A 65-year-old Dalit woman was left running around for eight months, and the Orissa High Court sharply reprimanded the police for claiming a “lost file.”
The Orissa High Court took a strong stance on the eight-month delay in filing an FIR against an elderly Dalit woman who was defrauded of ₹2.10 lakh in a land deal, completely rejecting the police’s excuse of “lost file.” New Delhi: A 65-year-old Dalit woman, who was defrauded of ₹2.10 lakh in a land deal, had to approach the Orissa High Court for justice. Despite a magistrate’s clear instructions, the police did not file an FIR in the fraud case for more than eight months. The High Court has issued a stern remark, criticizing the police for this significant delay. The court clarified that arguments such as “lost file” or “unavailability of court orders” can no longer be routine excuses to undermine the judicial process. In her June 12 order, Justice Savitri Ratho expressed deep concern over the local police’s attitude towards court orders. While hearing the case, he stated that it is possible for files to go missing, but unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident. The judge explained that he has encountered numerous cases where local police do not comply with the orders of the family court or magistrate. Despite repeated reminders and extensions, police officers remain unmoved. The timeline for this case is astonishing. The magistrate had clearly ordered the registration of an FIR in the case on August 6, 2025. However, the case was registered at the Ranpur police station eight months later, on April 24. The court noted that in such cases, the police often make the same common excuse: that the court order or warrant was lost, or that the officer concerned had recently joined duty. The court found this explanation completely unacceptable. The court argued that every police station maintains separate registers to record orders and letters received from various courts and officials, making the claim of a missing file meaningless. In light of these negligences, the Orissa High Court has urged the state’s Director General of Police (DGP) to issue necessary guidelines to his officers to ensure respect for judicial orders and their prompt implementation. The root of this entire dispute stems from a fraud that occurred in May 2025. The 65-year-old petitioner, belonging to the Scheduled Caste community, was duped into selling her land by the accused. Under the pretense of registering a sale deed with the sub-registrar, the accused extorted a hefty sum of ₹2.10 lakh from the elderly woman. However, they never executed the sale deed nor returned her money despite repeated requests. Fighting for her rights, the victim first approached the lower court, which took the matter seriously, registered an FIR, and ordered an investigation. When the police refused to listen to her complaint and took no action, she was forced to seek recourse to the High Court through advocate Umakant Sahu. On the other hand, representing the state government, Additional Standing Counsel Saroj Kumar Rout informed the court that an FIR has now been registered in the matter and Sub-Inspector Hasina Pradhan is investigating it. Despite this, the Orissa High Court continued to strongly criticize the eight-month delay in complying with the magistrate’s order and the irresponsible explanation given by the police. Rajan Chaudhary Courtesy: Hindi News
“My son’s killers will be destroyed”: Dalit youth killed in police custody cremated after 101 days
Following strict instructions from the Madras High Court, the funeral of a 26-year-old Dalit youth, a victim of police torture in Tamil Nadu, took place after 101 days. Family members wept inconsolably as they pleaded for justice. A 26-year-old Dalit youth, who died due to alleged police torture in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, was cremated on Wednesday after 101 days. Following strict instructions from the Madras High Court, the youth’s funeral took place at an electric crematorium in Madurai amid tight security. This entire incident raises serious questions about police accountability and human rights violations. The youth’s name was Akash. Following his death, the family refused to accept his body for more than three months. The family demanded the immediate arrest of all police officers involved in the alleged custodial murder. However, after court intervention, the funeral was finally completed amid protests and deep grief from the family. Aakash, a resident of Manamadurai in Sivaganga district, was arrested by local police on March 6 in connection with an assault case. Police claimed that Akash fractured his leg while trying to escape. On the other hand, Akash filed a statement before a judicial magistrate stating that the policemen brutally beat him and broke his leg. He subsequently succumbed to his injuries on March 8 while undergoing treatment at the Government Rajaji Hospital in Madurai. The post-mortem report released after Akash’s death shocked everyone, revealing approximately 28 injury marks on his body. This revelation sparked massive protests from Scheduled Caste welfare organizations and family members. Given the gravity of the case, the investigation was handed over to the CBI on March 9, and six police officers, including an inspector and a sub-inspector, were suspended. Taking suo motu cognizance of the matter, the Madras High Court on March 13 directed the CB-CID to register a case against the accused officers under murder and relevant sections of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Subsequently, the CB-CID interrogated 11 police officers, including Manamadurai DSP Raja and several other inspectors. Meanwhile, the victim’s father, Rajesh Kannan, approached the High Court, demanding compensation of ₹50 lakh and the arrest of 16 police officers involved in the incident. The family continued to protest near the old bus stand in Manamadurai to press for their demands. To end the dispute, the High Court ordered on June 15 that if the family did not accept the body by 5 pm that evening, the local administration would proceed with the funeral in a dignified manner. Following the family’s refusal to accept the body, the court assigned the responsibility of conducting the funeral to the Madurai District Collector, Corporation Commissioner, and hospital officials. When police and administrative officials arrived at the hospital mortuary on Wednesday morning to take the body, the family staged a fierce protest. Law enforcement officers briefly detained the protesting relatives in a police vehicle and then brought them to the crematorium to witness the final rites. The atmosphere at the crematorium became extremely somber when Akash’s mother burst into tears. She threw a handful of dirt at the policemen and cursed that those responsible for her son’s death would one day be completely destroyed. Rajan Chaudhary Courtesy: Hindi News
Andhra Pradesh Home Minister responds to the “kilograms of makeup” remark, saying she was targeted for being a woman and a Dalit.
Vangalapudi Anitha Makeup Row: Andhra Pradesh Home Minister Anitha has broken her silence and issued a strong response to the comments made against her. She said that the comments were not only offensive but also a caste-based attack because she was a Dalit and a woman. Anitha is considered a confidante of Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu. Andhra Pradesh Home Minister responds to the “kilograms of makeup” remark. Amaravati: Vangalapudi Anitha, who holds the responsibility of Home Minister in Chandrababu Naidu’s government in Andhra Pradesh, has responded to the “kilograms of makeup” remark. Andhra Home Minister Anitha said that she was targeted for being a woman and a Dalit. Gudivada Amarnath, a leader of the Jagan Mohan Reddy-led YSRCP party in Andhra Pradesh, had made the offensive remark. Amarnath had said that Home Minister Anitha wears kilograms of makeup. I was attacked in a casteist manner… A controversy has erupted in Andhra Pradesh after a Jagan Mohan Reddy party leader’s “kilograms of makeup” comment. The Deputy Chief Minister and the YSRCP have condemned the remark. Speaking at a public meeting on Wednesday, Amarnath reportedly claimed that TDP leader Anitha wears kilograms of makeup. Speaking to NDTV, Home Minister Anitha described the remark as more than just a personal insult, saying that what the YSRCP leader said about me on camera, at a public meeting, was not just an insult. It was a vile, casteist attack aimed at demeaning a woman and a Dalit woman holding a constitutional position. Home Minister Anitha demanded an apology. The remark has also drawn strong reactions from TDP leaders, who have criticized the YSRCP leader’s misogynistic and derogatory remarks. TDP leader Nara Lokesh also condemned the remark and accused the YSRCP of promoting a toxic political culture. He said that the shameful and anti-women comments against Vangalapudi Anitha Garu expose the true character of the YSRCP. Home Minister Anitha has been quoted as saying that targeting a woman and a Dalit leader is unacceptable and demanded an apology from the YSRCP. Comments on a woman’s appearance are an insult In response to this incident, TDP women leaders protested and pelted the Gudivada Amarnath flex banner with eggs and slippers, demanding an apology for the alleged remarks. Deputy Chief Minister and Janasena chief Pawan Kalyan also criticized the incident. He said that the comments made against Home Minister Anitha were objectionable. Commenting on a woman’s attire and appearance is an insult to every ordinary woman. Meanwhile, YSRCP leaders have rejected the allegations and accused the government of diverting public attention from law and order issues. Curated by: Achalendra Katiyar About the Author Achalendra Kumar Katiyar covers the events in western states for Navbharat Times Online based in Gujarat. He has over 17 years of experience in print, digital, and electronic media, as well as teaching. During this time, he has worked as a reporter and editor in states such as Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, and Haryana. Courtesy: Hindi News
UP: Encounter with two accused of gang-raping a Dalit woman; police shot one in the leg, arrested both.
Police in Muzaffarnagar, UP, have taken major action and shot the accused in the leg of a gang-rape victim. Police have arrested two accused in this case. Muzaffarnagar: Police in Muzaffarnagar, UP, engaged in an encounter with the accused of gang-raping a Dalit woman. During this encounter, police shot one accused in the leg and arrested both. What is the whole matter? A joint team of Charthawal police station and the Special Operations Group (SOG) arrested two notorious criminals wanted in the gang-rape case of a Dalit woman after an encounter on Tuesday, June 16, 2026. One accused was injured in the police retaliation. Two illegal pistols, four live and one empty 315-bore cartridge were recovered from the arrested accused. It should be noted that on June 13th, in the Charthaval police station area of Muzaffarnagar, the plaintiff filed a complaint at the Charthaval police station, stating that the accused, Umar, son of As Mohammad, a resident of Dadhedu Khurd, along with his associates, drugged his daughter, rendering her unconscious. They then took her to the forest on a motorcycle and gang-raped her. Based on the victim’s complaint, the police registered a case and began searching for the accused. Under the direction of Senior Superintendent of Police Sanjay Kumar Verma, teams were formed under the supervision of Superintendent of Police City Amrit Jain and the leadership of Circle Officer Sadar Vinay Kumar Dwivedi. On June 16th, a team led by Station House Officer Satyanarayan Dahiya and Special Operations Group (SOG) in-charge Mohit was on patrol. Two suspects were spotted standing on the road leading to Dadhedu Khurd near the Dadhedu Bridge. Upon seeing the police, they opened fire and fled onto a dirt road. The police team surrounded them and warned them to surrender. The accused opened fire again. In retaliation, police fired controlled fire, in which Umar alias Salim, son of Aas Mohammad, age 25, was shot in the left leg. He was arrested while injured. The second accused, Maulana Abdullah, son of Matloob, resident of Bagowali, age 22, was apprehended during the combing operation. The injured Umar has been admitted to the hospital. A case has been registered against both accused. Umar already has a rape case registered against him. Police are taking further legal action in the matter. A statement from Senior Superintendent of Police, Muzaffarnagar, Sanjay Kumar Verma has also been released. Written By: Rituraj Tripathi (Report by Yogesh Tyagi) Courtesy: Hindi News
Telangana man booked for sexually exploiting Dalit domestic help
The elders offered her monetary compensation to “settle the matter” and “not approach the police. Hyderabad: A young man has been booked under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act for allegedly sexually exploiting a 20-year-old Dalit woman who worked as a domestic help in his house in Kosgi town of Narayanpet district, Telangana. The incident came to light when the accused, Sai Kiran, refused to marry her after she told him she was three months pregnant with her child and called her casteist names. The matter soon reached both families. The victim and her father reached out to the village elders. There, she stated that Sai Kiran allegedly promised to marry her. When she came to know about her pregnancy, she proposed marriage to him, which Kiran vehemently refused. Instead, the elders offered her monetary compensation to “settle the matter” and “not approach the police. The victim lodged a complaint with the Narayanpet Police and on Sunday night (June 14), Sai Kiran was booked. The woman has been sent for a medical examination. Sair Kiran’s family has a gold trade business. Courtesy : TSD Note: This news is originally published on https:/thesiasatdaily.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Shivani, killed by her father at a police station for marrying a Dalit man
Controversy and outrage mount across the country over the latest femicide committed within the family. Fuelling the controversy is the fact that it occurred under the eyes of police officers who were supposed to protect the victim. Activists blame the killing on a mix of patriarchy, caste, and failure to enforce the law in Uttar Pradesh. Delhi – Patriarchy, the (sick) logic of caste, and a systematic failure to enforce the law and human rights in the heart of India are the main ingredients in the tragic and brutal death of Shivani Chauhan, a 19-year-old woman, killed by her own father inside a police station (pictured, police source). This is the latest episode of violence against a young woman in Uttar Pradesh, a state ruled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), where minority and marginalised communities remain vulnerable even when they are supposed to be under state protection. The tragic murder of Shivani Chauhan – stabbed to death by her father, Satya Kumar Chauhan, while her mother held her down, at the Badausa police station in Banda District – highlights the persistent threat of honour killings. Such a practice is still widespread in the country, but this time, what shocked public opinion is the location where it occurred: inside a government facility, where the victim should have been under government protection, not in danger and defenceless. The young woman belonged to an Other Backward Class (OBC) community and had freely chosen to marry her neighbour, 20-year-old Lalit Verma, even without her parents’ approval. Since Verma was a Dalit, the marriage crossed rigid socio-religious caste boundaries, sparking strong opposition from the young woman’s family. Following the couple’s escape to Madhya Pradesh, Shivani’s family filed a kidnapping complaint against Verma. Uttar Pradesh police then tracked down the couple and took them to the Badausa police station for legal statements and a mandatory medical examination. During a formal counselling session at the police station, Shivani repeatedly maintained her initial position, declaring that she had married voluntarily and would remain with her husband. As tensions reached a fever pitch, Shivani’s mother, Ranno, reportedly pinned her arms from behind while her father, Satya Kumar Chauhan, 55, stabbed her with a knife he had hidden under his clothes. As a result of the attack, Shivani suffered multiple severe stab wounds to her abdomen and upper limbs and died hours later from her injuries as doctors at Banda Medical College desperately tried to save her life. The incident highlights the limitations of the state’s “counselling” system for cross-caste couples. Instead of prioritising physical safety, police routinely engage families to mediate, exposing vulnerable people to hostile environments and family contexts. The state’s failure to ensure a safe environment on the premises of a police station triggered widespread condemnation from the Indian public. Although her father has been arrested and faces charges of murder under Section 103 of the Indian Justice Code (BNS),[*] institutional responsibility remains unaddressed and a source of debate. Shivani Chauhan’s death, finally, highlights the reality that adult franchise and legal registration do not guarantee the safety of inter-caste couples. When the state fails to ensure security even in its own police stations, activist groups argue, the promise of constitutional freedom remains out of reach for vulnerable citizens. By Nirmala Carvalho Courtesy : Asia News Note: This news is originally published on https:/asianews.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Dalit vegetable vendor assaulted for demanding repayment of a loan: Three accused booked under SC-ST Act in Greater Noida
A Dalit vegetable vendor has been assaulted and subjected to casteist remarks in the Rabupura police station area of Greater Noida for demanding repayment of a loan of 150 rupees. Police have registered a case against three accused, including a woman, and have begun an investigation. According to police, Jawahar, a resident of Bhekanpur village, travels from village to village selling vegetables. On Tuesday, he went to Bhoira village to sell vegetables. He then asked Om Prakash, a resident of the village, for repayment of an old loan of 150 rupees. Om Prakash became angry at the demand and began abusing Jawahar. The victim alleges that the accused insulted him using casteist slurs. When he protested, Om Prakash called his family members, Maya and Meghraj. The three attacked Jawahar with sticks, leaving him seriously injured. Bystanders intervened and rescued him. It is alleged that while leaving, the accused also threatened to kill the victim if he returned to the village. The injured Jawahar has been admitted to the hospital for treatment, where he is undergoing treatment. On Tuesday, based on the victim’s complaint, Rabupura police registered a case against Omprakash, Maya, and Meghraj under relevant sections and the SC/ST Act. Police say the matter is being investigated and further action will be taken based on the investigation. Courtesy: Hindi News
RTIH inks pact with Dalit Philanthropy Foundation to empower women entrepreneurs
Ratan Tata Innovation Hub (RTIH), Vijayawada, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Dalit Philanthropy Foundation (DPF) at the NTR District Collectorate on Tuesday. According to a press release, the partnership aims to promote women entrepreneurship, inclusive innovation, livelihood development, and social enterprises, with a special focus on empowering marginalised and underserved communities. Through this collaboration, both organisations will work together to strengthen entrepreneurial ecosystems, facilitate capacity-building initiatives, provide mentorship opportunities, and support sustainable livelihood interventions. Dalit Philanthropy Foundation executive director Santosh Kumar Samal and Ratan Tata Innovation Hub CEO G. Krishnan exchanged the MoU. Speaking on the occasion, the representatives of both organisations emphasised the importance of collaborative efforts in creating equitable opportunities for aspiring entrepreneurs and fostering inclusive economic growth. The Hindu Bureau Courtesy : The Hindu Note: This news is originally published on https:/thehindu.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Anti-Conversion Laws in India: Not Only Anti-Minority but Also Anti-Dalit in Annihilate Caste
Anti-conversion laws, formally known as Freedom of Religion Acts, have been enacted in approximately twelve Indian states. These laws seek to regulate religious conversions by prohibiting those induced through force, fraud, or allurement. They typically mandate prior intimation to district authorities and prescribe penalties, often with enhanced punishments when the convert belongs to vulnerable groups such as women, minors, Dalits (Scheduled Castes), or Adivasis (Scheduled Tribes). While proponents present these statutes as protective measures safeguarding cultural identity and vulnerable populations from coercive missionary activities, critics contend that they curtail individual freedom, enable selective enforcement, and disproportionately harm Dalits seeking dignity and escape from caste oppression. The stated rationale behind these laws is rooted in concerns over demographic shifts and exploitation of the socio-economically disadvantaged. Advocates, often aligned with Hindu nationalist perspectives, argue that conversions—particularly to Christianity or Islam—frequently involve material inducements, social services, or “love jihad,” targeting lower castes and tribals who are portrayed as especially susceptible. By imposing stricter penalties for conversions involving Dalits, the laws ostensibly shield them from manipulation. However, this framing reveals a paternalistic undertone: it assumes Dalits lack the agency to make informed religious choices, thereby infantilizing a community that has long fought for equality. The impact on Dalits is particularly profound and multifaceted. Historically, conversion has served as a powerful tool for social mobility and resistance against caste discrimination. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s landmark 1956 mass conversion to Buddhism exemplified this quest for dignity free from the hierarchies of Hinduism. Similar patterns exist among those embracing Christianity or Islam in pursuit of equality. Anti-conversion laws erect administrative barriers, invite police scrutiny, and foster fear of prosecution, effectively deterring voluntary exits from the Hindu fold. This restricts a vital avenue for asserting personal autonomy in the face of persistent untouchability and social exclusion. A more glaring inequity arises from the linkage between religious identity and affirmative action benefits. Under the 1950 Presidential Order (and subsequent amendments), Scheduled Caste reservations, protections under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, and related safeguards are largely confined to Hindu, Sikh, and Buddhist Dalits. Conversion to Christianity or Islam typically results in the loss of these benefits, despite evidence that caste-based discrimination often continues irrespective of faith. Dalit Christians and Muslims have long argued that this framework is discriminatory, as it ties constitutional protections to religious affiliation rather than lived social reality. Supreme Court rulings have largely upheld this distinction, treating caste as intrinsic to Hinduism for reservation purposes while adopting a more ethno-cultural approach for Scheduled Tribes. Consequently, anti-conversion laws compound this disadvantage by raising the cost of leaving Hinduism, sometimes compelling individuals to re-convert or conceal their faith to retain reservations. Enforcement patterns further underscore the laws’ adverse effects on Dalit communities. Reports frequently document arrests of pastors, missionaries, and community workers engaged in charitable activities—schools, health services, or prayer meetings—in Dalit-majority areas, often triggered by third-party complaints from Hindutva groups rather than the alleged victims themselves. Vague provisions such as “allurement” (which may encompass education or humanitarian aid) lend themselves to misuse, chilling social service initiatives and heightening vulnerability. While the laws claim to protect Dalits, they simultaneously limit access to services that could empower them and penalize those facilitating spiritual choices. This is not to suggest the laws are exclusively anti-Dalit. They are primarily deployed against conversions to minority faiths, notably Christianity and Islam, and have featured prominently in cases involving interfaith marriages or alleged demographic engineering. Claims of widespread forced conversions remain contested, with empirical data often showing limited scale relative to natural population growth. Mass Buddhist conversions by Dalits, notably, frequently preserve eligibility for benefits, highlighting inconsistencies in application. Moreover, general criminal laws under the Indian Penal Code already address coercion, cheating, and fraud, raising questions about the necessity of religion-specific statutes that risk majoritarian overreach. From a broader perspective, these laws intersect uneasily with Article 25 of the Indian Constitution, which guarantees freedom of conscience and the right to profess, practice, and propagate religion, subject to reasonable restrictions. The tension between protecting vulnerable groups and upholding individual liberty remains unresolved. Caste, as a deeply entrenched social reality, does not vanish upon conversion, yet Indian law treats it inconsistently across religions. This creates a contradictory framework: one that claims to safeguard Dalits while constraining their religious choices and material opportunities. In conclusion, anti-conversion laws are not merely instruments targeting religious minorities; they also function as barriers to Dalit emancipation. By restricting exit options from caste-laden Hinduism, paternalistically curtailing agency, and linking affirmative action to religious fidelity, they undermine the very dignity and equality Dalits have historically sought through conversion. Genuine protection against coercion can and should be achieved through neutral criminal laws applicable equally to all, without selective burdens on propagation rights. Reforming these statutes—through clearer definitions, uniform application, and decoupling reservations from religion—would better align with constitutional values of liberty, equality, and fraternity. Ultimately, a society committed to truth and human flourishing must prioritize individual agency over majoritarian control, empowering every citizen, including Dalits, to choose their beliefs free from both coercion and state-imposed obstacles. By SR Darapuri, I.P.S.(Retd), National President, All India Peoples Front Courtesy : Counter Currents Note: This news is originally published on https:/countercurrents.org/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Bihar: 40-year-old homes in danger! Victims demolish families’ huts; victims approach police after assault
Nearly 50 Dalit families in Nauachak village, under the Barh police station area of Patna, have accused locals of demolishing their homes, assaulting them, and harassing them. The families, who have been living on government land for 40 years, have demanded protection, rehabilitation, and action against the culprits from the police. A case of harassment of Dalit families has emerged from Nauachak village, under the Ibrahimpur Panchayat area of Patna district’s Barh police station. Nearly 50 Dalit families, who have been living on government land for nearly four decades, have accused local locals of assaulting them, demolishing their homes, and continuously harassing them. The victims have demanded protection and action against the culprits from the police. The affected families say they have been living in huts on government land for years. Recently, some people damaged their homes and assaulted them when they protested. Following the incident, a large number of people reached the Barh police station demanding justice. They built their homes on government land. According to information, these families originally hail from the Diara region. Over time, displacement and land scarcity forced them to settle in the Nauachak area. Lacking private land, they built their homes on government land and have lived there for the past 40 years. However, the owners of the surrounding agricultural land have opposed these families’ residence there, leading to a long-standing dispute. Allegations of Home Demolition and Intimidation The victims allege that they are periodically pressured to remove them from the area. Their homes were damaged several times, and they were beaten up for protesting. They say that this time too, their huts were demolished, creating a housing crisis for many families. Waiting for Land Allotment for Years Local resident Dharamveer Manjhi said that administrative officials had previously assured them of government land, but no permanent arrangement has been made. They said they were not provided with land to live in, nor were they provided with basic amenities like electricity and water. Allegations of obstruction in filling soil Victim Tilka Devi stated that whenever she attempts to level the land by filling soil at her residence, some people remove the soil and take it away. She alleged that her house was demolished several times and she was beaten up when she protested. At present, the affected families have demanded security, permanent rehabilitation, and a fair investigation from the administration. The police have begun investigating the entire matter. Courtesy: Hindi News