FIR against 10 for hanging Dalit youth upside down in well over theft suspicion
Hisar: A day after a video showing a Dalit youth hanging upside down in a well went viral, Hansi police booked 10 people, including five named accused, for assault, criminal intimidation and offences under the SC/ST Act. The FIR was registered after the victim, Baru of Sorakhi village, gave his statement following the circulation of the video online. Police named Deepak, Pawan, Joga and Surender among the accused, besides five unidentified persons. Bass police station SHO Pavitra said the investigation was underway and no arrests had been made till Friday evening. The incident reportedly stemmed from allegations that the youth stole a water pump motor and sold it to a scrap dealer. According to claims made in connection with the viral video, villagers allegedly caught him while disposing of the motor and subsequently subjected him to physical assault. The video shows a group of men tying him with ropes, hanging him upside down inside a well, and assaulting him to force a confession. The youth is heard screaming and pleading to be pulled out as he is lowered headfirst into the water-filled well. The attackers, however, continue lowering him deeper into the well for nearly a minute, until he appears to agree to give information on the alleged theft. He is pulled out, only to be thrashed with sticks. The video also shows attempts to restrain him further with ropes. The incident has sparked outrage on social media, with demands for strict action against those involved. Police said further action would be taken based on the findings of the investigation. 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
Kendrapara youth’s skeleton found stuffed in sack nine days after murder
Acting on the complaint, police launched an investigation and arrested one Pratap Mahakuda of Mahadeipatana for his alleged involvement in kidnap and murder of the dalit youth. KENDRAPARA: Skeleton of a missing dalit youth was found stuffed in a sack near Petapada village under Aul police limits here on Friday. Police said 23-year-old Gouranga Sethi of Mahadeipatana village went missing on May 27. After two days, his father Arun Sethi filed a complaint in Aul police station alleging that Gouranga was abducted and killed by six persons. Acting on the complaint, police launched an investigation and arrested one Pratap Mahakuda of Mahadeipatana for his alleged involvement in kidnap and murder of the dalit youth. During interrogation, the accused reportedly admitted that he along with five others killed Gouranga and dumped his body in the bushes near Petapada village after packing it in a sack. Based on the information, police scouted the area and recovered the youth’s skeleton. A shoe was also found near the skeleton. Police said the flesh of the missing youth was completely consumed by jackals, dogs and other animals. His family members identified the skeleton through the clothes and shoe. Kendrapara SP Siddharth Kataria said preliminary investigation revealed that the victim had damaged the glasses of four-wheelers of some villagers last month. Angered by the act, the vehicle owners hatched a plan to kill Gouranga. On May 27, six persons brutally assaulted the youth with iron rods and bamboo sticks, leading to his death. The skeletal remains will be sent to the FMT laboratory of SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack for autopsy. Officials will also collect DNA samples of the deceased’s family members to ascertain the identity of the skeleton, said Kataria. Police have registered a case under sections 103 and 238 of the BNS. Five other accused involved in the crime have fled the village. A team has been formed to trace and nab them. Further investigation is underway, the SP added. 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
Unable to sell land, dalit man ends life in Kendrapara collector’s office
26-yr-old Srichandan was trying to get permission to sell land to buyers from general category KENDRAPARA: A 26-year-old dalit man reportedly hanged himself in the Kendrapara collector’s office on Friday after being unable to sell his land to buyers from the general category. The deceased was identified as Srichandan Mallick of Raitundi village under Nikirei police limits. Police sources said Srichandan hanged himself from the iron railings of the collector’s office with a towel at around 1 pm. Due to morning office, a handful of people were present at the collectorate when the youth took the extreme step. Family members alleged that Srichandan was facing mental harassment at the hands of revenue officials. Since the last six months, the youth had been reportedly running from pillar to post to get permission from the revenue office to sell his land to buyers from the general category. Under section 22 of the Orissa Land Reforms (OLR) Act, 1960, a Scheduled Caste (SC) person cannot sell or transfer land to a general category person without prior written permission from a revenue officer. Dalit activist and former Zilla Parishad chairperson Gita Sethi claimed Srichandan was forced to end his life due to frustration over inordinate delay by revenue officers to grant him permission to transfer his property. Kendrapara IIC Suvendu Sahoo said after receiving information, police rushed to the spot and sent the deceased’s body to the district headquarters hospital for autopsy. “No suicide note was found at the spot. An investigation is underway to find out what prompted the youth to take the extreme step,” he said. Kendrapara collector Raghuram R Iyer said, “The district administration has launched an investigation into the tragic incident. We will take strict action against any official found guilty of wrongdoing and harassing the youth.” Sources said it is being alleged that cases related to land records are moving at a snail’s pace in the offices of the collector, sub-collector and revenue officers in Kendrapara. (Assistance for those having suicidal thoughts is available on helpline 104 or Tele MANAS 14416) 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
Flanked by Rahul Gandhi, Kharge files Rajya Sabha nomination
Bengaluru: Accompanied by Lok Sabha opposition leader Rahul Gandhi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge filed his nomination for the Rajya Sabha election from Karnataka at Vidhana Soudha Friday. Chief minister DK Shivakumar, former CM Siddaramaiah, Congress general secretaries KC Venugopal and Randeep Singh Surjewala and several ministers were present when Kharge handed in his nomination papers to assembly secretary MK Vishalakshi. Kharge’s current tenure in the Upper House of Parliament — where he is opposition leader — ends on June 25. Besides Kharge, Congress has fielded two other candidates for the June 18 election from Karnataka — Pawan Khera, who is party media and publicity department chairman; and Mansoor Ali Khan, AICC secretary, educationist and son of Congress veteran and former Union minister K Rahman Khan. “All MLAs and my leaders have unanimously chosen me, and I am confident that everyone will remain united and ensure victory for Congress candidates,” Kharge said. Polls will be held for four Rajya Sabha seats from Karnataka. Given its numerical strength in the assembly, Congress is expected to win three, while the BJP-JD(S) alliance is likely to win the fourth. Kharge’s nomination marks another chapter in a political career spanning more than five decades. He won nine consecutive assembly elections from Gurmitkal between 1972 and 2008 before moving to national politics. He later won the Gulbarga Lok Sabha constituency in 2009 and 2014, suffering his only major electoral defeat in the 2019 elections. In 2020, Kharge entered the Rajya Sabha from Karnataka unopposed and subsequently rose to become Congress president while continuing to lead the party in Parliament. Meanwhile, BJP is yet to announce its nominee from Karnataka. Political attention remains focused on former Prime Minister and JD(S) patriarch HD Deve Gowda, whose Rajya Sabha term has ended. Though BJP is widely expected to back Gowda for another term, the delay in announcing its candidate has triggered speculation over whether the party may instead field one of its own members. Names doing the rounds include former MP Sumalatha Ambareesh and former chief minister DV Sadananda Gowda, although party brass has not ruled out a surprise choice. In all, polling will be held for 24 seats across 10 states. Nominations close on Monday. 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
‘Not suicide’: Rahul Gandhi blames ‘broken system’ after NEET aspirant’s death; targets PM Modi
NEW DELHI: Lok Sabha leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi on Thursday reacted to the suicide of a NEET aspirant and launched a fresh attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government over the NEET-UG paper leak blunder. Taking to social media, the senior Congress leader referred to the case of Akanksha, a NEET aspirant who recently died by suicide following the exam fiasco. Highlighting the struggles faced by the student and her family, Rahul Gandhi wrote on X, “Akanksha wanted to become a doctor and serve the nation and society. Akanksha’s father is a farmer. To fulfill his daughter’s dream of becoming a doctor, he took a loan of Rs 3 lakh on a Kisan Credit Card. And he took up a job as a cook in Nagpur, so that his daughter could attend coaching there. A father did everything he could.” Rahul Gandhi then blamed the government for what he described as a “corrupt” education system and linked Akanksha’s death to the NEET paper leak row. He said, “Then the NEET paper leaked. The exam was canceled. In that uncertainty, Akanksha left us forever. Akanksha’s death was not suicide—it’s the consequence of a corrupt, broken system under Modi ji.” The Congress leader also targeted Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan, reiterating the opposition’s demand for accountability in the wake of the NEET paper leak. “And Dharmendra Pradhan ji? He’s still in his chair today. The same committee. The same transfers. The same investigations. No reforms, no justice.” Rahul Gandhi further accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of damaging India’s education system during his years in office. He said, “Modi ji, power is not permanent—it comes and goes. But the extent to which you’ve ruined the education system in 12 years, an entire young generation of India is paying the price for it.” His remarks come a month after the NEET-UG examination was cancelled following a paper leak. The National Testing Agency (NTA) later announced that the re-examination would be held on June 21. The cancellation affected lakhs of medical aspirants across the country, triggering widespread protests and demands for accountability. Several reports of student suicides have also surfaced in the aftermath of the NTA’s NEET failure. 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
Great Nicobar Project isn’t about defence: Rahul Gandhi
NEW DELHI: Releasing a video of his visit to Nicobar that shows him diving into the sea, travelling through thick forests and talking to tribals and locals, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Friday said the Modi govt’s argument that the Great Nicobar Project is about defence and a transshipment port is a “lie” – raising the tempo against the programme that has triggered concerns about environmental destruction and tribal displacement. In a 16-minute video of his April trip, Rahul said the project is about benefiting a big businessman to build hotels and casinos on India’s most irreplaceable ecosystem. He named “Adani” as the beneficiary. Rahul also initiated an online petition against the project, urging Indians to sign “we choose green over greed”. He asked the young Indians to ponder if they wanted to inherit an India where rainforests have been bulldozed for casinos, where coral reefs have been erased from maps, tribal communities pushed off their land, and the air turned into poison, or where India’s natural heritage is protected, tribal communities are safe, and progress works with nature. “More than 1.5 crore trees, ancient coral reefs, irreplaceable rainforests are being destroyed to profit one businessman.” Rahul said if govt is concerned about defence on the island, then it should abandon the project and “expand INS Baaz”, arguing that the Navy has been asking for its expansion for five years. 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
Karnataka has never had a Dalit Chief Minister, says Congress leader SR Patil
Senior Congress leader SR Patil stated on Sunday that it is natural for people from downtrodden and marginalised communities to aspire to have a Chief Minister from their fold, highlighting that Karnataka has never had a Dalit Chief Minister so far. Addressing reporters, Patil said, “The downtrodden people are protesting. It is quite natural for anyone to aspire to become the Chief Minister. Karnataka has never had a Dalit Chief Minister so far. Therefore, it is natural for people from the downtrodden and marginalised communities to hope that someone from their community becomes the Chief Minister and to express that aspiration through protests.” C Vijayabaskar denies AIADMK exit rumours amid ambiguous press encounter He further added, “I do not agree with the view that G Parameshwara has not been given importance. He is a senior leader of the Congress party and has been given due respect and an appropriate position both in the party and in the government. I am very proud of the government. The government is functioning well, and I am proud of its achievements.” Meanwhile, Karnataka Chief Minister-designate DK Shivakumar is scheduled to meet the party high command in New Delhi on Monday to discuss cabinet appointments and other political developments, according to Congress sources. Earlier on Sunday, Shivakumar told reporters in Bengaluru that he did not know how many leaders would be inducted into his cabinet or who would take oath with him on June 3. He said, “I don’t know. Whatever the party high command decides will happen.” After serving three years as Deputy Chief Minister, Shivakumar is set to assume office as Karnataka Chief Minister. The swearing-in ceremony is planned for June 3 at Lok Bhavan in Bengaluru. On Saturday, Shivakumar formally submitted a letter to Karnataka Governor Thawarchand Gehlot informing him about his unanimous election as Congress Legislative Party leader. This followed the voluntary resignation of former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on May 28. The Governor dissolved the previous Council of Ministers immediately but asked Siddaramaiah to continue until the new government is sworn in. Courtesy : TNM Note: This news is originally published on https:/thenewsmill.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
‘We never agreed to move’: Malayidom Thuruth’s Dalit families reject CM’s rehabilitation claim in assembly; CPM accuses govt of betrayal
Kochi: The controversy over the proposed eviction of seven Dalit families from Malayidom Thuruth in Ernakulam’s Kizhakkambalam has taken a fresh turn after Chief Minister VD Satheesan told the Kerala Legislative Assembly that the affected Scheduled Caste families had agreed to accept a government rehabilitation package. However, the residents alleged that they have never agreed to move out of their lands and urged the government to ensure their rights in the disputed land as assured earlier. The issue relates to a long-running land dispute involving 2.62 acres, for which the Supreme Court had upheld the Perumbavoor Munsif court’s eviction order in favour of a private individual named Kannoth Shankaran Nair four years ago. Residents and local leaders, however, contend that the disputed land forms nearly 19.98 acres of government Puramboke land and have demanded a proper survey and demarcation of the area. The Kerala High Court recently granted the state government a two-week extension to delay the eviction and comply with court directions. The matter is scheduled to come up again before the court on June 9. Replying to a calling attention motion moved by Kunnathunadu MLA VP Sajeendran in the Assembly, the Chief Minister said the government would stand by the affected families. “The government assures the assembly that the families will not be abandoned. Minister Roji M John and Kunnathunad MLA VP Sajeendran have met the residents and assured them of this. The government is also ready to construct houses for them, and the families have agreed to this,” Satheesan said in the assembly on Tuesday. However, the statement has been strongly disputed by the affected families and the Pariyathukavu Samara Samithi, which is leading the agitation against the eviction. Residents said no decision has been taken to relocate and maintain that they intend to remain on the land where their families have lived for generations. “We won’t move from here to live elsewhere; there is no such decision at all,” said Saji PT, a member of one of the seven affected families. “We have been living here for 130 years. Our ancestors are all buried right there, including my father, his father, and my mother. Thus, we hold that soil. Where are we supposed to go? Moving from there is not even on our minds. Even if it means dying, we will die right there. We are not going to leave,” he told Onmanorama. The families also allege that the government had earlier assured them that steps would be taken to determine the actual status of the land through an official survey. According to Saji, Minister Roji M John had conveyed such an assurance during a meeting convened by the district collector, while Scheduled Castes Welfare Minister KA Thulasi had reiterated a similar commitment during her visit to the settlement. “Minister Roji M John had initially assured us during a meeting convened by the district collector that the land would be surveyed to determine whether it was government Puramboke land. Later, Scheduled Castes Welfare Minister KA Thulasi gave a similar assurance when she visited the affected families,” Saji said. He questioned why the government had now shifted its focus to rehabilitation instead of pursuing a survey of theland. Samara Samithi questions government’s claims The Pariyathukavu Samara Samithi has also rejected the government’s assertion that the families agreed to relocation. KM Siraj, convener of the Samara Samithi, said neither the affected families nor the agitation committee had been consulted about any rehabilitation package. “The announcement that land and houses would be allotted to the affected families came as a complete surprise to both the families and the Samara Samithi, as neither was consulted on the matter,” Siraj said. “Providing a few cents of land to the families was an option that existed even under the previous government. Our consistent demand has been that the disputed 19.98 acres be surveyed and, if it is found to be government Puramboke land, ownership rights should be granted to the families who have lived there for generations,” he said. Siraj said that no discussions had taken place regarding relocation and accused the government of misleading the assembly. “To accept an offer, shouldn’t we at least know what the offer is? Just stating that they accepted it and misleading the Assembly. We are getting aware of such a plan only now, when we watched Tuesday’s assembly proceedings on Sabha TV,” Siraj said. According to him, the government’s latest position appears aimed at avoiding a survey of the disputed land, an issue that he noted had earlier been publicly supported by MLA VP Sajeendran. CPM launches offensive The CPM has seized on the issue, accusing the UDF government of abandoning the interests of Dalit families and shielding powerful land interests. Former Kunnathunad MLA and CPM leader PV Sreenijin alleged that the affected families had been misled during discussions with government representatives. “The Minister, Roji, and Sajeendran actually called them for a discussion and tricked them,” Sreenijin claimed. “The government’s land was encroached upon by a private individual. Why is that High Court verdict to measure and demarcate the land not being discussed in the Legislative Assembly? Instead of doing that, aren’t they now moving forward to evict these people? This information given in the Assembly is solely meant to mislead the public,” he added. CPM Ernakulam district secretary S Sathish also criticised the Chief Minister’s statement, alleging that it amounted to a betrayal of the affected families. “The Chief Minister has lied in the Assembly. This stance protects the land mafia and betrays the Dalit families. The demand of the families is that the land should be measured and demarcated, and its ownership rights must be granted to them. The Dalit families who have been living on that land for decades will not be allowed to be thrown out onto the streets. The CPM will protect and support the families until the residents of Pariyathukavu receive the ownership rights to their land,” Sathish said. With the temporary relief granted by the High Court
16-Year-Old Dalit Boy Allegedly Stripped And Beaten For Drinking Water In Kanpur
A 16-year-old Dalit boy in Kanpur was allegedly stripped and beaten for drinking water from a public handpump. Here is what happened. A bucket of water allegedly became the reason for a caste-based assault in Uttar Pradesh’s Kanpur district. According to the NCRB report, Uttar Pradesh recorded over 14,000 cases of atrocities against Dalits in 2024, the highest in the country. The latest case from Uttar Pradesh’s Kanpur district shows how brutal that reality can still be. On 2 May, A 16-year-old Dalit boy was allegedly assaulted after drinking water from a public handpump in his village. What allegedly happened next, according to the FIR, raised fresh questions about caste discrimination that still exists in everyday spaces. A Drink Of Water Became A Trigger On May 2, a Dalit minor was reportedly working in fields near his village in Kanpur’s Sachendi area when he stopped to drink water from a public handpump in Jhakhra-Sambharpur village. He used a mug kept inside a nearby bucket. That moment allegedly triggered the assault. The FIR states that four men confronted the teenager and hurled casteist abuses at him, accusing him of “polluting” the bucket because he belonged to a Dalit community. What followed, according to police records and local reports, lasted nearly 30 minutes. The accused allegedly beat him with sticks, kicked and punched him, stripped him and forced him to lick a shoe after spitting on it. Reports also state that water was poured into the shoe and the teenager was allegedly forced to drink from it. The boy reportedly suffered a fractured arm during the assault. When his father, a farm labourer, rushed to help him, he too was allegedly attacked. According to The Times of India, the father suffered broken ribs. Then Came The “Purification” One detail from the case has especially disturbed people online. After the assault, the accused allegedly sprinkled Ganga water around the handpump area to “purify” it because the Dalit boy had touched the bucket. That act reflects a form of untouchability that India’s Constitution outlawed decades ago. The Police Case Took Time Although the assault took place on 2 May, the FIR was reportedly registered only on 17 May. The family spent days recovering in hospital before gathering the courage to approach the police. According to The Times Of India, Police have now registered a case against four accused identified as Sanjay, Deepak, Sagar and Patiya under relevant sections, including the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Assistant Commissioner of Police Manoj Kumar Singh said the matter is under investigation and action will be taken based on evidence. Vageesha Shrivastava Courtesy : Brut. Note: This news is originally published on https:/brut.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Solar boom in Gujarat and Tamil Nadu is polluting Delhi-NCR, study says
In Tamil Nadu, the modus operandi involves formal recyclers passing on non-profitable scraps, such as aluminum frames and photovoltaic cells, along with other hazardous materials to Delhi-NCR. NEW DELHI: Solar power development has advanced at an unprecedented pace in Gujarat and Tamil Nadu; however, waste management has not kept up. A significant volume of waste generated in these states is being transported to the Delhi-NCR region, which is already burdened with multiple types of waste affecting air and water quality. A joint report by the Chintan Environmental Research and Action Group and the World Resources Institute reveals that informal waste aggregators are dumping solar waste, including end-of-life solar panels, photovoltaic cells, lithium-ion batteries, and other hazardous electronic waste, into Delhi-NCR. This region is already burdened with excessive waste, contaminating groundwater, other water resources, and air quality. In informal discussions with several waste aggregators in two sates, validated by non-profits, researchers, start-ups, and formal recyclers in Gujarat and Tamil Nadu, the report indicated that there is no reliable quantitative data or traceability mechanism available to determine the proportion of this material that is ultimately processed through informal recycling operations in Delhi-NCR and other northern regions of India. In Tamil Nadu, the modus operandi involves formal recyclers passing on non-profitable scraps, such as aluminum frames and photovoltaic cells, along with other hazardous materials to Delhi-NCR. There is around Delhi-NCR has around 5,000 e-waste processing units that employ more than 50,000 people. Due to a lack of formal recycling capacity and technical knowledge, much of the solar waste ends up in landfills in Delhi-NCR. The report, “More Watts Less Waste,” states that informal recyclers rely on rudimentary dismantling and scrap-recovery techniques. While aluminium frames and external copper wiring or junction boxes are manually removed and sold as scrap, the remaining components of the modules, such as glass, polymer encapsulant, silicon cells, and embedded metals, largely go unrecovered. Often, the panels are crushed or broken, resulting in a mix of glass, polymer, and silicon fragments, which is disposed of as general waste or sent to landfills. The study highlights a critical gap in India’s clean energy transition. While the country is rapidly expanding its renewable energy and electric mobility sectors, systems for managing solar panel and lithium-ion battery waste remain underdeveloped. The report warns that this creates new environmental and public health concerns for Delhi, which is already dealing with legacy waste. Improper handling of solar panels can release hazardous substances into the environment, exposing workers and nearby communities to health risks. As of now, India has generated an estimated 146 kilotonnes of solar PV waste by the end of 2024. By 2047, cumulative solar waste could reach 11,221 kilotonnes, according to the report. The study also raises concerns about the next wave of clean energy waste: lithium-ion batteries. Batteries from consumer electronics are already being processed through informal dismantling channels, while India’s rapidly expanding electric vehicle market is expected to generate large volumes of end-of-life batteries in the coming years. These batteries contain valuable materials but also present risks of fire, explosion, and chemical exposure if handled improperly. The report calls for specific Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) targets for photovoltaic systems, dedicated recycling infrastructure, financial mechanisms to manage orphan waste, and greater integration of informal workers into formal collection systems. It also urges policymakers to begin planning now for the forthcoming wave of end-of-life electric vehicle batteries. Jitendra Choubey 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