Dalit Woman Raped and Murdered in UP; Body Found Hanging from Tree; Akhilesh Yadav Slams Yogi Government, Calls Claims of Women’s Safety ‘Hollow’
Lucknow: Samajwadi Party (SP) President Akhilesh Yadav on Monday targeted the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Uttar Pradesh over the incident involving the rape and subsequent murder of a young woman from the Dalit community in Pratapgarh. Speaking on the social media platform ‘X’, Yadav stated that the news of the heinous murder of a Dalit woman in Pratapgarh is deeply distressing and condemnable. ‘The “Wandering Honorable” Should Cast a Glance at the Plight of UP’s Daughters’ Linking the incident to the PDA (Pichhde—Backward Classes, Dalit, and Alpsankhyak—Minorities) demographic, he asked, “The question is: why does the series of murders of PDA women continue unabated in Uttar Pradesh? Are the BJP government’s claims regarding women’s safety merely hollow rhetoric, or is there discrimination even in the provision of women’s safety?” Taking an indirect dig at Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath—who has been actively campaigning for the West Bengal Assembly elections—Yadav remarked, “Once the ‘Wandering Honorable’ finds a moment of respite from election campaigning, he should cast a glance at the plight of the daughters of his own Uttar Pradesh. Although, apart from injustice and atrocities, no sister, daughter, or mother in the state expects anything else from him.” **Details: What is the Full Case?** A case involving the rape and subsequent murder of a young Dalit woman has come to light in the Manikpur area of Pratapgarh. Additional Superintendent of Police (West), Brijnandan Rai, stated in a press release that the police have detained a juvenile offender in connection with the murder of a young woman in Kakraha Miria village, located within the jurisdiction of the Manikpur police station in Pratapgarh. He informed that on Sunday, April 26, a resident of Manikpur reported to the police that his 19-year-old sister was sleeping on the veranda of their home when an unidentified person murdered her and hung her body from a tree. Rai added that, acting on this information, a case was immediately registered at the police station. The subsequent post-mortem examination of the body revealed that the young woman had been raped and subsequently strangled to death. He stated that the investigation into the case revealed that the girl used her father’s mobile phone and was involved in a romantic relationship with a minor boy who was her own relative. The Additional Superintendent of Police further informed that the inquiry established that, on the night of the incident, the girl had gone to the orchard, where the minor boy and his friends perpetrated the rape and murder. He added that the minor boy accused of the crime has been taken into custody, and the remaining accused individuals will also be arrested shortly. Edited By Purnima Singh, Courtesy: Hindi News
Bengal Elections 2026: Why Political Parties are Averse to the Dalit Question
There is a broad consensus among the Bengali upper caste bhadraloks of the Left, Right and Centre that Dalit aspirations and autonomous Dalit politics should not re-emerge. Bengal’s dominant political and cultural discourse often disassociate themselves from Dalit history and anti-caste assertions. The hegemonic common sense prevalent in the state has been, Bengal is a “casteless society”. Such a narrative is rooted in denial of social recognition of Tapashilis, who are categorised as Scheduled Caste (SC) and their historically transformative anti-caste politics in undivided Bengal. Even the social justice icon Dr B R Ambedkar is not celebrated in the state beyond the few assertive independent Dalit groups while he is duly acknowledged with remarkable state honours in rest of the country. If selective amnesia had not engulfed the Bengali upper caste “bhadraloks” at large, it wouldn’t be tough to remember Ambedkar’s long association with Bengal. It was his All India Scheduled Castes Federation (AISCF), whose Bengal branch was headed by Jogendranath Mandal, a prominent leader from SC community in 20th century Bengal. The association of Mandal with Ambedkar grew so unwaveringly loyal that, in 1946, Ambedkar turned to Bengal to be elected to the Constituent Assembly of India. Mandal and six other Dalit MLAs of the Bengal legislative assembly secured the seat for him. Ambedkar later went on to be the chairman of Constitution Drafting Committee. The glorious role of Bengal and its autonomous Dalit leadership in sending the main architect of Indian Constitution to the Constituent Assembly is today grossly erased institutionally. The caste question and Ambedkarite politics too, despite its powerful legacy in Bengal, is relegated to the background through coercion and social misrecognition. Bengal has sixty constitutionally recognised scheduled caste communities, which is 23.51% of state’s total population according to the 2011 Census. Bengal comes second after Punjab among Indian States in size of Dalit population. And yet, the question of Dalit political aspirations and substantive caste representation doesn’t find any resonance in the Bengal assembly elections. At the same time, the Dalit factor is one of the driving factors in every Punjab assembly elections Interestingly, 19th and early 20th century’s popular historiography of Bengal was largely shaped by majoritarian Hindu upper caste supremacism camouflaged as nationalist movement and deeply influenced by ‘’practicing Hindu rituals and glorification of Hindu kings’’. Sumanta Banerjee in his book ‘Unravelling the Bengali Identity’ writes, how the Bengali upper caste hindu intellectuals of the 19th century tended to put emphasis on the Brahminical, Sanskrit oriented elements in that culture, while the same century had contemporaneously witnessed Dalits’ progressive assertions against upper caste Bengali bhadraloks’ caste supremacism. Dalit assertions in Bengal From early 19th century onwards, a host of Dalit social reformers started challenging the blatant casteism of Brahminical Bengali bhadraloks. In fact, the absence of Dalit sensibilities in Bengali nationalists’ anti colonial struggle had been looked at with suspicion by Dalit political leadership. Harichand Thakur (1812-1878), Benimadhab Halder (1858-1923), Panchanan Barma (1866-1935), Raicharan Sardar (1876-1942), Mahendranath Karan (1886-1928), Guruchand Thakur (1846-1937), Anukul Chandra Das Naskar (1894-1947), Basanta Kumar Das (1898-1984), Rajendranath Sarkar (1903-1979) are some of anti-caste stalwarts being pushed out of the mainstream by the Bengali upper caste historiographers. The hostility of Bengali upper caste bhadralok intellectuals towards the Dalit reformist movement against casteism is a well calculated move to sustain the former’s complete social and political dominance in post-colonial Bengal. The Hindu Mahasabha, Communists and Congress in undivided Bengal were deeply antagonistic towards autonomous Dalit politics. The political parties in post-colonial Bengal has also retained the narrative of Bengali exceptionalism entrenched in castelessness that depoliticised Dalit social and political aspirations in contemporary Bengal. It is a well concerted effort of the upper-caste political class of Bengal to sustain complete political dominance of Brahmins, Baidyas and Kayastha bhadraloks. The possibilities of Ambedkarite Dalit autonomous politics once launched by Jogendranath Mandal remains a perpetual threat to the Right, Left and Centrist political forces. Therefore, radical Dalit political consciousness observed in Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and some pockets of Southern India are consciously suppressed in the mainstream Bengali polity, society and academia. Bengal: A caste conscious society A Pratichi India Trust report of 2005 studied ‘’Cooked Mid-day Meal Programme in West Bengal – A study in Birbhum district’’ found out explosive caste bias among the Caste Hindu Savarna Parents and their children’s attitudes towards marginalised caste students and Dalit mid-day meal cooks. The study has shown how Dalit and Adivasi students benefited immensely from mid-day meal scheme but the upper-caste students disliked the scheme while their parents had reservations about Dalit cooks cooking the mid day meal. In fact. the practicing of endogamy is also high in West Bengal, with inter-caste marriages being very low in the state, a fact that doesn’t sit well with its progressive claims. A mere 9.5% of the marriages happening in the state are inter-caste. The social backwardness of Bengali Dalit communities due to upper-castes’ hegemony is so stark that the state has never thought of implementing Scheduled caste special component plan like other states such as Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Karnataka. It is only recently, that the the huge deletion of Dalit voters in Bengal through the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise the of Election Commission of India (ECI) prompted the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) top leadership of prime minister Narendra Modi and home minister Amit Shah to pacify them with the promise of citizenship and restoring their names once they come to power in the state. The Trinamool Congress (TMC) has since last few years started the corporate style ‘Tapashilir Sanglap’(interaction with the Scheduled Castes) outreach campaign during election season, which is purely an electoral connect programme with Dalits. Even though the BJP is very careful this time in addressing the Scheduled Castes of Bengal, they are trying to broadly mobilise the Hindu vote bank cutting across the castes. The communal campaign around ‘ghuspaithiye’ (infiltrators) is very willfully advanced by the BJP to mobilise and appropriate Dalits so that independent Dalit political agency never grows in
MP: Social Boycott and ₹11,000 Fine Imposed After Dalit Groom Enters Temple
A decree was issued during a village *panchayat* (council meeting) stating that if any farmer or laborer in the village were to employ any member of this Dalit family, that individual would face a financial penalty of ₹11,000. In Padlya Gawli village of Madhya Pradesh’s Khargone district, the village *panchayat* decreed a social boycott against a Dalit family after a young Dalit man entered the local temple. Consequently, all social ties with the family were severed, and a ban was imposed on selling them goods at village shops, dairies, and ration outlets. According to a report by *The Mooknayak*, Nirmal Kanade (belonging to the Balai caste), a resident of the village, got married on April 20. The groom recounted that after the wedding, when the newlyweds went to the Hanuman temple to offer prayers, they were denied entry as the doors were shut. It is alleged that the groom was barred from entering the temple solely because he was a Dalit. The temple doors were even padlocked, subjecting the newlywed couple to humiliation. They were instructed to offer their prayers from outside the temple premises. However, the groom was eventually granted entry into the temple later, under police supervision. Subsequently, the situation escalated further. It is alleged that certain villagers convened a *panchayat* with the specific intent of “teaching the Dalit family a lesson.” During this *panchayat*, held on April 24, the following resolutions were passed: A decision was taken to cut off the Dalit family’s “Hukka-Pani” (social interaction/access to basic necessities)—meaning no one was permitted to touch their water or maintain any social relations with them. An announcement was made throughout the village via public proclamation (*dhindhora*) stating that no shopkeeper was to sell rations, milk, or any other goods to this family. Anyone found violating this order would also face a social boycott. If any farmer or laborer in the village were to employ members of this Dalit family for work (daily wage labor), that individual would be subject to a financial penalty of ₹11,000. The silence maintained by the Khargone district administration and police regarding this entire episode has raised serious questions. Activists and supporters of the Bhim Army have strongly criticized this caste-based decision on social media. They have stated that they will soon visit the village to hold a meeting with the locals and, while protesting against this decision, will raise their voices against those responsible. Condemning this incident in the strongest terms, Bhim Army leader Sunil Astey posed a question to Chief Minister Mohan Yadav. He asked whether, under his administration, depriving Dalits of basic amenities—such as temple entry, water, and rations—is what is to be considered “law and order.” Or will the government continue to disregard the sanctity of the Indian Constitution in this manner, bowing to the pressure of a “Manuvadi” (casteist) mindset? It is noteworthy that incidents involving caste-based discrimination and humiliation against Dalit grooms are frequently coming to light in Madhya Pradesh. In many instances, young men are targeted simply because they wish to take out their wedding processions (barats) while riding a mare—a traditional custom. Sunil Astey alleges that the administration’s response is often lax, which emboldens the perpetrators. He warned that if strict action is not taken against the culprits—specifically under the SC/ST Act and the NSA—the Azad Samaj Party and the Bhim Army will launch a large-scale agitation. It is worth noting that similar incidents have surfaced in the past, involving disputes over the entry of Dalits into temples. Earlier this year, in February, a man was arrested in a village in Karnataka’s Tumakuru district on charges of forcibly evicting a newlywed Dalit couple from a temple. The police confirmed this information to the media. According to a report by the *Hindustan Times*, the incident took place at the Arasamma Temple in Goni Tumakuru village, located in the Turuvekere taluk—the home district of the state’s Home Minister, G. Parameshwara. The couple, identified as Pankaja and Puneeth, had visited the temple after their wedding to seek blessings when they were confronted by a man named Narayanappa. According to the police, Narayanappa allegedly feigned being possessed by the deity and began shouting at the couple, thereby preventing them from entering the temple. In a video of the incident, he can allegedly be heard saying, “Dalits cannot enter the temple. Go worship somewhere else. Leave this place immediately.” Officials stated that the newlywed couple subsequently went to the police station on their own. A senior police officer remarked, “Pankaja’s younger brother, Jagdish, filed a complaint at the Turuvekere police station. Based on the complaint, the police registered a case under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and arrested Narayanappa.” Meanwhile, a controversy erupted in Somayajulapalli village—located in the Orvakal Mandal of Kurnool district, Andhra Pradesh—after a Dalit woman was allegedly denied entry into the Sunkulamma temple. In this instance, a complaint was lodged with the police under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. According to the complaint, Malathi—a government employee belonging to the Mala community—had visited the temple to offer prayers. It is alleged that a priest named Janardhan prevented her from entering the temple premises. The woman stated that the priest told her she had certain “boundaries” and could not be granted entry. During this exchange, the priest’s son, Vamsi, also allegedly sided with him. Malati stated that when she asked for the reason, the priest told her that she could complain to anyone she pleased, but she would not be granted entry into the temple. This incident sparked an altercation within the temple premises, creating an atmosphere of tension in the village. Ultimately, Malati lodged a complaint at the Orvakal Police Station and demanded action under the SC/ST Act. Speaking to the media, she remarked that facing caste-based discrimination in this day and age is deeply distressing. She asserted, “Everyone is equal before God. Denying entry to a temple on the basis of caste is absolutely wrong.” Courtesy :
High command to decide on leadership change or cabinet reshuffle, says Parameshwara
Speaking at a press conference here, G. Parameshwara said the Congress high command is aware of all developments and will take a decision shortly, which everyone will abide by. KALABURAGI: Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwaraon Tuesday said the Congress high command will soon take a decision on whether there will be a change of guard in the State or a cabinet reshuffle. Speaking at a press conference here, G. Parameshwara said the Congress high command is aware of all developments and will take a decision shortly, which everyone will abide by. Replying to a question on the frequent visits to New Delhi by groups aligned with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar to meet the party high command, Parameshwara said ministers visit the national capital to hold discussions with Union ministers and senior officials of various departments regarding development works and to seek funds for their respective departments. He added that it is natural for them to meet the party high command during such visits, as Congress leaders treat the high command as their temple. “Whenever they meet the party high command, they will discuss several things, including politics. What is special in it?” he asked, adding that he is not going to Delhi as of now. On the demand to make a Dalit leader the Chief Minister of Karnataka, the Home Minister said it was the desire of the people, including Dalits. Responding to another question on whether ministers in the Siddaramaiah cabinet were lobbying for a Dalit Chief Minister, he denied the claim. On Dalit ministers meeting frequently over dinner, Parameshwara said, “Yes, we are meeting frequently for dinner and the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has also joined the dinner meeting. Do you consider it wrong?” He added, “During dinner, we discuss many subjects, including politics. There is nothing wrong in it, and we have not asked the high command to make any one among Dalit leaders the Chief Minister. It is left to the Congress high command.” Minister for Medical Education Dr. Sharanaprakash Patil, Kalaburagi North MLA Kaneez Fatima, Kalaburagi South MLA Allamaprabhu Patil, Afzalpur MLA M. Y. Patil, and MLCs Jagadev Guttedar and Tippannappa Kamaknoor were present at the press conference. Ramakrishna Badseshi 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
Dalit Organisations’ Hartal Over A Dental Student’s Suicide Disrupts Normal Life In Kerala
Action council demands arrest of teachers accused of caste discrimination and harassment THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A dawn-to-dusk hartal called by Dalit/Adivasi organisations to protest the delay in arresting those accused in the death of BDS student Nithin Raj at Kannur Dental College disrupted normal life in several parts of Kerala. Organized by the Nithin Raj Action Council, comprising 56 Dalit and Adivasi groups, the protest affected public transport, businesses, and both private and government offices across many districts. Nithin, a first-year BDS student belonging to the Scheduled Caste community, died on April 10 after falling from a building, sparking outrage across the state. His family accused faculty members of caste- and colourbased discrimination. A case was filed against Dr M.K. Ram, Head of the Dental Anatomy Department, and Associate Professor Dr Sangeetha Nambiar under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, but no arrests have been made so far. Nambiar has secured interim bail from the Thalassery Additional Sessions Court. Dalit organisations have called for the arrest of the accused teachers, the implementation of the Rohit Vemula Act, and financial compensation of Rs 10 crore for the victim’s family. Traffic disrupted Traffic came to a halt on national and state highways in several areas as protesters blocked roads. Passengers arriving at the Inter-State Bus Terminus in Thiruvananthapuram, as well as at railway stations and bus stations across Kerala, were stranded for hours without access to buses or taxis Students appearing for the NEET examinations were hit hardest, with many unable to reach their exam centres on time. Despite the Vyapari Vyavasayi Ekopana Samithi announcing that shops and markets would stay open, hartal supporters forced many to close. Reports from Kasaragod, Kannur, Kozhikode, Palakkad, Thrissur, Ernakulam, Alappuzha, Idukki, Kottayam, Pathanamthitta, Kollam, and Thiruvananthapuram indicated that the hartal disrupted normal life, affecting public transport, businesses, and various institutions. Although the Action Council stated that vehicles would not be forcibly stopped, supporters blocked traffic on highways. Police intervened in several areas to remove protesters and restore movement. Essential services like milk supply, newspapers, hospitals, and weddings were exempted. Kerala HC initiates contempt proceedings The Kerala High Court on Tuesday initiated Suo motu contempt proceedings over the hartal organised by Dalit and Adivasi groups, directing the DGP (Law and Order) to submit a report by evening on the reported violence and blockades, and issued notices to those who called for the hartal. Courtesy : Deccan Chronicle Note: This news is originally published on https:/deccanchronicle.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Panchayat secretary declares two widows, Dalit man living in MP village dead
Two widows, along with a Dalit man, were denied benefits of the widow pension and Dalit welfare schemes, respectively as a panchayat secretary in the Chhatarpur district of Madhya Pradesh issued death certificates in their names. Two widows, along with a Dalit man, were denied benefits of the widow pension and Dalit welfare schemes, respectively as a panchayat secretary in the Chhatarpur district of Madhya Pradesh issued death certificates in their names. Following separate complaints lodged by the trio, and the finding of a preliminary inquiry, Amar Singh, the panchayat secretary of the Chandrapura village panchayat, was suspended by District Panchayat Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Namah Shivay Arjaria on Saturday. The action followed complaints filed on April 17 by Ramabai Raikwar, Girja Vishwakarma and Kallu Ahirwar, who alleged they were wrongly declared dead in official records and their death certificates had been duly made. In their complaints, Ramabai and Girja stated that their widow pension had been stopped after the duo was declared dead. Ahirwar stated that he was unable to reap the benefits of government schemes meant for Dalits as he has been declared dead. According to officials, prima facie it was found that the panchayat secretary’s act constitutes serious misconduct under the Madhya Pradesh Panchayat Service (Conduct) Rules, 1996. Officials said the suspension was carried out under the Madhya Pradesh Panchayat Service (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1999. During the suspension period, Amar Singh will be attached to the Janpad Panchayat Gaurihar office and will receive subsistence allowance. Courtesy : The Statesman Note: This news is originally published on https:/thestatesman.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Karnataka: What the Revision of Internal Reservation for Scheduled Castes Means for the Community
Siddaramaiah stated that the earlier notifications issued under a scrapped 6:6:5 ratio will be withdrawn, and new notifications will be issued to start the recruitment process immediately. New Delhi: The Karnataka Cabinet on Friday (April 24) approved a revised internal reservation matrix for Scheduled Castes within the 15% quota, paving the way to resume stalled government recruitment. After a special Cabinet meeting at the Vidhana Soudha chaired by chief minister Siddaramaiah, the state government announced the sub-classification formula for 101 Scheduled Caste (SC) communities. The decision modifies the recommendations of a technical committee, formed on April 16 and headed by the chief secretary, which had initially suggested a distribution of 5.3%, 5.3% and 4.4%. The immediate implementation of this revised matrix will allow the state to begin filling 56,432 government vacancies announced in the budget. Siddaramaiah stated that the earlier notifications issued under a scrapped 6:6:5 ratio will be withdrawn, and new notifications will be issued to start the recruitment process immediately. BREAK UP: The Revised SC Quota Matrix (15% Total) Category 1 (5.25%): Dalit Left factions (Edagai), primarily consisting of Madiga and Adi Jambava allied castes. Category 2 (5.25%): Dalit Right factions (Balagai), primarily consisting of Holeya and Adi Karnataka allied castes. Category 3 (4.5%): Other SC communities, including Bhovi, Lambani, Koracha, Korama, and 59 nomadic (Alemari) groups. Historical and socio-political context The demand for internal reservation stems from historic disparities among Dalits. The most backward groups (the SC ‘left’) have long argued for better opportunities, noting that the blanket 15% quota was disproportionately availed by more dominant sections, such as the SC ‘right’. Historically, Right-hand groups were often linked to landholding and skilled occupations, while Left-hand groups were associated with marginalised work and faced greater social disadvantages. The government’s decision has come amid concerns raised by the Dalit right and “touchable” communities in Category 3, who felt the sub-classification restricted their opportunities in public education and employment. Tracing the background, Siddaramaiah noted that the move fulfils a promise made in the Congress party’s 2023 election manifesto and follows a consensus reached at a Chitradurga convention representing 101 SC communities. He added that the state had previously relied on the findings of the Justice A.J. Sadashiva Commission and the Justice H.N. Nagamohan Das Commission. While the latter’s recommendations were enacted into law, they faced implementation hurdles regarding the roster system. Legal constraints and the ‘backlog’. The state government had previously attempted to implement a 17% SC quota and a 7% Scheduled Tribe (ST) quota. However, to comply with the 50% reservation ceiling mandated by the Supreme Court in the 1992 Indra Sawhney case, the current implementation is capped at 15% and 3%, respectively. Siddaramaiah stated that the additional proposed quota (2% for SCs and 4% for STs) will be maintained as a backlog. “The 6% kept aside will remain as a backlog until the final court decision,” he said, referring to the ongoing case in the Karnataka high court regarding the state’s overall 56% reservation policy introduced by the previous government. Nomadic safeguards and roster rules Addressing concerns from the 59 nomadic communities placed in Category 3 — who had approached the Karnataka high court against the earlier sub-classification — the government stipulated that one in every five posts reserved for this category will be dedicated exclusively to them. If no candidate from a nomadic community is available, the post will revert to other groups within Category 3. Social Welfare Minister H.C. Mahadevappa clarified the roster rules to address previous administrative confusion, noting that “some people instigated and created confusion.” He stated that internal reservation requires adequate vacancies to ensure opportunities for all three categories. If the total number of SC-reserved posts in a recruitment drive is below 15, the internal sub-quotas will not apply, and the posts will be open to all SC candidates based on merit. Political unanimity The chief minister, flanked by Dalit Cabinet colleagues, stated the decision was unanimous. Ministers present included K.H. Muniyappa, G. Parameshwara, H.C. Mahadevappa, Priyank Kharge, and Satish Jarkiholi. Law and parliamentary affairs minister H.K. Patil stated that the law was framed by taking all communities and the House into confidence. The move makes Karnataka the third state, after Haryana and Telangana, to implement SC sub-quotas since the Supreme Court permitted sub-classification. Home minister G. Parameshwara noted that while Haryana, Punjab, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh have similar models, Karnataka’s case is unique due to its 101 distinct SC communities. “The Karnataka model may be emulated as we have shown how to implement it legally, politically, and administratively,” he stated. Courtesy : The Wire Note: This news is originally published on https:/thewire.in/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Temple, shops reopened for Dalit families in Khargone village
Khargone: Two days after a newly married Dalit couple was denied entry into a temple and three families faced social boycott in Padliya Gavli village of Khargone district, the boycott was revoked on Sunday after multiple rounds of discussions between the two sides. Khargone Superintendent of Police Ravindra Verma told TOI that the matter was settled after three rounds of talks involving both communities and local authorities. “As part of the agreement, restrictions imposed on three Dalit families have been lifted. They are now free to enter the temple and resume purchasing goods from local shops, which had earlier been denied to them. Both sides have clarified before officials that their differences have been resolved, and normal activities have resumed from Sunday,” Verma said. On Friday, a Dalit family had organized a wedding ceremony in the village. After the ceremony, the newlywed couple visited a Hanuman temple for darshan but their families complained that the couple was denied entry. Following police intervention, the temple was opened and the couple was allowed to perform rituals. Gogawa police station in-charge Deepak Yadav said that members of three Dalit families allegedly used objectionable language against elders of the other communities, leading to resentment. In response, the other side decided to socially boycott the three families and restrict their access to shops and community resources. 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 couple denied temple entry, family faces social boycott in MP’s Khargone
An OBC-led panchayat boycotted the Dalit family and two others, imposing a Rs 11,000 fine on anyone interacting with or selling goods to them. BHOPAL: A newly married Dalit couple were allegedly denied entry into a Hanuman Temple in Madhya Pradesh’s Khargone district on Friday when they went to offer prayers. The couple later entered the temple and offered prayers after police intervention. However, a panchayat of other castes, mostly from OBC communities, later declared a social boycott of the Dalit family and two other Scheduled Caste families associated with them. The panchayat also announced that anyone engaging with the three families or selling anything to them would have to pay a penalty of Rs 11,000. The incident began on Friday afternoon when the newly married SC couple went to the Hanuman Temple in the village. “I went to the Hanuman Temple with my wife to offer prayers, but the temple was locked and we were not allowed entry. We were asked by the people of other castes to offer prayers from outside. We informed the matter to the police, after whose intervention we were allowed entry into the temple followed by prayers there,” the newly married youth Nirmal Kanade alleged in the video posted on social media. “Just a few hours after we entered the temple and offered prayers there, the Panchayat of elders from other castes, including the Banjara and Patels, decided to socially boycott our family and two other families associated with us. No one is doing any transaction with these three families, including us. I appeal people to share this video as much as possible to render us justice,” Kanade was seen saying in the video. Police later held multiple discussions with all sides on Saturday and Sunday and resolved the issue. According to a senior Khargone district police officer, “The issue has been resolved following talks between all sides related to the matter. Restrictions imposed on the three families have been lifted and normalcy is back.” Sources said the Hanuman Temple usually remains closed during afternoon hours due to past theft incidents and to prevent stray dogs from entering the premises. “After the couple offered prayers inside the temple, those related to at least three SC families, including the newly married couple’s family, abused the other caste villagers, which prompted the calling of the panchayat of the other castes the same day. The same village houses around 40 SC families, recently another newly married Dalit couple had without any restriction offered prayers inside the same temple, as that couple was there in those hours when the temple remains opened. Even some SC families had supported the call to boycott the three Dalit families, particularly as members from those three families used abusive and intimidating language for the other castes people on Friday,” an informed source said. Recently, in Madhya Pradesh’s Damoh district, a Dalit groom was allegedly assaulted and pulled from a horse by OBC Lodhi caste men during his pre-wedding rituals. Four men were later booked by police on a complaint filed by the groom’s uncle. 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
Jully slams govt over Dalit boy’s assault, law and order
Jaipur: Leader of Opposition Tikaram Jully Sunday criticised the alleged assault of a minor Dalit boy in Bhiwadi, accusing the state’s BJP govt of failing to maintain law and order and protect vulnerable communities. Referring to the incident, Jully said the brutal beating of Lokesh, a minor from Jhiwana, by police personnel was “deeply condemnable” and raised serious concerns about governance under the BJP. He alleged that atrocities against the poor, Dalits and tribals were rising and taking a “horrifying form”. Calling the incident a reflection of “dictatorial functioning”, Jully urged chief minister Bhajan Lal Sharma to take immediate cognisance and ensure strict action against those responsible. Calling it a blot on humanity, he said the rule of law in the state completely collapsed and the functioning of the police is now crossing the limits of barbarity. Lokesh, who was allegedly assaulted by police, is currently undergoing treatment in the ICU of a hospital and remains in critical condition. Jully further alleged that the victim’s family is being pressured, and their complaint has not been formally registered. Jully said he spoke with the Bhiwadi SP regarding the matter and apprised him of the gravity of the case. He also spoke with the victim’s family members over the phone. “When the protectors themselves become predators, where does the common man go? Under the BJP’s rule, incidents of atrocities against Dalits, the poor and women have now become a daily affair,” he said. Jully further criticised the govt, claiming that incidents of crime and oppression were steadily increasing while the administration remained indifferent. Citing data from the Union Home Ministry, he said that between 2025 and March 15, 2026, 18 custodial deaths were recorded in Rajasthan, which is the highest in the entire country after Bihar. 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