involvement in the matter,” she said. The former UP CM said that incidents of desecration of Ambedkar statues and attacks on the processions taken out on Ambedkar Jayanti by “feudal elements” were reported from several states this year. “It is shameful and proof of the govts’ dual character,” he said. The centre and the state govts should take atrocities and injustice against Dalits and disrespect towards their saints, teachers, and icons “seriously” and act to stop such incidents, said the BSP chief, adding, “Otherwise, these people (Dalits) will never forgive them (the centre and the state govts).” Such casteist incidents make clear that the programmes organised by the centre and the state govts on the birth anniversary of Babasaheb Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar are merely a “deceit” to only get the votes of the Dalits, she added. She also warned Dalits against dual-faced parties. Courtesy TOI Note: This news was originally published on https://timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights.
Akhilesh has anti-Dalit mindset, pushed to margins by UP voters: Asim Arun
Lucknow: Social welfare minister Asim Arun on Tuesday attacked Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav for an anti-Dalit mindset, describing him as a “symbol of divisive politics”. The former IPS officer claimed that when SP was in power in UP, officers from SC/ST communities were routinely sidelined for postings. “During the SP regime, officers from Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes were denied postings at police stations and tehsils in violation of rules. Under the Yogi Adityanath govt, postings are now made on merit. Those who are incompetent face action, while hardworking officers receive training and resources,” he said. Arun went on to allege that during Yadav’s tenure as CM, the latter went to great lengths to humiliate Dalits, and it was this very mindset that led to his political downfall. Referring to recent statements of Yadav as part of a calculated political strategy, the minister said that most SP leaders were instructed to create social divide. However, people of UP are now alert against such politics and have pushed Yadav and his party to the margins, he said. Quoting CM Yogi, he added: “Batoge to katoge, ek rahoge, to safe rahoge.” He accused SP of showing sudden concern for Dalits only after it lost power in the state, recalling how Yadav renamed districts and institutions named after Dalit icons like Bhim Nagar, Mahamaya Nagar, Jyotiba Phule, Sant Ravidas, and Mahamaya Nagar were changed under his regime. “Is this respect? No, this is an insult to social consciousness,” he said. Highlighting the achievements of the current dispensation with regard to the welfare of SCs and STs, Arun said there was record progress in scholarship distribution. Scholarships worth over Rs 4,000 crore were distributed this year, benefiting 56 lakh students. In contrast, the SP govt covered only 34 lakh students, and even then, scholarship scams were rampant,” he said. Speaking at the inauguration of the Kanpur Metro project, Arun dismissed SP’s claims that it initiated the project. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news was originally published on https://timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights.