Transgender University of Washington student stabbed over 40 times: Court documents
“Our family has been shattered,” Juniper Blessing’s family said. Teen found dead at UW off-campus apartment; police search for suspectPolice probe the death of a 19-year-old transgender woman at a Seattle apartment. ABC News’ Trevor Ault reports as the search for a suspect continues. The transgender University of Washington student who was killed in a student housing building suffered over 40 stab wounds to the head, neck, shoulder, arms and hands, according to the probable cause statement. Juniper Blessing, 19, was found covered in blood in the laundry room of the Nordheim Court building on Sunday night, according to court documents. The suspect, 31-year-old Christopher Leahy, surrendered to police on Wednesday and was booked for first-degree murder, documents said. “Our family has been shattered,” Blessing’s family said in a statement released by the Human Rights Alliance. “Juniper was simply the most amazing human being we have ever known — highly intelligent, extremely talented, and deeply sensitive to the needs of others. Juniper’s loss not only devastates us but diminishes the world.” “A gifted singer with a transcendent voice, Juniper was admitted to New Mexico School for the Arts, where they studied from 2020 until 2024,” the family said. “Weather was a love of Juniper’s since early childhood, and at the University of Washington they intended to study Atmospheric Science while continuing to study voice and pursuing minors in Music and Philosophy. They loved Seattle and Santa Fe, where they worked as an usher during summers at the Santa Fe Opera.” “Juniper was courageously living their life as who they were until it was cut tragically short,” the family said. According to court documents, another Nordeim Court resident told police that shortly before 10 p.m. Sunday, a man followed her when she used her card to access the building and laundry room. She said the man told her he was waiting for his laundry. Surveillance video shows them in the laundry room and the suspect “appears to be visually searching the room for cameras,” court documents said, before he left the room. A video from 10 p.m. shows Blessing in the laundry room, and the suspect “comes back into the laundry room and stares directly into the camera,” documents said. The suspect “appears to follow the path of the cord with his eyes and head from the camera around the wall above the doorway,” documents said. “He then turns to exit the laundry room, something clatters to the ground and he pauses. He continues out of the laundry room at 10:00:27 p.m.” “Blessing is seen cleaning the lint tray, appears to add more time to the dryer, then stands up and deposits the lint into the garbage at the end of the bank of dryers. … The video stops at 10:01:01 p.m.,” documents said. Seattle police released the images of the suspect in the laundry room, documents said. A man named Patrick Leahy contacted police saying the suspect in the image was “without a doubt” his brother, Christopher Leahy, according to the documents, and a friend also reached out to police identifying Christopher Leahy as the man in the photo. Christopher Leahy’s attorney called the Bellevue Police Department on Wednesday night to say he was turning himself in, documents said. Christopher Leahy came to the department with his parents and was taken into custody, the documents said. Christopher Leahy made his first court appearance on Thursday and is due back in court on Monday, according to ABC Seattle affiliate KOMO. He has not entered a plea. ByEmily Shapiro Courtesy : ABC News Note: This news is originally published on https:/abcnews.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Dalit land encroached by powerful people: Victim seeks justice at Samadhan Diwas in Manikpur
During the Samadhan Diwas held in Manikpur, Chitrakoot, a case came to light in which a Scheduled Caste man alleged illegal occupation of his agricultural land. The victim appealed to the Sub-District Magistrate for justice. A resident of Jawahar Nagar in Manikpur town stated in his complaint that his agricultural land is located in village Itro, Tehsil Manikpur. This land is registered as Khata number 105 and measures approximately 12.5 Biswas. According to the victim, this land falls under the Scheduled Caste category. The victim alleges that some villagers have forcibly occupied his entire land. The encroachers have established their occupation by placing stones and building a boundary wall. They are also attempting to establish permanent occupation by planting trees. The victim stated that despite repeated protests and complaints, no action has been taken. This has caused him financial and mental distress. On Samadhan Diwas, he demanded that the administration measure and demarcate the land, remove the encroachment, and take action against the culprits. Pankaj Tiwari | Manikpur, Chitrakoot Courtesy: Hindi News
Dalit rickshaw puller brutally beaten in Barabanki: Attacked with iron rods and bamboo sticks by goons; case filed under SC/ST Act
A case of a Dalit rickshaw puller being beaten with iron rods and bamboo sticks due to an old rivalry has come to light in the Subeha police station area of Barabanki. Police have registered a case under various sections, including the SC/ST Act, and have begun an investigation. Barabanki, Uttar Pradesh: A case of a Dalit rickshaw puller being brutally beaten due to an old rivalry has come to light in the village of Pure Amrit Majra Shukulpur, under the Subeha police station area of Barabanki district. The incident caused a stir in the area. On the complaint of the victim, police have registered a case under the SC/ST Act and other serious sections and have begun an investigation. Allegations of assault with iron rods and bamboo sticks According to the victim, Mangali, son of Haripal, a resident of Pure Amrit Majra Shukulpur, he was driving his rickshaw on May 15, 2026, at around 1:30 p.m. Meanwhile, Akhilesh, Guddu, and another unidentified man from the same village arrived in a four-wheeler. The victim alleges that the accused began abusing him over an old rivalry. When he resisted, they attacked him with an iron rod and bamboo, seriously injuring him. After the assault, the accused threatened to kill him and fled the scene. The injured youth was treated at the Community Health Center (CHC). The family immediately rushed Mangali, who was injured in the incident, to the Community Health Center (CHC), Haidergarh, where he was treated. The victim suffered multiple serious injuries. Following the incident, the family is filled with panic and anger. Police filed a case under the SC/ST Act. Following the incident, the victim went to the Subeha police station and filed a complaint against the accused. Taking the matter seriously, the police have filed a case under the SC/ST Act and other sections. In-charge Inspector Bechu Singh Yadav stated that the injured youth has been medically examined and further legal action is being taken in the case. Tension in the village, police investigating The incident has created a tense atmosphere in the village. Police are investigating the matter and searching for the accused. Local residents have demanded strict action against the culprits to prevent such incidents in the future. KAMRAN ALVI Report – Mansoof Ahmed COURTESY: HINDI NEWS
Thirumaavalavan: The centre of Tamil Nadu’s power game
The 63-year-old suddenly became the hinge between two futures: helping Vijay complete his rise to power, or accepting an extraordinary proposal from the DMK and the AIADMK to become the state’s first Dalit Chief Minister. Chennai: On May 8 and 9, Tamil Nadu politics began revolving around a Dalit man who did not hold enough MLAs to form or topple a government, or even dominate the Assembly numerically. Yet every major party waited for VCK president Tholkappiyan Thirumaavalavan. The 63-year-old suddenly became the hinge between two futures: helping TVK president C Joseph Vijay complete his rise to power, or accepting an extraordinary proposal from the DMK and the AIADMK to become the state’s first Dalit chief minister. Thirumaavalavan was neither reluctant nor confident about the latter proposal. He knew the move might have carried the tacit blessings of the BJP — his ideological adversary for nearly two decades. Yet, the DMK and the AIADMK continued to court him in a last-ditch effort. While the DMK agreed to the idea of a Dalit CM, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami initially opposed it. The original plan behind the DMK-AIADMK alignment was to let Palaniswami head a coalition government with smaller allies on both sides, backed by external support from the DMK On May 8 evening, when his decision was expected, Thirumaavalavan went incommunicado. He was later spotted at then-outgoing CM M K Stalin’s residence, and kept most visitors away, deepening speculation around his next move. The next day, TVK’s Aadhav Arjuna landed at Thirumaavalavan’s office and received the letters of support from the VCK’s two MLAs, effectively bringing down the curtains on one of the most dramatic coalition moments in TN’s politics. VCK sources insisted that the delay was not because Thirumaavalavan was interested in the CM’s post, but because he wanted to consult senior office-bearers and district-level functionaries. Political journey Born in Anganur in the Ariyalur district, Thirumaavalavan worked in the Tamil Nadu Forensic Sciences Department in Coimbatore, Chennai, and Madurai before coming into contact with Malaichamy, founder of the Dalit Panthers Iyakkam. After Malaichamy died in 1989, Thirumaavalavan assumed leadership of the movement and began working in villages across southern Tamil Nadu, where caste oppression often remained invisible. The organisation entered electoral politics in 1999 at the insistence of Congress veteran G K Moopanar, who attempted to build a Third Front against both the DMK and the AIADMK. The experiment failed electorally, but it marked Thirumaavalavan’s transition from an activist to a full-time politician. Over the next two decades, he emerged as one of Tamil Nadu’s most recognisable Dalit voices, particularly for his confrontational politics against caste violence and, later, his uncompromising opposition to the BJP and its Hindutva ideology. His politics increasingly fused Ambedkarite, Marxist, and Periyarist frameworks, while consciously bringing Muslims into a broader subaltern political coalition against majoritarian nationalism. Ironically, Thirumaavalavan first entered the Assembly from the Mangalore constituency in the Cuddalore district while aligned with a DMK-BJP alliance. He later described that phase as a political “misadventure” and resigned his seat in 2004. Since then, he has never aligned with the BJP. He also adopted a firm stand against the PMK — a Vanniyar-based party — after caste violence targeting Dalits intensified in northern Tamil Nadu. In 2011, he declared that he would never again be part of any alliance that included the PMK. Ideology vs survival? Both the DMK and the AIADMK continued courting him over the years because the VCK wielded influence across parts of northern and central Tamil Nadu, especially among Dalit youths. A three-time Lok Sabha member from Chidambaram, Thirumaavalavan became electorally useful to larger alliances while also remaining ideologically inconvenient to them. Feeling that the VCK had little independent future if it remained permanently tied to the Dravidian majors, he experimented with a Third Front in 2016 under actor Vijayakanth alongside the Left parties. The alliance collapsed electorally, and Thirumaavalavan himself lost narrowly. Since then, he has returned as a trusted DMK ally. But during the DMK’s 2021-2026 tenure, he faced increasing criticism from Dalit activists and younger cadres for his perceived silence on caste atrocities and for not holding the Stalin government sufficiently accountable. As the VCK’s seat share diminished over successive elections, many supporters urged him to walk out of the DMK alliance altogether. Yet the BJP’s presence within the AIADMK-led front closed that route. At the same time, Thirumaavalavan struggled to prevent a visible drift of Dalit youth toward Vijay and the TVK. In what many saw as an attempt to reassert independent strength, he briefly announced his candidature from Kattumannarkoil before withdrawing it after reported unhappiness within the DMK. Ultimately, the VCK won only two seats this time. Yet in a fractured Assembly, those two seats suddenly became decisive. Part of Thirumaavalavan’s long-term political project has been to expand the VCK beyond a purely Dalit party by drawing in Muslims and even sections of non-Dalit backward communities — particularly Vanniyars. It has produced partial electoral success but also internal anxieties over ideological compromise and political dilution. With just two MLAs, the VCK is now well-positioned to achieve one of its founding principles — seeking a share in power and being part of a government. And Thirumaavalavan seems to be moving towards accepting this historic opportunity and seeing his men enjoying power. Courtesy : DH Note: This news is originally published on https:/deccanherald.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Dalit Family Allegedly Barred from Public Well in Gujarat’s Surendranagar, Case Filed Under Atrocities Act
A case of alleged caste-based discrimination has surfaced from Metasar village in Patdi taluka of Gujarat’s Surendranagar district, where a Scheduled Caste family has reportedly been socially boycotted and denied access to water from a public well. The incident came to light after a video related to the alleged discrimination circulated in the area, prompting police action and triggering a wider debate on untouchability and caste-based exclusion in rural India. FIR Registered Under SC/ST Atrocities Act Following a complaint, police registered a case under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 against several individuals accused of stopping the family from using the village well and allegedly using caste-based abuse. Those named in the complaint include Kukabhai, Dharmshibhai, Mansukhbhai, Pratapbhai, Somabhai, and two women. Police have begun investigation and initiated legal proceedings. Authorities have also assigned a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP)-level officer to probe the matter, considering the seriousness of allegations involving social boycott and denial of access to a public water source. What the Complaint Says According to the complaint filed by Dilipbhai Bhikhabhai Rathod, a resident originally from Metasar who now lives in Rajkot, his family had returned to the village when the incident occurred. During their visit, a woman from the family reportedly went to fetch water from a public well but was stopped by some villagers. The accused allegedly prevented her from drawing water, used casteist slurs, and misbehaved with her. Police said an FIR was registered after preliminary verification of the complaint and available evidence. Police Say Investigation Underway Deputy Superintendent of Police Parth Parmar said that statements and evidence have been collected so far and further investigation is in progress. “All necessary evidence has been collected and further investigation is underway. Steps are being taken to detain the accused and proceed with legal action,” he said, adding that efforts are being made to ensure such incidents do not recur. Allegations of Continued Discrimination in Rural Areas The incident has also drawn reactions from social and religious voices. Buddhist monk Bhante Pathik claimed that caste discrimination remains prevalent in parts of Surendranagar district and continues to affect Scheduled Caste communities. He alleged that in some villages, social restrictions still exist on everyday practices such as grooming styles, mobility, and access to public resources. He further said that discrimination has contributed to religious conversions, claiming that over 380 people in the district have embraced Buddhism in the past decade under his guidance. 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
“We Are Pundits, You Are a Rat”: Dalit Youth Alleges Caste Abuse, Threats in Delhi’s Mehrauli
A serious case of alleged caste-based abuse and police negligence has emerged from the Mehrauli area of Delhi, where a Dalit youth, Vipin Kumar Duggal, has accused an unidentified man of publicly hurling casteist slurs and attempting to assault him. The victim claims that despite providing video evidence and details of the accused’s vehicle, the Delhi Police has not registered an FIR even several days after the incident. According to the complaint, the incident took place on May 10, 2026, around 5:35 pm, when Vipin Kumar was returning home on his motorcycle from Duggal Market. He said the altercation began near the residence of former mayor Satbir Singh after a dispute involving rash driving. “We are Pundits, You Are a Rat”: Casteist Slurs Alleged The victim alleges that the man riding a black Hero Splendor motorcycle (registration number DL3SFP1057) became aggressive after a minor road argument and began abusing him using caste-based remarks. Vipin Kumar claimed the accused pushed him and shouted derogatory slurs, saying, “I know you… we are Pundits, you are a rat… yes I am telling you,” as per the complaint. When the victim started recording the incident on his mobile phone, the accused allegedly threatened him, claiming to be an army personnel and saying that the police could not take action against him. Complaint Filed, But FIR Not Registered, Says Victim The victim immediately contacted the police helpline number 112 and later reached Mehrauli police station, where he submitted a written complaint (DD No. 145A). He alleged that instead of immediate action, the accused also arrived at the police station with associates and tried to pressure him, even misbehaving on the premises before leaving. Despite submitting vehicle details and the accused’s mobile number, the victim claims that no FIR has been registered so far. He further alleged that the investigating officer, Sub-Inspector Naveen Kumar, has not responded properly and avoided taking action even after repeated follow-ups. Repeated Police Visits and Escalation to Authorities Frustrated by what he described as police inaction, Vipin Kumar sent emails on May 12 to the DCP (South), ACP (Mehrauli), and SHO concerned, seeking immediate intervention. He also filed a complaint with the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC), alleging violation of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The victim further claimed that when he revisited the police station, the SHO denied knowledge of the case, even though several days had passed since the complaint was filed. 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
Kanpur: Dalit teenager given horrific punishment for touching a bucket of water, made to lick spit on shoes.
In Sachendi, Kanpur, a thirsty Scheduled Caste teenager touched a bucket of water belonging to a youth of a higher caste. A young man, along with his brother and two friends, brutally assaulted the teenager. Kanpur: A shocking incident has come to light from Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. In Sachendi, a young man, along with his brother and two friends, brutally assaulted the teenager. According to reports, a Dalit teenager was made to lick spit on his shoes, then forced to drink water from the same shoes. Furthermore, he was stripped naked and severely beaten. The teenager suffered a fractured hand. When people intervened, he was released. Based on the complaint filed by the victim’s father, the police have registered a case against the four accused under various sections of the SC/ST Act and have begun investigating the matter. Learn about the case According to villagers, the teenager was working in the fields on the night of May 2nd. He felt thirsty. One of the accused approached the government water tank in front of Sanjay’s house, where a bucket and a jug were kept. The teenager began drinking water from it. Here’s the allegation The allegation is that accused Sanjay, his brother Deepak, and friends Sagar and Patia began hurling casteist abuses at him. They then stripped him and made him stand in the ‘murga’ position. They beat him with sticks and kicked him, resulting in a broken arm. The accused didn’t stop there. They made the teenager lick spit from their shoes and drink water from the same shoes. Seeing this, a crowd of villagers gathered. They intervened and calmed the situation. The accused fled the scene. Investigation underway The victim’s father has filed a case against the four men. Sachendi Inspector Dinanath said that a case has been filed against the four men. The matter is being investigated and further action will be taken. Curated by: Vishal Choubey About the Author Vishal Choubey works for Navbharat Times Online. Vishal covers politics, crime, governance, and other issues in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. He has four years of experience in journalism. He joined Navbharat Times Online in April 2025. Courtesy: Hindi News
Southern CMs Vijay, Revanth, Sidda likely to join Satheesan’s swearing-in in show of opposition unity
The presence of these leaders is being viewed as politically significant, particularly in the context of the growing coordination among non-BJP parties in the southern region and the Congress party’s efforts to strengthen its influence across the South. The swearing-in ceremony of Keralam Chief Minister-designate V. D. Satheesan on Monday is set to acquire a wider political dimension with the expected participation of chief ministers from neighbouring southern states, reflecting both regional solidarity and the evolving political equations in South India after the recent Assembly elections. Chief ministers from Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Telangana have been invited to attend the oath-taking ceremony scheduled to be held at the Central Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram. The presence of these leaders is being viewed as politically significant, particularly in the context of the growing coordination among non-BJP parties in the southern region and the Congress party’s efforts to strengthen its influence across the South. The invitation extended to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay has attracted considerable attention. Vijay, who recently assumed office after the Tamil Nadu Assembly election, shares a politically important equation with the Congress leadership, which had supported his government formation efforts in the state. His expected participation in the Keralam ceremony is being seen as a continuation of the emerging political engagement between regional parties and the Congress in southern India. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy are also expected to attend the event, lending support to the new United Democratic Front government in Keralam. Both Karnataka and Telangana are currently governed by the Congress, and their participation is likely to reinforce the party’s attempts to project a united southern political front. Senior Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, are also expected to be present at the ceremony, adding to the national political visibility of the event. Political observers believe the swearing-in ceremony could become more than a routine constitutional event, as it is likely to serve as a platform for opposition leaders from the South to signal greater cooperation on national and regional issues. The participation of chief ministers from neighbouring states also underlines Keralam’s continuing importance in the broader opposition landscape ahead of future political alignments at the national level. Preparations for the ceremony are underway in Thiruvananthapuram, where thousands of party workers, supporters and leaders from across the country are expected to gather for the formal inauguration of the new government. Security arrangements have been intensified in the state capital in anticipation of the arrival of senior political leaders and large public participation. Satheesan, who led the UDF to a decisive electoral victory in Kerala, is expected to take oath along with members of his cabinet at the ceremony. The event is likely to mark the beginning of a politically significant phase for the Congress-led alliance in Kerala, while also highlighting the party’s broader attempts to consolidate its presence across southern India through coordination with regional allies and friendly state governments. 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
Kharge only leader fit to replace Siddaramaiah if CM change needed: Rayareddy
CM’s economic advisor Basavaraja Rayareddy says Siddaramaiah will complete term, calls for cabinet reshuffle by May 30 and targets PM Modi over fuel prices and economy. KOPPAL: If there is a need to change Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, then AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge is the only one qualified to replace him, said the CM’s economic advisor, Basavaraja Rayareddy. “Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will meet (LoP in Lok Sabha) Rahul Gandhi soon and the cabinet reshuffle or expansion in the state can be done by May 30. I believe that Siddaramaiah will continue as CM till the end of the current term. It is not right to change the CM repeatedly. If the cabinet is re-formed, effective governance can be given to people during the remaining two years. We can correct our shortcomings and come to power in 2028 as well,” Rayareddy said at a press conference on Saturday. “We will face the upcoming elections under the leadership of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and KPCC President D K Shivakumar. Mallikarjun Kharge, who has the same administrative experience as Siddaramaiah, should become the CM.” Asked if he has sought a ministerial berth, Rayareddy said, “I have not asked for anything I promise.” “Prime Minister Narendra Modi has increased the prices of petrol and diesel using the pretext of West Asia war. The country’s rupee has depreciated and the Modi administration has completely failed. He should resign. An economist should become the PM,” he said. Basavaraja Rayareddy 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
Thiruvananthapuram gears up for swearing-in of Congress govt
The cabinet will later hold its first meeting and submit its recommendation to the governor for convening the assembly. THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Preparations are in full swing at the Central Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram for the swearing-in ceremony of the UDF government scheduled for Monday morning. A massive stage with seating capacity for around 10,000 people is being set up at the venue. It is expected that nearly one lakh people might attend the ceremony. To enable the public to watch the oath-taking ceremony live from 10am on Monday, video walls are being installed around the stadium premises. In addition to that, LED screens will also be set up at various parts of the city, including Nishagandhi Auditorium premises. Entry for the public will be regulated through passes. Following the ceremony, the ministers will proceed to Raj Bhavan for a reception hosted by the governor. The cabinet will later hold its first meeting and submit its recommendation to the governor for convening the assembly. Senior Congress leaders, including Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi are expected to attend the event. Chief ministers from neighbouring states have also been invited. The schedule announced for the new government includes the cabinet swearing-in on Monday, oath-taking of MLAs on May 21, speaker election on May 22, governor’s policy address on May 29 and presentation of the state budget on June 5. 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