Dalit family attacked, casteist slurs used: Case filed against five named accused in Sadabad
A Dalit family in the village of Heli Bhag Midawali in the Sadabad police station area has been accused of entering their home, assaulting them, and using casteist slurs. Based on the victim’s complaint, police have registered a case against five named accused under various sections and the SC/ST Act and have begun an investigation. Sanjeev, son of Sonveer, a resident of the village of Heli Bhag Midawali, stated in his complaint to the police that he is financially weak and lives with his family in a room near a tubewell outside the village. According to Sanjeev, at around 12:30 pm on July 7, Bani Singh alias Bijendra Singh, Arvind Kumar, Rahul, Gopal, and Shubham arrived at his room with iron rods and sticks. The accused entered the house and began assaulting Sanjeev’s wife, Preeti, and children. Sanjeev alleged that when he resisted, he was also assaulted, resulting in serious head injuries. Hearing the noise, Mukesh Kumar and Brajesh Kumar, who were working in a nearby field, rushed to the scene. They attempted to intervene, but the accused assaulted them as well, resulting in injuries to their hands. The complaint also alleges that during the assault, the accused used casteist slurs and threatened to kill him. They reportedly threatened to kill Sanjeev’s entire family and demolish the room he was living in with a JCB. Sanjeev somehow escaped and reached the Sadabad police station, reporting the incident to the police. Based on the complaint, the police have registered a case against the five named accused under relevant sections and the SC/ST Act. Deputy Superintendent of Police JN Asthana stated that the matter is being investigated and further legal action will be taken based on the facts that emerge from the investigation. Kishore Kumar Varshney | Sadabad, Hathras Courtesy : Hindi News
Dr B. R. Ambedkar’s Views on the Bhakti Movement and the Upliftment of Dalits
The Bhakti Movement occupies an important place in the social and religious history of India. Emerging between the seventh and seventeenth centuries in different parts of the country, it emphasized personal devotion (bhakti) to God, rejected excessive ritualism, and sought to establish a direct relationship between the devotee and the divine. Several Bhakti saints, including Kabir, Ravidas, Chokhamela, Namdev, Tukaram and Nandanar, condemned social discrimination and proclaimed the equality of all human beings before God. Because many of these saints came from marginalized communities or openly criticized caste prejudice, the Bhakti Movement is often celebrated as a movement of social equality and Dalit emancipation. Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, however, offered a far more critical and historically grounded assessment. While acknowledging the moral courage and egalitarian spirit of several Bhakti saints, he argued that the movement failed to dismantle the caste system or bring about the social, economic and political liberation of the Dalits. In his view, the Bhakti Movement represented an ethical protest against caste discrimination but not a programme for structural social transformation. The distinction between spiritual equality and social equality lies at the heart of Ambedkar’s critique. Ambedkar’s Appreciation of the Bhakti Saints Ambedkar did not dismiss the Bhakti tradition in its entirety. He recognized that many saints challenged the religious orthodoxy of their time and gave voice to the aspirations of the oppressed. Saints such as Ravidas and Chokhamela, themselves born into communities regarded as “untouchable,” exposed the inhumanity of caste discrimination through their poetry and personal experiences. Kabir boldly attacked Brahminical ritualism as well as Islamic orthodoxy, emphasizing morality, reason and the unity of humanity over religious formalism. These saints questioned hereditary privilege, criticized priestly domination and insisted that devotion, rather than birth, was the true basis of religious worth. They affirmed the dignity of labour and rejected the idea that spiritual status depended upon caste. Their teachings inspired generations of oppressed people and enriched India’s ethical and literary traditions. Ambedkar acknowledged these contributions and regarded them as important voices of dissent within Indian society. Bhakti as a Spiritual Rather Than Social Revolution Despite recognizing these achievements, Ambedkar argued that the Bhakti Movement remained essentially a spiritual movement rather than a social revolution. Its central concern was the individual’s relationship with God rather than the reconstruction of society. While Bhakti saints preached equality before God, they rarely developed a systematic programme for abolishing caste, redistributing economic power or transforming social institutions. For Ambedkar, this constituted the fundamental limitation of the movement. A religion that teaches spiritual equality while accepting social inequality cannot produce genuine human emancipation. Equality before God has little practical significance if people continue to suffer discrimination in everyday life. A Dalit who is denied entry into a temple, prevented from drawing water from a public well, excluded from education or deprived of economic opportunities cannot be considered equal merely because religion declares all souls to be equal before God. Ambedkar therefore insisted that social equality must precede or accompany spiritual equality. Without changes in the structure of society, devotional teachings remain largely symbolic. Failure to Destroy the Caste System Ambedkar’s most significant criticism was that the Bhakti Movement failed to destroy the caste system. Although many saints condemned untouchability and emphasized human brotherhood, caste hierarchy continued to dominate Hindu society long after the movement had spread across India. He pointed to a striking contradiction in Hindu society. Upper-caste Hindus often revered saints like Ravidas and Chokhamela as holy men while simultaneously refusing to treat ordinary Dalits as equals. Temples celebrated Dalit saints, but living Dalits remained excluded from temples, schools, public wells and positions of dignity. This paradox demonstrated, according to Ambedkar, that admiration for exceptional individuals did not translate into equality for the oppressed community as a whole. The Bhakti Movement produced revered saints but failed to eliminate the social practices that degraded millions of ordinary Dalits. Consequently, caste survived largely intact despite centuries of devotional preaching. Individual Salvation Versus Collective Liberation Ambedkar also criticized the movement for emphasizing individual salvation instead of collective social struggle. Bhakti encouraged devotees to seek liberation through prayer, surrender and devotion to God. While such devotion might provide spiritual consolation, it did not equip oppressed communities with the political organization or social consciousness necessary to challenge systems of exploitation. Ambedkar believed that no oppressed community could secure justice merely through moral persuasion or religious devotion. Real emancipation required education, political representation, legal rights, economic resources and organized social movements. His famous call to “Educate, Agitate and Organize” reflected this conviction. Liberation could only be achieved through collective action and democratic struggle, not through individual acts of devotion. Bhakti and the Absence of Social Democracy For Ambedkar, democracy was not simply a political system but a way of life founded upon liberty, equality and fraternity. Although Bhakti occasionally promoted the ideal of fraternity, it failed to establish liberty and equality within the social order. Hereditary occupations remained unchanged, caste endogamy continued, Brahminical authority survived, and untouchability persisted. As a result, the movement did not create the social conditions necessary for democracy. Ambedkar argued that political democracy cannot endure where society itself remains deeply unequal. Social democracy requires equal opportunities, equal dignity and equal citizenship—objectives that devotional reform alone could not achieve. Critique of Saint Worship Ambedkar was also skeptical of the tendency to rely upon saints as agents of social transformation. He argued that history is changed not by isolated holy individuals but by organized and conscious masses. Saints may awaken moral awareness, but lasting social change depends upon institutions, laws, political movements and collective action. He believed that excessive reverence for saints often encouraged passive acceptance of injustice rather than active resistance against it. The oppressed, he argued, must become the makers of their own history instead of waiting for moral reform from privileged sections of society. Ambedkar’s Alternative Vision Unlike the Bhakti saints, Ambedkar proposed a comprehensive programme for the emancipation of Dalits. This programme included the annihilation of caste, universal education, economic justice,
Rajasthan SI Suspended After Dalit Youth Dies in Knife Attack; Family Alleges Police Ignored Prior Complaint
A police sub-inspector has been suspended in Rajasthan’s Sri Ganganagar district after a Dalit youth died following a knife attack, with the victim’s family alleging that police failed to act on an earlier complaint that could have prevented the incident. The action was taken after allegations of negligence surfaced against the officer, who had reportedly ignored a written complaint filed by the victim two days before the attack. Victim Had Filed Harassment Complaint Before Attack The incident took place on the evening of July 3 near the Shani Temple in Srikaranpur town, where two youths, Charanjit Singh and Shivraj, were allegedly attacked with knives. Charanjit, who suffered critical injuries, was shifted to a hospital in Sri Ganganagar, where he died during treatment on July 4. Shivraj is still undergoing treatment. According to the police, Charanjit had submitted a written complaint to Sub-Inspector Mala Singh two days before the attack, alleging that the accused had harassed a girl. However, no action was taken on the complaint. Police believe that after the complaint was ignored, the accused allegedly attacked Charanjit and Shivraj out of revenge. Family Alleges Police Negligence Following Charanjit’s death, his family staged a protest outside the police station on July 5, accusing the police of serious negligence. The family alleged that timely action on the earlier complaint could have prevented the attack and saved Charanjit’s life. District chief Dularam Meghwal also submitted a written complaint to the Inspector General of Police (Bikaner Range), alleging that SI Mala Singh had deliberately failed to act despite receiving the complaint. Meghwal further stated that Charanjit belonged to a Dalit family and urged strict action against those responsible. SI Suspended, Probe Underway After receiving the complaint, the Inspector General directed Sri Ganganagar Superintendent of Police Harishankar to take immediate action. The SP subsequently suspended SI Mala Singh pending an inquiry. Speaking on the matter, SP Harishankar said, “The investigation is underway. Teams have been formed to arrest the accused, and the entire incident is being thoroughly investigated.” Police said further legal action will be taken based on the findings of the investigation. Courtesy : TOP Note: This news is originally published on https:/theobserverpost.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
‘One Sewer Death Every 45 Hours’: Safai Karamchari Abhiyan Asks Prime Minister to Save Dalit Lives
After the law banning manual scavenging was passed, deaths while cleaning sewers and septic tanks rose from 39 in 2016 to 121 in 2025 and the figure is set to jump again in 2026. ‘One Sewer Death Every 45 Hours’: Safai Karamchari Abhiyan Asks Prime Minister to Save Dalit Lives A file photo from May 2019 of Delhi Univesity students and sanitation staff protesting. Credit: Riya Bhardwaj New Delhi: The Safai Karamchari Andolan (SKA) has questioned the government’s silence and delays in ending manual scavenging in India. Highlighting the death of 101 people across the country since January 2026 while engaged in manually cleaning sewers and septic tanks, SKA said that its figure – 121 deaths for the whole of 2025 – showed the situation was worsening. “Needless to say, Dalit lives don’t matter for government and they have turned into a new normal,” Bezwada Wilson, a Magsaysay Prize awardee and head of the SKA, said in a statement. The NGO’s figures show an “alarming” rise in the number of deaths in sewers and septic tanks ever since manual scavenging was banned by the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013. “In 2016, only 39 deaths were reported, which jumped by 350% next year in 2017 to 137 deaths,” said the statement. It said over 1,726 deaths have been reported across the country since 2013. It said a sanitation worker’s death is being reported while cleaning sewers and septic tanks, on average, “every 45 hours”, while governments choose “shameless” silence. “We demand that our Prime Minister immediately announce a complete stop to deaths inside sewers and septic tanks,” it said. Governments in denial Wilson pointed out that the government has been denying sewer deaths though they were still taking place, more than a decade after the practice was outlawed. “No death has been reported due to manual scavenging, which is lifting of human excreta from insanitary latrines,” the government of India told parliament in 2023. “Further, no report from States/UTs has been received about the inhuman practice of manual scavenging,” Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale said in parliament. A press release issued by the government based on this parliament (Rajya Sabha) response said in October 2023 that out of 766 districts, only 249 – fewer than 35% – had declared themselves manual scavengers-free “and uploaded the certificate on portal”. At the same time, in 2018, the Delhi government admitted that manual scavenging was ongoing in the capital, while the Superme Court asked the Union government to correctly assess the situation. The SKA statement records 12 deaths in Delhi-NCR, which are part of the “horrific” increase in cases across the country. It said 16 states had reported such deaths so far in 2026, an indication of the spread of the problem. Complete ban on dry toilets and manual cleaning Bezwada Wilson spent four decades battling the practice through SKA’s activism, a social movement and a court case (related to a 1993 law that has also proved ineffective in ending the scourge) before manual scavenging could be outlawed, without exception and across the country, by the 2013 law. Both the 1993 and 2013 laws are in place, seeking to address separate aspects of the practice: employment of people to clean sewers and septic tanks manually as well as building of dry toilets, etc., both of which perpetuate the practice. The statement also criticised state governments for not taking action to prevent manual scavenging and said it had expected better response to the law. Of the 1,726 deaths since 2013, 1,203 were just from Tamil Nadu (332), Gujarat (216), Delhi-NCR (157), Maharashtra (155), Uttar Pradesh (148), Haryana (104) and Bihar (94). “Despite such big numbers, none of these states have taken a single step to stop these deaths,” the statement said. State governments complicit The SKA statement was also critical of the government’s flagship ‘Swachh Bharat‘ scheme to build toilets across the country as well as of the scheme for mechanised cleaning of drainage systems, saying they neither mechanised the sanitation ecosystem nor completely eliminated dry toilets. Wilson said the failure of governments to elimitate the practice showed “how much they value the lives of safai karamcharis, who are still considered to be untouchable”. In 2019, the Supreme Court had come down heavily on the Union government over ambiguity in eradication of manual scavenging and passed an order banning the practice in six metropolitan cities. It had said it was “sick” of trying to get the Union and state governments to implement the 1993 law. India ranks very poorly in terms of its global sanitation status, for which are responsible lack of scientific cleaning methods and planning and caste- and gender-based inequality, as acknowledged by UNICEF, the Indian government’s partner in Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, in 2020. A survey by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment revealed in 2024 that 91.9% of the 38,000 sanitation workers profiled (thus far) belonged to a Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe or Other Backward Classes. Courtesy : The Wire Note: This news is originally published on https:/thewire.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Allegations of extortion in the name of the second installment of the PM-Awas Yojana: Dalit youth beaten up for protesting, SDM says action will be taken after investigation
A case of alleged illegal extortion for the second installment of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana has come to light in Amila Nagar Panchayat in Mau. It is alleged that a Dalit youth was assaulted for resisting the demand for money. A 36-second video of the incident is also circulating on social media. However, the viral video has not been independently verified. Vikas Kumar, son of Virendra, a resident of Saraya Dalit Basti, alleged that on Thursday afternoon, two young men, reportedly associated with the regional accountant, came to the village to photograph houses for the second installment of the PM-Awas Yojana. Vikas says that the construction work for the first installment of his house had been completed. When he asked for the photos, the young men allegedly demanded money in exchange for the photos. The victim alleges that when he refused to pay and started filming with his mobile phone, one of the young men seen in the video got up from his chair and began assaulting and abusing him. His mobile phone was also damaged during the incident. Vikas alleged that the two youths, under the protection of the regional accountant, extort money illegally in the name of photographing residences. He said that the government has designated authorized employees for this task, yet such activities continue to occur. According to the victim, similar complaints have been reported in the Nagar Panchayat area before, but the lack of effective action is encouraging such cases. The matter has gained traction after a video went viral on social media. However, the video could not be independently verified. Ghosi SDM Ashok Singh stated that an investigation will be conducted. If the investigation confirms irregularities or assault, appropriate action will be taken as per the rules. Mithilesh Kumar Rai | Amila, Mau Courtesy: Hindi News
Dalit student murder protests get louder, 63 booked
Meerut: A day after using force to disperse Dalit demonstrators, the Meerut police have booked 13 named and 50 unnamed people on severe charges, including attempt to murder and outraging the modesty of women cops. Seven people have been arrested and remanded in 14 days of judicial custody. Police claimed 11 cops were injured and women personnel were harmed.The police crackdown on Wednesday targeted protesters demanding justice for Lalita Gautam, a BA final year Dalit student who went missing on May 15 and her body was found in a sugarcane field the next day in Rohta area of Meerut district. The victim’s family and local outfits alleged a shoddy police investigation. Tensions escalated when negotiations failed, and protesters blocked roads near the collectorate after being denied a personal audience with the DM VK Singh and SSP Avinash Pandey. The situation turned volatile when a police force led by SSP Pandey initiated a baton charge to clear the roadway. During the crackdown, SSP Pandey was seen assaulting a Noida-based lawyer, Ravi Gautam, inside a police transit van. Police have also invoked an attempt to suicide charge against Gautam, claiming he tried to hang himself inside the vehicle.Authorities allege that external, anti-social elements orchestrated the unrest. SP (Rural) Abhijeet Kumar identified Digvijay Singh Bhati, an externed history-sheeter from Amroha, as the mastermind behind the unauthorised blockade. Officials also linked some accused to the notorious Amit Miranda gang, claiming they intentionally placed local women and minors in the front. Police stated that local residents were spared, but strict legal action would continue against outside agitators.On Thursday, police sealed the deceased woman’s village Thiraut for outsiders to prevent any escalation of the situation.The accused have strongly denied the allegations. In a released video, Bhati claimed complete ignorance and challenged authorities to prove his presence in Meerut. Hemant Pradhan, a Congress functionary named in the case, stated that the protest was entirely peaceful. “The authorities shut the main gate of the collectorate and carried out the assault, which itself is illegal,” Pradhan said.Defending the police action, SSP Pandey stated that the primary suspect in the murder—who was in a relationship with the victim—had already been arrested and jailed before being released on bail. He alleged that external elements, including Ravi Gautam, were instigating the victim’s family with inducements like money and weapon licences to spread anarchy.The incident has triggered sharp political reactions. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav criticised the police action, while Azad Samaj Party MP Chandrashekhar Azad announced plans to visit the victim’s family. Additionally, activist and former IPS officer Amitabh Thakur filed a complaint with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) against the Meerut police. 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
TN: After being sent to jail for a bike theft complaint three years ago, a Dalit woman journalist became the target of casteist hatred and police indifference.
The entire family, including her pregnant sister-in-law, was beaten up. The family alleges that the police deliberately withheld action despite video evidence. Villupuram – A 27-year-old Dalit woman journalist, who filed a theft complaint three years ago in V. Sithamur village in Villupuram district, Tamil Nadu, is now facing “punishment” for that very complaint. She has been a constant target of casteist hatred since two influential caste brothers were jailed. On June 22nd, her brother and entire family were fatally attacked, including her pregnant sister-in-law, who was beaten with slippers. Two weeks later, the main accused remain at large, and the Tamil Nadu police’s callousness is evident. What is the whole matter? In January 2023, two bikes were stolen from the journalist’s home. She filed a complaint and named two local youths, Raghu and Ambu. Police investigations revealed that the two brothers were habitual bike thieves. Fifteen bikes and two tractors were recovered from them. However, the journalist’s bike was not recovered. Both brothers were arrested and later released on bail. Since then, the brothers had been angry with the female reporter. They threatened her that she would pay the price for complaining against influential caste people. On June 22, a fight broke out between Ambu and an insurance agent in front of a shop outside the journalist’s house. The woman’s brother, Sanju (31), asked them to peacefully leave the shop. Ambu left, but returned a short time later with Raghu and other associates. The gang began hurling casteist abuses at Sanju and assaulting him. Hearing the noise, Sanju’s pregnant wife, his brother’s wife, and his mother (58) came out of the house. The accused men also hurled casteist abuses at the women and attacked them. Raghu hit the pregnant woman three times with a slipper and pushed her. The mother’s saree was torn. The accused openly threatened the family, “Whenever the journalist goes out for work, they will target her too.” The entire incident was captured on CCTV installed at home. On June 23, the victims filed a complaint at the Arakandanallur police station. Police charged the accused under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, the Prevention of Women Harassment Act, and the BNS Act. However, two weeks later, Raghu, Ambu, and another key accused remain at large. Police have only arrested the fourth accused, Kumar. Police claim the accused are in Bengaluru, but their exact location is unknown. The family and activists allege that despite video evidence, the police are deliberately withholding action. Human rights activist V. Lalitha, who is providing legal assistance to the family, told TNIE that several villages (Vadakaraithalanur, Vasantha Krishnapuram, Veerapandi Pulikkal, Kadakkanur, etc.) under the Arakandanallur police station have witnessed cases of gang violence and murder against Dalits over the past decade, but none have resulted in convictions. Lalita says, “Immediate arrest is required under the SC/ST (PoA) Act. Excuses like ‘can’t be traced’ point to police complicity. This police station continues to fail in cases involving Dalits.” The victim, a female journalist, says, “My sister-in-law is in her second trimester of pregnancy and is experiencing severe pain. We are all scared, but I am not going to give up my job out of fear.” Geetha Sunil Pillai Courtesy: Hindi News
Rajasthan: Bhim Army Chief takes umbrage over gang rape of a minor Dalit girl in Sriganganagar, demands arrest of absconding accused within 24 hours
So far, 14 to 18 accused have been arrested, including the hotel owner, manager, staff, and rickshaw driver. The search for the remaining absconding accused is ongoing. Sriganganagar – The brutal gang rape of a 13-year-old Dalit girl in the district has sparked outrage across Rajasthan. The incident began around June 18th when the girl disappeared from her home. According to the police investigation, an e-rickshaw driver kidnapped her and sold her to a hotel owner for a small sum of money. The girl was then held hostage for five days in various hotels in the city, including Joy Inn, Khunger, and Sapphire, where she was repeatedly gang-raped by 32 named accused. The victim’s statement states that sometimes three or four people, sometimes more, committed the crime against her, and if she screamed in pain, she was given alcohol. Kailash Dan, the investigating officer and Additional Superintendent of Police (SP) in this case, states that the girl had an Instagram friend, whom she met on June 18th in Vijaynagar, where she was raped by that friend. According to reports, the girl then traveled from Vijaynagar to Sri Ganganagar by bus at night and took a rickshaw. When the girl didn’t return home, her mother searched for her in various locations and inquired with relatives. However, when she still hadn’t returned home by June 22nd, she went to the police station. The police have intensified the investigation based on CCTV footage and DVR recordings. So far, 14 to 18 accused have been arrested, including hotel owners, managers, staff, and rickshaw drivers. The search for the remaining absconding accused is ongoing. In response to public outrage, the administration bulldozed these hotels late on July 1st, demolishing the illegal constructions. An FIR has been registered in the case under sections of the POCSO Act, rape, kidnapping, and human trafficking. The police say that all the culprits will be punished severely once the investigation is complete. The girl was held hostage for five days in various hotels in the city, where she was repeatedly gang-raped by 32 named accused. Bhim Army Chief and Nagina MP Chandrashekhar Azad reacted sharply to the incident. He said, “The incident of the 13-year-old Dalit girl being held hostage and gang-raped by 32 people in Sriganganagar, Rajasthan, is extremely horrific and a shame on humanity. According to the victim, she was sometimes raped by three to four, and sometimes more, men. Whenever she felt pain from the repeated assaults, she was forced to drink alcohol. This crime crosses all limits of brutality. What is even more shameful is that even 15 days after the incident came to light, all the accused have not been arrested. This raises serious questions about the government’s law and order.” Chandrashekhar demanded that Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma and the Rajasthan government arrest all remaining absconding rapists within 24 hours, have the case heard in a fast-track court, ensure the harshest punishment if convicted, and provide immediate security, justice, and adequate financial compensation to the victim’s Dalit family. He also appealed to lawyers not to represent such rapists. This case highlights the challenges of child trafficking, exploitation in hotel networks, and the protection of minors. The victim is undergoing medical treatment and counseling. Several viral videos on social media are being falsely linked to this case, but are actually from a separate incident in Hardoi, Uttar Pradesh. Local protests are taking place, and demands for justice have intensified. The police and administration claim they are taking the matter seriously and further action is underway. Geetha Sunil Pillai Courtesy: Hindi News
Who was Lalita Gautam, a Dalit student? Her death has sparked caste-based protests in Meerut.
Dalit Student Murder Case: The murder of Lalita Gautam, a BA student in Meerut, has stirred up unrest in the entire district. Following the murder of the 20-year-old Dalit student, police have arrested the main accused and sent him to jail, while caste-based protests have intensified. Meerut: The murder of Lalita Gautam, a BA student in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, has now escalated into a caste-based protest. Police claim the main accused has been arrested and sent to jail. However, during protests by Dalit organizations, police have taken action against those who are trying to disrupt the atmosphere. Let’s find out who Lalita Gautam was, how she was murdered, and why this case has escalated to such a serious level. Who was Lalita Gautam? 20-year-old Lalita Gautam was a BA student and lived with her entire family in Gagan Enclave in the TP Nagar area of Meerut. When Lalita Gautam, who had left home to take an exam on May 15th, did not return until late in the evening, her family members searched for her but could not find her. Following this, the family filed a missing person report at the TP Nagar police station. Police began an investigation and examined CCTV footage from nearby areas. In the footage, Lalita was seen with a young man named Ankush, a resident of Kalyanpur village. Following this, the police expanded the investigation and formed several teams to search for the accused. Why are there protests now? Lalita Gautam belonged to the Dalit community. After her murder, several Dalit organizations began protesting over the case. During the recent protests, police lathi-charged and detained several people. Police say that a large number of outsiders were involved in the protests, and some were unaware of the case. Police claim that the deceased’s brother was also allegedly lured into the protest by false inducements. According to officials, some people were trying to disrupt the atmosphere under the guise of Dalit politics. Police are examining CCTV footage to find those responsible for the violence. How was Lalita Gautam murdered? During the police investigation, the accused, Ankush, was detained. During interrogation, he confessed to killing Lalita. According to the police, Ankush and Lalita were in a love relationship. They were together on the day of the incident. During this time, the accused saw some photos and chats on Lalita’s mobile phone, which led him to suspect that she was also having an affair with another man. What is the police saying? According to the police, due to this suspicion and dispute, the accused murdered Lalita and threw her body in a sugarcane field in the Upasiya forest in the Rohta police station area of Meerut. The body was later recovered from there. The main accused, Ankush, has been arrested and sent to jail, while investigations into other aspects are still ongoing. Written by: Abhijeet Chauhan About the Author Abhijeet Chauhan is a sub-editor in the digital wing of News18 Hindi. Abhijeet currently covers politics, social issues, crime, breaking news, and viral news in Uttar Pradesh. Courtesy: Hindi News
Minor Dalit girl kidnapped: Serious allegations against the Inspector; Police Commissioner demands a fair investigation
The case of the kidnapping and rape of a minor Dalit girl in the Uttaraon police station area of Prayagraj has taken a new turn. The victim’s family has filed a complaint with the Police Commissioner, leveling serious allegations against the investigating officer, the Inspector, and female police officers. The family has demanded an impartial investigation. According to the family, the incident dates back to June 21, 2026, when a case of kidnapping of a minor girl was registered at the Uttaraon police station. After the girl’s recovery, the family has questioned the police’s actions. They allege that the police did not conduct a medical examination of the girl. The complaint also states that when the family demanded a medical examination, the investigating officer scolded them and made them sign blank papers. The police are also accused of coercing the victim into giving a statement and not taking action against another accused involved in the kidnapping. The family alleges that the accused, who belonged to another community, threatened to kill the victim and took her to his home, where she was raped and forced to eat meat against her will. The family alleges that despite these serious allegations, the necessary action was not taken to investigate the case. Meanwhile, the main accused in the case, Imran, son of Musafir, a resident of Kasherua Kala, Sarai Inayat police station, was arrested by the police. He was produced in court on June 26, 2026, and has been sent to jail in judicial custody. The victim’s family and the victim herself have demanded from the ACP that the entire case be investigated impartially, that the victim undergo a medical examination, that action be taken against all the accused involved, and that appropriate action be taken against the police officers who allegedly acted negligently. Mahendra Kumar | Handia Courtesy: Hindi News