Hathras Dalit Youth’s Family Refuses Last Rites, Alleges Murder by Bani Singh and Sunil; Police Add Murder, SC/ST Act Charges
Tension prevailed in Uttar Pradesh’s Hathras district on Saturday after the family of a 19-year-old Dalit youth refused to perform his last rites, alleging that he was murdered and demanding stricter charges against the accused. The incident took place in Boolgarhi village under the Chandpa police station area, where Sunny, son of Santosh, died on Friday after allegedly being crushed under a tractor in suspicious circumstances. Family Alleges Murder, Rejects Accident Theory Police initially registered the case as an accident. However, the victim’s family alleged that Sunny was deliberately killed due to an old rivalry. According to the family, the tractor belonged to a man from the Thakur community, and they accused Bani Singh and his brother Sunil of murdering the youth. They also demanded that the case be registered under murder charges and relevant provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Refusing to cremate the body, the family said they would not perform the last rites until the police amended the FIR. Police Add Murder, SC/ST Act Charges As the body reached the village on Saturday, protests broke out, with women staging demonstrations. A heavy police force was deployed to maintain law and order. Officials held several rounds of discussions with the family. Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) district president Raj Kapoor also reached the spot and appealed for calm. After negotiations, police added charges of murder and the SC/ST Act to the case. Following the changes in the FIR, the family agreed to perform the last rites. Police later arrested the main accused, Bani Singh. The investigation is ongoing. Village Remains Under Tight Security Boolgarhi village has remained under close security since the 2020 Hathras case involving the alleged gang rape and death of a Dalit woman. A CRPF deployment continues to remain at the victim’s family’s residence. 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
Ten years later, a Dalit family’s lives have changed, and the images have changed.
The Sarvaiya family tells their story ten years later, explaining that the 2016 incident took away much from them, but also gave them an identity they never had before. They are now known as activists fighting for Dalit rights. The first thing one sees upon entering the house are four portraits hanging on the wall—of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, Gautam Buddha, Mahatma Jyotiba Phule, and Savitribai Phule. For each member of the family, these are not only portraits of great personalities but also a testament to the changes in their lives over the past ten years. This is the same house where people would come to express their condolences a decade ago. For politicians, social activists, and journalists across the country, this house had become a symbol of atrocities against Dalits. On July 11, 2016, four members of the Sarvaiya family were publicly beaten and paraded half-naked in Una, Gujarat. The head of the family, Balubhai Sarvaiya, was also attacked. This incident sparked a nationwide debate on atrocities against Dalits and sparked a widespread Dalit movement in Gujarat. Courtesy: Hindi News
PubDalit man locked in room for 3 days in Odisha, beaten with stick and denied food
A Dalit man in Odisha’s Ganjam district alleged he was locked in a room, beaten with a stick and denied food and water for nearly three days after refusing to join illegal activities. He filed a complaint against the accused and sought help from others. A Dalit man in Odisha’s Ganjam district was repeatedly thrashed and beaten with sticks, confined in a locked room for nearly three days and deprived of food and water after he was pressured by some men to participate in illegal activities. A video of the incident surfaced on Sunday shows a man repeatedly beating the youth with a stick inside a locked room. Despite the Dalit man pleading with his attacker to stop, the assault continues as others are seen present in the room. India Today TV could not verify the authenticity of the video. According to the man’s complaint, he was illegally confined for nearly three days and subjected to physical torture. He alleged that he was pressured to engage in unlawful activities and was targeted after refusing to comply. The video shows four individuals inside the room, with one of them repeatedly striking the pleading Dalit man with a stick. There was no immediate response from the police on the Dalit man’s allegations. 5 Railway cops assault deputy superintendent over train halt dispute; suspended Along with the viral video, the Dalit man submitted a written complaint to the police over the incident. In the complaint, the man claimed his life was under threat and said he had approached multiple authorities seeking protection and action. He said that he had submitted representations to President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the National Human Rights Commission, the Odisha Director General of Police and the Ganjam district administration, urging them to intervene in the matter. Ajay Nath Edited By: Prateek Chakraborty 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
Dalits block road with man’s body, accuse UP police of torture
Kamji Gond was picked up on July 8 and taken to the Rewati Police Station regarding a dispute. Ballia (Uttar Pradesh): Dalits of Uttar Pradesh’s Ballia district refused to take the body of one of their community member who was allegedly subjected to third-degree torture inside a police station. Kamji Gond was picked up on July 8 and taken to the Rewati Police Station regarding a dispute. His family claimed he was beaten mercilessly inside the station and later dumped outside the village in critical condition. Gond was rushed to the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) in Varanasi, where he succumbed to his injuries. On July 11, his body reached his village, triggering anger amongst the Dalits. The following day, on Sunday, his family placed the body on the road, demanding strict action against a sub-inspector, a constable and the sarpanch (village head). The blockade caused a traffic jam, trapping an ambulance in the congestion. On information, Bairia Circle Officer (CO) Alok Gupta rushed to the spot and assured them justice. 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
Parliament passes Transgender Persons Amendment Bill, 2026 with Rajya Sabha approving it today
Parliament has passed the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill, 2026, with the Rajya Sabha approving it today. The bill was passed by the Lok Sabha yesterday by a voice vote amid an Opposition-led walkout. The bill seeks to redefine the category of transgender, removes the provision of self-perceived gender identity and excludes several socio-cultural identities as well as transmasculine individuals from its ambit. It also further defines transgender persons within a biological framework, based on intersex variations and differences in sexual development. Replying to the discussion on the Bill in the Rajya Sabha, Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Dr Virendra Kumar said the government is compassionate towards the well-being of the transgender community. He said the Bill has provisions to empower the transgenders and give them dignity. The Minister said that the NDA government has taken several initiatives to bring transgender people to the mainstream and stop discrimination against them. Starting the discussion in the Upper House, Congress MP Renuka Chowdhury said this bill dilutes the privacy of an individual provided under the Constitution. Opposing the Bill, Ms Chowdhury said self-identification cannot be taken away through bureaucratic certification. Criticizing the government, she said that the proposed bill undermines the fundamental rights and dignity of transgender persons. Calling such a move wrong and illegal, she argued that forcing transgender persons to provide their identity through official certificates is against the spirit of equality and dignity guaranteed by the constitution. She also questioned the government’s approach for not properly consulting with the transgender community before bringing the Bill. She also referred to the Supreme Court’s landmark NALSA judgement of 2014, which recognized the right of transgender persons to self-identify their gender. Ms Chowdhury said the proposed Bill violates the principles laid down in that judgement and fails to respect an already established legal framework. DMK MP Tiruchi Shiva also opposed the Bill, saying that even if the Bill is passed in Parliament with a majority, it will be struck down by the Supreme Court. He further added that the Bill violates Articles 14, 15, 19 and 21 of the Constitution and it deprives the community of the right to freedom, dignity and self-determination. Supporting the Bill, BJP MP Medha Vishram Kulkarni said, ” This Bill ensures justice, dignity, protection from criminalisation and legal safeguards for transgender persons. She also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for bringing this bill with certain amendments in order to ensure that the benefits reach the deserving people in a proper manner. She said there is a need for a law that brings justice to real transgender individuals and punishes fake ones. Mrs Kulkarni said the benefits should be extended to those who are transgender by birth. She said that the amendment to extend punishment will bring down the rate of crime and forced identities. TMC’s Saket Gokhale said that 31% of Transgender people in India have attempted suicide because of the discrimination that they are facing. He alleged that now the government is going to start discriminating against them as though social discrimination were not enough. He called it unacceptable. Mr Gokhale expressed concern that gender is going to be decided by the Chief Medical Officer and a District Magistrate, and the bill does not prescribe any qualifications for the Chief Medical Officer. Sanjay Singh of AAP said the Bill is a big let-down for the transgender community. He accused the government of not doing anything for the community. RJD’s Manoj Kr Jha said that prejudices against transgender people should stop, and they should be able to live with dignity. He added that self-determination of gender should not be taken away. CPI(M)’s John Brittas said it is a black-letter day and the Bill is taking India a century back. He pleaded with the government to either withdraw the Bill or refer it to a Select Committee. Jaya Bachchan of the Samajwadi Party also questioned the government over the legislation. She sought to know what the urgency was in bringing the Bill, without examining it with the depth and care that it deserved. Courtesy : NOA Note: This news is originally published on https:/newsonair.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Cabinet expansion: Rahul Gandhi likely to summon CM DK Shivakumar, Siddaramaiah & BK Hariprasad to Delhi
Shivakumar was sworn in as CM along with 13 ministers on June 3. There are 20 vacancies in the cabinet. BENGALURU: With the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, expected to return to India from his foreign tour on Sunday evening, Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, his predecessor Siddaramaiah and KPCC president BK Hariprasad are likely to be summoned anytime soon to New Delhi by the Congress high command to discuss the much-delayed cabinet expansion. Shivakumar was sworn in as CM along with 13 ministers on June 3. There are 20 vacancies in the cabinet. Shivakumar, Siddaramaiah and Hariprasad are prepared with a list of their loyalists to be pushed into the cabinet, sources told The New Sunday Express. Besides the high command, including AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge, will have their own nominees to ensure that the party returns to power in the 2028 Assembly polls, sources added. “Cabinet aspirants are curious to know if the expansion will happen before the month of Ashada, which many believe is inauspicious. Aashada starts on Tuesday (July 14),” sources added. Meanwhile, Home Minister Priyank Kharge said that the cabinet expansion will happen soon. “The CM and AICC chief have said this very clearly. In circumstances where an emergency-like situation arises—whether it is a drought or a flood—having a full-fledged cabinet ensures that responsibilities can be assigned to everyone so that relief can be provided to people without any delay,” Priyank added. Sahebganj Tourism Jharkhand Travel Guide & Tourist Places in _ Travel Nfx When asked if the expansion will happen before Aashada, he said, “I don’t believe in that… When giving or taking power, who looks at all that? There is no connection between the two. Our responsibility is to look after our people. As you said, whether it is Aashada or Rahu Kala, everyone has their own faith and beliefs, but it should not affect governance.” Meanwhile, Jewargi MLA Ajay Singh, son of former CM N Dharam Singh, is a strong contender for a berth in the Shivakumar cabinet. Ajay said that the high command may call the state leaders to Delhi any moment for talks. Chamarajnagara MLA C Puttarangashetty, another contender, said that the expansion may happen in a day or two or after a month when Aashada ends. Srirangapatna MLA A B Ramesh Bandisidde Gowda asserted that he deserved to be a minister. “I will also organise the party in Mandya. If I am proven wrong, they can remove me anytime”, he said. Several other MLAs, including those elected for 3-4 times, such as Ashok M Pattan, have openly staked claim. “Rahul Gandhi will come tomorrow (Sunday). He will call the CM, former CM, and the KPCC President on Monday or Tuesday. I will tell our leaders not to just look at caste, but consider seniority too. I am a senior legislator in Belagavi district and the state. I was a Congress student leader… been in the party since the days of former CM D Devaraj Urs,” he said. Trouble for Zameer? Ahead of the formation of the Shivakumar cabinet in the first phase, an audio clip leaked allegedly involving former minister BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan allegedly conspiring to defeat the Congress candidate in Davanagere bypolls. This ruined his chances of becoming a minister in the Shivakumar cabinet. This time around, the Lokayukta approached the Governor seeking permission to prosecute him in a disproportionate assets case. One has to wait and watch to see whether Zameer will this time make it to the cabinet or not. Devaraj B Hirehalli 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
Congress MLAs from Northern Karnataka step up pressure to enter cabinet
The growing demand has also brought the Congress’ internal power equations into sharp focus. BELAGAVI: With speculation over the long-awaited state Cabinet expansion and reshuffle intensifying, Congress MLAs from across Northern Karnataka have stepped up pressure on the party leadership, demanding greater representation in the ministry. Legislators from Belagavi, Bagalkot, Vijayapura, Dharwad and several districts in Kalyana Karnataka are lobbying for Cabinet berths, with party leaders saying at least two to three MLAs from each district are in the race. Belagavi has emerged as the focal point of the demand. Congress leaders from the district argue that the previous BJP government had four ministers from Belagavi and insist that the district, given its political importance and electoral strength, deserves at least three Cabinet positions. The growing demand has also brought the Congress’ internal power equations into sharp focus. Party sources said Chief Minister DK Shivakumar is keen on inducting Athani MLA Laxman Savadi, who joined the Congress ahead of the Assembly elections and played a key role in strengthening the party in the region. If political or caste considerations prevent Savadi’s induction, former Women and Child Development Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar is seen as another strong contender. The demand for three berths has also fuelled the hopes of other Congress MLAs from Belagavi, mainly Ashok Pattan, Mahantesh Koujalagi and Asif Sait, who are believed to enjoy the backing of former CM Siddaramaiah’s camp. Naushad Bijapur 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
“Where is Rahul Gandhi?” BJP asks four sharp questions about the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha’s foreign trip
The BJP has once again opened a front regarding Rahul Gandhi’s foreign travel. Amit Malviya raised questions, asking, “Does anyone know where Rahul Gandhi is? In which country is he vacationing? Who is he with? Who does he visit most often?” New Delhi: The BJP is attacking the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi over his foreign trip in the wake of the recent landslide in Wayanad, Kerala. BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya accused Rahul Gandhi of failing to visit the affected area or meet the victims even several days after the accident. He also raised questions about Rahul Gandhi’s foreign trip. Amit Malviya posted on the social media platform X on Sunday, claiming, “Rahul Gandhi has been out of India for a long time and no one knows his whereabouts.” He asked, “Does anyone know where Rahul Gandhi is? Which country is he vacationing in? Who is he with? Who does he visit often?” Raised questions about Rahul and Priyanka In another post, the BJP leader wrote, “The recent landslide in Wayanad claimed lives and caused widespread devastation, yet neither Rahul Gandhi nor Priyanka Gandhi Vadra visited the affected area to meet the victims.” He added, “The sensitivity of any public representative is measured by standing with the people in their most difficult times, not just reaching out during elections.” “Congress ecosystem silent” The BJP IT cell chief also noted in the post that the Congress “ecosystem,” which is otherwise quite vocal, appears to be completely silent on this issue. Landslide in Wayanad on July 7 On July 7, a massive landslide occurred in the Kalladi area near Meppadi in Kerala’s Wayanad district. The accident occurred at the site of the under-construction Anakkampoyil-Kalladi-Meppadi Tunnel Project. Continuous heavy rains triggered a landslide, resulting in loss of life and property. Earlier, on July 30, 2024, Wayanad experienced a massive and historic landslide, completely devastated the villages of Punchirimattam, Choralmala, and Mundakkai. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is currently the Member of Parliament from the Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency. She was sworn in as a Lok Sabha member after winning the by-election for this seat. Curated by: Abhishek Pandey About the Author Abhishek Pandey is a digital journalist at Navbharat Times. He joined Navbharat Times, the digital wing of the Times of India Group, in July 2025. He currently covers news for the National and Delhi desks. Courtesy: Hindi News
Kangra News: Nandrul Panchayat sets a congratulatory amount for transgender people
Kangra. In the Nandrul Panchayat of Kangra Development Block, transgender people will no longer be allowed to act arbitrarily and forcibly extort money in the name of congratulatory gifts. To end the hassles and disputes faced by transgender people, the Panchayat has set a maximum limit for the congratulatory amount. No transgender person will be able to demand more than the prescribed amount. A formal resolution was passed in this regard at the Gram Sabha meeting of Nandrul Gram Panchayat. Panchayat head Sanjeev Kumar and secretary stated that under the new system, the congratulatory amount has been fixed at ₹1,100 for BPL families and ₹2,100 for other general families. They clarified that if any capable or wealthy individual wishes to voluntarily donate more than the prescribed amount, the Panchayat will have no objection. Panchayat representatives have warned that if members of the transgender community refuse to adhere to this established arrangement or enter homes and display indecent language and unwanted behavior, the Panchayat will be forced to take strict legal action through the police and administration. Furthermore, the Gram Sabha meeting also discussed in detail the outline of upcoming development work in the Panchayat. Courtesy: Hindi News
Meet Madhu Bai Kinnar: India’s first transgender Mayor who won an election nobody thought she could
In 1980, in the Dalit community of Raigarh, Chhattisgarh, a child was born and named Naresh Chauhan. Her parents were laborers. The family was large, with five or six siblings, and life was simple and hard. She studied until class eight, but books never held her attention the way music and dance did. From a very young age, she felt something that she could not fully explain: that the life everyone expected her to live did not feel like her own. She felt more like a girl than a boy. And in the world she grew up in, that feeling came with a cost. When her family discovered how she truly felt inside, they asked her to leave the house. She was 15 years old. A new name, a new family, a new life With nowhere to go and no one to turn to, the young girl who had been named Naresh Chauhan walked away from everything she had known and found a community that welcomed her exactly as she was. She joined the transgender community of Raigarh. And for the first time in her life, she felt she belonged somewhere. She gave herself a new name: Madhu Bai Kinnar. A name she chose. A name that was truly hers. With her new community, she began dancing and singing on the streets of Raigarh and inside passenger trains on the Howrah-Mumbai route. It was not an easy life; she earned between 300 to 500 rupees a day. But she had friends, she had dignity, and she had joy. She came home every night to people who loved her. For nearly 15 years, this was her life. Invisible to the system. Dismissed by society. And yet deeply, quietly rooted in her community. The day everything changed: One form, one decision One ordinary day, Madhu went to the municipality office for her weekly collections. And there, almost by chance, she saw a form inviting applications for the mayor’s office of Raigarh. She had never planned to enter politics. It had never been a dream. But the people around her, ordinary citizens of Raigarh, tired of corruption and tired of politicians who made promises and disappeared, urged her to try. They told her that she was the one they trusted. That she was the one who actually lived among them and understood their problems. So she filled the form. And she went to work. A campaign like no other Madhu Bai Kinnar did not have political party money. She did not have powerful backers or a campaign team of hundreds. She had herself. And her friends. She collected money from her dancing and singing. And then, with four to five friends by her side every morning, she went door-to-door across Raigarh telling every single person she met about her agenda, her earthen pot election symbol, and her vision for the city. By evening, those four or five friends had become 600 to 700 people walking alongside her, drawn not by money or politics but by something they rarely saw in a candidate: honesty. Her entire 10-day campaign cost between Rs 60,000 and Rs 70,000, money she had saved herself, rupee by rupee, from years of singing on trains. January 4, 2015: A date India will not forget Just nine months after the Supreme Court of India delivered its landmark judgment recognising transgender people as a third gender, the people of Raigarh went to the polls. Running as an independent candidate, Madhu won the mayor election of the Raigarh Municipal Corporation, securing 33,168 votes and defeating the nearest rival, the ruling party BJP’s Mahaveer Guruji, by 4,537 votes. She is the first openly transgender person in India to be elected to a mayoral office. “People have shown faith in me. I consider this win as love and blessings of people for me. I’ll put in my best efforts to accomplish their dreams,” Kinnar said. The news spread across the country. And for the first time in a long time, India’s transgender community felt seen. Mayor who sat among the people What Madhu did after winning was as remarkable as the win itself. When she assumed responsibility as mayor, she rejected the big office that the mayor-elect is supposed to occupy. She wanted to be accessible to people, so their grievances reached her first-hand. She built an open cabin where people could approach her directly. She even refused to travel in the state-provided car and instead traveled in an auto. She believed simply that the people had chosen her, so she should sit among them. Her election agendas were manifold. She wanted to put an end to transgenders begging and busking in trains, ensure ration cards were issued, and work for the poor and for the transgender community equally. She and her team would go on rounds every morning, starting as early as 7 AM, urging city workers to fix clogged wells, pipes, and gutters. As a result of this hard work, in 2019, Raigarh won the Swachhata Excellence Award. More than a mayor, a mirror for all of India Madhu Bai Kinnar’s story is not just about one election in one city in Chhattisgarh. It is about what happens when a society is brave enough to look beyond gender, beyond caste, beyond everything the world uses to decide who matters, and simply votes for the person who actually cares. She was born into a family that asked her to leave. She lived on the margins for 15 years. She campaigned with her own hard-earned money. And she walked into a Mayor’s office wearing a white saree and a red bindi, and changed what India thought was possible. From a train to a town hall. From Naresh to Madhu. From invisible to unforgettable. 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