Dalit cook of anganwadi alleges discrimination
Rourkela: An anganwadi centre at Dewanpali village in Bargarh district’s Jharbandh block was reopened on Thursday, a day after some villagers locked it over the appointment of a dalit woman cook (pachika). The cook, Padmini Jagat, complained on Wednesday that some villagers are campaigning against accepting her cooked food, eggs and chaatua as she is a dalit. “After discussing with the villagers, the issue has been sorted out today and the anganwadi centre has been opened,” said Sushma Patel, CDPO, Jharbandh block. Among those present were IIC, Jharband police station, Sanjay Parida; tehsildar, Jharbandh, Alekha Ghuta; and welfare extension officer, Jharbandh, Sunil Bhoi. Padmini has been working at the anganwadi centre since two months. She alleged that parents were asked not to send their children to the anganwadi centre and she was also pressurised to resign from the post of cook. Her father, Abadhuta Jagat, alleged that he was pressurised to tell his daughter to quit. 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
UP Elections: Where did Chirag Paswan get the energy to contest the UP elections? Understand the mathematics of Dalit politics.
UP Elections: The Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) has decided to contest the upcoming UP Assembly elections. Party national president Chirag Paswan himself has stated that he is preparing to field candidates in the UP elections. Meanwhile, party MP and UP in-charge Arun Kumar Bharti has been tasked with recharging the organization in UP and making all preparations for the elections. Let’s try to understand why Chirag Paswan wants to enter Uttar Pradesh politics. Lucknow/Patna: Following the JDU, the LJP (R) has also decided to contest the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) national president and Union Minister Chirag Paswan said that he is preparing to field candidates for his party in the 2027 UP elections. He explained that MP Arun Bharti is overseeing all the responsibilities, including ensuring the party performs well in UP and recharging the organization. Speaking to reporters at Patna airport recently, Chirag Paswan said, “Our MPs, MLAs, and leaders are working on expanding the organization in Uttar Pradesh. A decision on the election strategy will be taken at the right time.” Jamui MP Arun Bharti said that the number of seats the LJP (RV) will contest will be decided at the time of the elections. He added, “But our preparations are underway for all 403 seats. The ‘green scarf’ (RJD) of Bihar is the red cap (SP) of Uttar Pradesh, where the Dalit population understands well how they have been sold the dream of the sun on a bicycle (election symbol). They are now joining forces with Chirag Paswan. We are uniting the Dalit community in Uttar Pradesh.” Chirag Paswan’s party is primarily considered a party of the Paswan caste. Even in Bihar, he practices caste-based politics, claiming a 5 to 6 percent vote share. As far as Uttar Pradesh is concerned, the Paswan caste’s vote share is very low. Whatever it does have is scattered across various districts. Political parties themselves claim that the Paswan (Dusadh) community has a population of only around 2.3 lakh in Uttar Pradesh. In terms of caste strength, this represents less than 0.1% of Uttar Pradesh’s total population. People of the Paswan caste are settled in the Purvanchal districts of Uttar Pradesh, such as Varanasi, Chandauli, Ghazipur, Ballia, Mirzapur, Sonbhadra, Gorakhpur, and Mau. Here, they also have Scheduled Caste status, just like in Bihar. Why does Chirag want to bring his party to Uttar Pradesh? Since 2014, Mayawati, the most prominent Dalit leader in Uttar Pradesh politics, has weakened. Her party, the Bahujan Samaj Party, is fighting for its survival. Consequently, the space for a strong and universally accepted Dalit leader appears vacant not only in Uttar Pradesh but also at the national level. In such a situation, Chirag Paswan is trying to establish himself as an alternative for that position. This is why Chirag’s party has been fielding candidates in Jharkhand, Punjab, and the Northeast states. It’s worth noting that between 1995 and 2000, Chirag Paswan’s father, Ram Vilas Paswan, became a prominent Dalit leader at the national level. In the Lok Sabha, Ram Vilas Paswan spoke for Dalits not only in Bihar but across the country. It is believed that Chirag Paswan also believes that now that he has become a Union Minister, he should move beyond acceptance within the Paswan community to acceptance as a leader of the entire Dalit community. Written by: Abhishek Kumar Courtesy: Hindi News
Jagan slams Andhra govt over ‘suicide’ of Dalit man, ‘police harassment’
Vijayawada, YSRCP supremo Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy on Thursday termed the alleged suicide of Perupogu Kranthi Kumar here as a “tragic symbol of the collapse of law and order” in Andhra Pradesh. A video of a Dalit taxi driver, Kumar, had gone viral recently, in which he is seen accusing the former Krishna Lanka police inspector SSVV Naga Raju of forcing him to take the extreme step. He ended his life by consuming poison on May 21. Naga Raju is the inspector who was arrested for his alleged role in the custodial murder and cremation of Gade Sai Krishna. “Kumar, who died by suicide after recording a selfie video detailing months of police harassment and naming former Krishna Lanka Circle Inspector Nagaraju and other police personnel, has become another tragic symbol of the collapse of the policing system in Andhra Pradesh,” said Jagan, in a press release. The former CM visited Kumar’s family today and consoled the deceased’s family. Describing Kumar’s family condition as “heartbreaking”, the opposition leader said they are mired in poverty. According to Jagan, Kumar had no convictions against him, and minor cases registered nearly eight years ago had already been closed and no punishment had ever been imposed. “Yet, he (Kumar) was forced to report to the police station every day for nearly three months, subjected to continuous harassment that ultimately drove him to take his own life. Such incidents demonstrate how dangerously the police system has deteriorated.” Jagan alleged that Kumar had been summoned to the police station every day for three months, subjected to harassment, and “forced by the police to do things he should never have been compelled to do.” “Despite such a clear video statement, “no action has been taken against those responsible,” the YSRCP chief said. Further, Jagan highlighted that Kumar’s alleged police harassment and suicide occurred in the “state capital”, within a short distance from Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu’s residence and the offices of Vijayawada Police Commissioner SV Rajasekhar Babu, Director General of Police Harish Kumar Gupta and Home Minister Vangalapudi Anitha. Even after Kumar’s father personally showed the dying declaration video to the police commissioner following his son’s suicide, no action was initiated, Jagan claimed. Seeking to know why those responsible continue to be allegedly protected, the former CM claimed that a “protection racket” is operating in the capital itself. Referring to the disappearance of CCTV footage from Krishna Lanka Police Station, Jagan said two deaths had occurred within a month under the jurisdiction of this police station—one custodial death and one suicide. “Yet, mandatory CCTV footage from the police station has vanished. One remand report states that footage from May 1 to June 1 is unavailable, while another report says footage for the past 18 months is missing,” said Jagan, questioning how CCTV footage from a police station could simply disappear and asked whether no backup systems existed. According to the YSRCP leader, this clearly indicates that “illegal activities are being systematically carried out inside police stations, where people are assaulted, tortured and even killed, while complaints are simply ignored and discarded.” Lashing out at the TDP-led government for allegedly failing to register a case despite the seriousness of Kumar’s suicide, Jagan said an SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act case should have been registered. The former CM promised that YSRCP would provide every possible assistance, including legal support, to ensure justice for Kumar’s family. PTI STH ROH This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content. Courtesy : The Print Note: This news is originally published on https:/theprint.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Dalit family alleges abuse, threats over temple entry
Rajkot: A Dalit family has alleged that they were subjected to caste-based abuse and death threats for trying to enter a Hanuman temple at Jalaram Society near the Ratanpar village turn on the Rajkot-Morbi highway. Rajesh Jadav, 55, lodged a complaint with Kuvadva Road police against four persons — Raju Ramavat, Mayur Ramavat, Hetal Bhalsod and Chandresh Bhalsod — alleging criminal intimidation and insult to provoke breach of peace under BNS, and offences under the SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Jadav, a labourer, has been living with his family in Jalaram Society for two and a half years. He alleged that the temple caretaker, Raju Ramavat, had prevented his family from entering the Hanuman temple ever since they moved in. The matter was raised before the village sarpanch on June 22. The sarpanch is said to have told both sides that the temple was a public place of worship and that every resident had the right to offer prayers there. Later that evening, Jadav’s wife, Sapna, and other women from the neighbourhood, went to perform service near the temple platform. Around 7am on June 23, an argument erupted over the issue. Rajesh Jadav alleged that Raju Ramavat, his son Mayur Ramavat, Hetal Bhalsod, and her husband Chandresh Bhalsod abused him and his family and subjected them to caste-based slurs. The complaint further states that the accused allegedly told the family they had “no right to enter the temple” and said they had “defiled” the place of worship. Raju Ramavat is also accused of grabbing Rajesh Jadav by the collar and threatening to kill the entire family if Sapna approached the temple again. 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
Dalit teen goes to fields, found dead later under suspicious circumstances in UP
A 17-year-old Dalit girl who went to a field to relieve herself was found dead under suspicious circumstances in Uttar Pradesh’s Gonda district. Her family found her body near a clump of bushes when she did not return home. A 17-year-old Dalit girl was found dead under suspicious circumstances in a village in Uttar Pradesh’s Gonda district after she went to a nearby field to relieve herself, police said on Thursday. According to police, the girl left her home on Wednesday morning but failed to return even after an hour. Alarmed by her absence, family members began searching for her and found her body lying near a clump of bushes in the field. The family alerted the police, following which senior officers and a forensic team reached the spot, inspected it and sent the body for postmortem examination. Police have not disclosed the cause of death, saying it will be ascertained after the postmortem report. Circle Officer (City) Anand Rai said the body had been taken into custody and that a panel of doctors was conducting the postmortem under videography to ensure transparency. “The Kotwali Nagar police, senior officers and the forensic team inspected the spot after receiving information about the incident. The inquest and postmortem are being conducted by a panel of doctors with videography, and further legal proceedings are underway,” he said. Investigators are examining all possible angles, while further legal action will be taken based on the findings of the forensic examination and the ongoing probe. Written By: Shipra Parashar Courtesy : India Today Note: This news is originally published on https:/indiatoday.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Chikkamagaluru temple allows Dalit entry, worship after 50 years
Expecting trouble, the district administration had deployed hundreds of police personnel in the locality; however, the caste Hindus did not put up any resistance. CHIKKAMAGALURU: Hundreds of people from the Dalit community at Nidaghatta village in Kadur taluk of Chikkamagaluru district on Tuesday entered the caste Hindu temple of Anjanaeya Swamy, where they were denied entry for decades, and worshipped the deity. Expecting trouble, the district administration had deployed hundreds of police personnel in the locality, however, the caste Hindus did not put up any resistance. Kadur Tahsildar CS Poornima, Tarikere Deputy Superintendent of police VS Halamyrthy Rao, Taluk Panchayt Executive Officer CR Praveen, Circle Inspector M Rafiq and Sakrayapatna Sub Inspector Pwan monitored the situation. Close to the Anjanaeya Swamy temple, the Dalit community has built a temple for Mahatma Gandhi and worshipped him there since independence. Educated Dalit youth and progressive protagonists of Dalit movement in the village and surroundings had been fighting for their rights, including the provision for them to gain entry into Hindu temples, for the past five decades, but villagers had always put up a stiff resistance. The Dalits leaders in the village had also taken up the issue with the Kadur taluk administration, but there were no positive steps so far. After the incident-free movement on Tuesday, Dalit leaders YT Govindapa, Raghavendra, Banur Suresh, Kadur Pramod, Banur Naganna, Y Malapaura Thammaiah, Basur Prasana, Gopal, Jayanna and Kedigere Chandrapp thanked the taluk administration and the police department for the security arrangements. Courtesy : TNIE Note: This news is originally published on https:/thenewindianexpress.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Deadly attack on Dalit teenager in Bhagalpur: Case filed under serious sections including SC/ST Act after two months
Nearly two months after the fatal attack on a Dalit teenager in Bhagalpur village, located in the Mail police station area of Deoria, the police have filed a case. Based on the complaint of the victim, an FIR was registered at the Mail police station under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the SC/ST Act. An investigation has been initiated. According to the FIR, Satish Kumar, a resident of Bhagalpur, stated that his 17-year-old son, Ashish, was on his way to a medical store to buy fever medicine between 9 and 10 pm on April 20, 2026. Near the primary school, some youths stopped him and attacked him with a sharp weapon, using casteist slurs. Ashish suffered serious injuries to his abdomen. The attackers, believing him dead, fled the scene. Ashish, who was seriously injured, was first taken to the Primary Health Center in Lar, from where he was referred to the district hospital. As his condition worsened, he was taken to Gorakhpur Medical College and later referred to Lucknow for better treatment. The teenager is currently undergoing treatment at Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in Lucknow, where he underwent a second operation. The victim’s father has alleged that Vishal, Ashutosh Yadav, Akhilesh Sahni, and some of their associates were involved in the incident. Based on his complaint, the police have registered a case. The police have registered a case against the accused under sections 109(1), 191(2), 191(3), 351(3), 352 of the IPC and section 3(2)(v) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The investigation has been initiated under the direction of the Circle Officer, Barhaj. The police stated that an impartial investigation is being conducted and further legal action will be taken based on the evidence. Jay Mishra | Bhagalpur, Deoria Courtesy: Hindi News
Dalit anganwadi worker alleges caste boycott over meals in Odisha village
The kitchen helper claimed villagers urged beneficiaries to reject food prepared by her and pressured her to resign, forcing officials to intervene after the centre was locked. BARGARH : A dalit woman appointed as kitchen helper at an anganwadi centre in Jharbandh block has accused a section of villagers of persuading beneficiaries to boycott the food prepared by her because of her caste and pressurising her to quit the job. The woman, 23-year-old Padmini Jagat, was appointed as a kitchen helper at the anganwadi centre in Dewanpali village around two months ago. She alleged that since her joining, some villagers have been asking parents not to send their children to the centre and discouraging beneficiaries from consuming meals, eggs and chhatua prepared by her as she belongs to the Scheduled Caste community. Padmini further alleged that the villagers have organised two meetings to pressurise her father Abhadut Jagat into asking her to resign from the post. The controversy escalated on Wednesday when a group of villagers allegedly locked the anganwadi centre, disrupting its functioning. The closure deprived children, pregnant women and lactating mothers of supplementary nutrition and other services provided through the centre. Padmini said she was among three candidates who had applied for the post and appointed through due process. “Soon after my appointment, some villagers tried to force my father to ask me to withdraw. However, I joined the centre and continued working. After the schools reopened recently, they again tried to intimidate us following which my father asked them to give a written letter stating that they were unwilling to send their children to the anganwadi centre because I belong to the dalit community.” Recalling the village meetings, Abhadut said, “Villagers repeatedly pressurised me and said they would seek appointment of someone else after Padmini resigned. ‘Do you want us to eat food cooked by a Ganda? How can we send our children there?’ they questioned.” Jharbandh CDPO Susama Patel said the newly-appointed helper had not informed her about such an incident. “After learning about it, I visited Dewanpali along with the local tehsildar on Thursday and held discussions with the villagers. They assured us of their cooperation following which the anganwadi centre was unlocked.” The CDPO said she will make a follow-up visit to the village to ensure that such incidents are not repeated. Courtesy : TNIE Note: This news is originally published on https:/thenewindianexpress.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
“Following Ambedkar’s ideas is so…” 14-year-old Dalit content creator receives open rape threats! Why she became an online target, read the full story
A case has come to light in Delhi where a young man named ‘Gaurav Hindu’ publicly threatened and abused a minor. Nishu appealed to the Delhi Police for help in a video released on June 30. Delhi – Nishu Azad, a 14-year-old Dalit social media creator, is receiving open rape threats. Earlier, during the CJP’s Jantar Mantar protest, her father was attacked in an organized attack, his head was torn apart with a rod, and he received stitches in three places. Nishu is in trauma, and the family is pleading for justice and protection. Nishu Azad was active in the CJP movement. She and her father had declared themselves separate from Hinduism. They clearly stated that they do not consider themselves Hindus. This statement went viral on social media, sparking widespread outrage among conservative groups. This led to online trolling and then a physical attack. On June 23rd, Nishu’s father was recording a video at Jantar Mantar when a gang of about 15 people attacked him. One attacker smashed the camera, then took out a bracelet and repeatedly struck him on the head, causing deep injuries to three parts of his head. Following the attack, Nishu Azad released an emotional video, identifying the accused, who were roaming in the high-security zone. She stated that the attack was carried out because of her statements and her active participation in the CJP protests. Now, Nishu is receiving repeated rape threats from individuals, including Gaurav Hindu. In a video released on June 30th, Nishu herself appealed to the Delhi Police for help. In her video, Nishu says, “I’m in trauma. I’ve been tolerating this for three days… People are abusing me, saying I won’t live long… Gaurav Hindu is threatening me… I don’t want to speak for myself… He’s making such threats.” Crying, Nishu continues, “I’m not scared, but I’m in trauma… Can showing people the truth and telling them the truth… Can following Ambedkar’s ideals be so costly? The police aren’t taking any action on this.” Expressing her helplessness, Nishu asks what she should do, against whom should she file an FIR. Following Nishu’s video, several Bahujan handles have voiced their support. Social media users are demanding the arrest of the accused who made rape threats and casteist abuses against the minor. What the Law Says: Strict Provisions on Rape Threats Indian law is very strict on the abuse of minor children. Any accused who openly made rape threats to a 14-year-old Dalit content creator like Nishu Azad can be charged with several serious sections. Sexual threats or attempts to commit a crime against a minor (under 18 years of age) also fall under the POCSO Act. Threats of rape are punishable under Sections 11 (sexual harassment) and 12 (criminal intimidation). The punishment can be a minimum of 3 to 5 years in prison and a fine. If the threat clearly contains sexual intent, it is considered more serious. Since Nishu belongs to the Dalit community, if the threat involves caste-based insults or hatred, sections of the SC/ST Act can also be invoked. This Act provides additional protection and speedy trial for such crimes. Action can also be taken for rape threats made on social media. The victim or their guardian can file a written complaint at the police station. Delhi Police should immediately register an FIR. POCSO cases require timely investigation and trial in a child-friendly court. Screenshots, videos, messages, and witness statements are important as evidence. Geetha Sunil Pillai Courtesy: Hindi News
A deadly attack on a couple in Kurara: Violent men dragged the husband and allegedly assaulted the woman; police investigating.
A Dalit family has been fatally attacked in Umraht village, under the Kurara police station area of Hamirpur. It is alleged that the violators entered the home, attacked the couple, and mistreated the woman. The woman’s husband was seriously injured in the incident. The victim has appealed to the Hamirpur Superintendent of Police for justice and protection. In a complaint letter to the Superintendent of Police, the victim, Keshkali, wife of Santram, stated that the incident occurred at around 12:15 a.m. on June 28, 2026. Keshkali was sleeping with her family in the veranda of their home when some villagers entered their home armed with sticks and illegal firearms. It is alleged that the attackers abused and attacked the couple. They brutally beat Keshkali’s husband, Santram, and dragged him about 100 feet from their home to Ramu’s house. Santram was also severely assaulted there, leaving him bleeding and seriously injured. The victim also accused the main accused of assault, snatching, and molestation. The complaint also states that the main accused is a criminal. A case against him under Section 376 (rape) of the Indian Penal Code is already pending in court at the Kurara police station. The victims filed a written complaint at the Kurara police station on the night of the incident. Subsequently, the police arranged for their medical examinations at the Primary Health Center (PHC) Kurara. However, the victims allege that instead of taking strict action against the accused, the police charged both parties under sections of “disturbing the peace.” In a letter submitted to the Superintendent of Police, the victim stated that the police’s lax action has emboldened the perpetrators. The victim and her entire family face a serious threat to their lives and property. She has urged the Hamirpur Superintendent of Police to intervene in the matter and take strict legal action against all the accused. Dinesh Kumar | Patara, Hamirpur Courtesy: Hindi News