Police inspector dismissed for tardy inquiries into TN dalit youth’s suicide
CUDDALORE: Sethiathope police inspector P Jaishankar has been dismissed from service for tardy investigation into the suicide of a dalit youth when he served as Kadar inspector in charge in Villupuram district in 2022. DIG (Villupuram range) A Arularasu passed an order in this regard on Monday. Police said a quarrel erupted between two groups from different communities over a petty issue in Soorapattu village under Kadar police station limits on Dec 21, 2022. Jaishankar registered cases against the members of the two communities involved in the clash following complaints and counter-complaints. Two days later, M Raja, a dalit, who was also booked, died by suicide. The Kadar police arrested two members of the vanniyar community on charges of forcing the dalit youth to die by suicide. However, investigating officer Jaishankar failed to probe the case in an effective and efficient manner, following which he was suspended. A few months later, his suspension was revoked. He was transferred to Sethiathope police station in Cuddalore district. The committee, which was inquiring into the charges against the inspector, submitted the final report to the DIG (Villupuram range). 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
20,000 acres of land allotted to Dalits, OBCs, tribals in Gujarat not handed over yet: Vadgam MLA Jignesh Mevani
Gandhinagar: State Congress working president and Vadgam MLA Jignesh Mevani said in the assembly on Tuesday that 20,000 acres of land allotted to Dalits, OBCs and tribals was not yet handed over to them in the state. Speaking during a discussion on the Saurashtra Gharkhed, Tenancy Settlement and Agricultural Lands (Gujarat Amendment) Bill, Mevani said that in Surendranagar district, Dalit farm labourers wrote to authorities for 15 years about encroachments on their 7,500 acres of land, yet no action was taken. “I raised this issue multiple times over the past eight years in the assembly. The govt must commit to resolving this issue. If we can allocate land to large corporate entities, why is the state not handing over land for cultivation? The state revenue department must act to remove illegal encroachments and ensure justice for the marginalised,” he said. During past assembly sessions too, Mevani had asked the govt to register offences in cases where Dalits have been allotted land parcels under Gujarat Agriculture Land Ceiling Act, but the same remained illegally encroached upon by non-Dalits. He demanded that preventive measures should be taken by the police to ensure that the land allottees do not suffer loss of life or property in case they go on their own to take possession of the illegally encroached land. 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
SP MLA flags policy on nod for Dalit events
Lucknow: A heated exchange took place in the UP Assembly after Samajwadi Party (SP) MLA from Jasrana, Sachin Yadav, questioned the state govt’s policy regarding permissions for religious events, jayantis, and processions primarily related to Dalit ideologues. Raising the issue during Question Hour, Yadav asked whether the govt would consider formulating a “simple and safe policy” to address alleged administrative irregularities in religious programmes and shobha yatras carried out by Dalit communities. He sought to know if govt would remove condition of “presence in conventional police register” and allow “every section” of society to observe jayantis and carry out processions of their leaders without discrimination. Yadav asked govt if process for obtaining permission would be simplified and whether approvals for village-level processions could be granted locally. Responding to the query, state parliamentary affairs minister Suresh Khanna squarely rejected allegations of discrimination levelled by the SP legislator. Courtesy : TOI
Rape of Dalit girl in Uttar Pradesh: Man sentenced to life imprisonment
Ballia (UP): A local court in Ballia on Tuesday convicted the accused in a year-old case of raping a Dalit girl and sentenced him to life imprisonment. The Public Prosecutor’s Office (PPO) provided this information. PPO Officer Vimal Kumar Rai stated on Wednesday that in February 2025, Manjeet Gupta, alias Neeraj Gupta, of Pur village, lured a 14-year-old Dalit girl from a village in the Pakadi police station area and raped her for approximately three months. The girl’s family learned of the incident only after she became pregnant. He stated that a case was registered against Gupta at the Pakadi police station on February 26, 2025, based on a complaint from the girl’s mother. After an investigation, the police filed a charge sheet against the accused in court. Rai stated that the court of Additional Sessions Judge First Kant, hearing the case on Tuesday, convicted the accused, sentenced him to life imprisonment, and also imposed a fine of ₹75,000. Salim Surabhi This story was auto-fed from Bhasha news agency. ThePrint is not responsible for its content. Courtesy: Hindi News
Can’t a Dalit fly? Bihar IAS officer’s charter flight for family sparks row
A chartered flight from Delhi to Patna taken by a Bihar-cadre IAS officer and his family has triggered a political storm over privilege and propriety. After a Congress MLA raised questions over who paid for the trip, a BJP minister invoked the officer’s Dalit identity to defend him. He turned the row into a slugfest charged with caste. A senior Bihar-cadre IAS officer is at the centre of a political controversy. The Opposition in Bihar questioned how a civil servant flew his family on a chartered flight. However, a debate that should have centred around accountability and use of public money sank into the swamp of caste politics. The Opposition—the RJD and the Congress—questioned how the IAS officer, Nilesh Ramchandra Deore, could afford a chartered flight and who paid for it. Deore took the chartered flight with his family from Delhi to Patna last year. The JDU-BJP-led Bihar government said that the plane was already returning to Patna, and he only made the best use of it. However, the controversy took a turn when Bihar minister Ashok Choudhary used Deore’s Dalit identity to hit back at the Opposition. He wielded the convenient weapon of caste, and asked whether the officer had no right to fly because he was a Dalit. Here’s all that has happened so far. WHAT TRIGGERED ROW OVER IAS OFFICER’S CHARTERED FLIGHT IN BIHAR The controversy began in the Bihar Legislative Assembly on Monday. RJD MLA Rahul Sharma flagged that Nilesh Ramchandra Deore had travelled by a chartered plane with his family from New Delhi to Patna in June 2025, reported Bihar Tak, India Today Digital’s sister portal. Sharma questioned how an IAS officer could afford such a flight. He asked how Deore managed to take a chartered plane, which is costly. “On June 5, 2025, a chartered King Air Falcon 2000 flew from Delhi to Patna. It did not park at the regular civilian airport but reportedly went to a flying institute, raising questions. A Bihar government officer was on board with his family, four people in total. Was permission taken or not? I do not think the Bihar government can officially extend such a facility. If someone else paid, why did they pay? What did they receive in return?” Sharma, an MLA representing Jahanabad’s Ghosi seat, asked. “His entire tenure should be audited to establish the facts. People do not pat for a tempo ride, but he was given access to a private aircraft. There appears to be a nexus of corruption operating in Bihar, and this must be thoroughly investigated. There appears to be a nexus of corruption operating in Bihar, and this must be thoroughly investigated. The government’s silence is telling and only deepens suspicion. Bihar is a poor state, and allegations of corruption are both serious and deeply concerning. We only want to know how an IAS officer can afford a journey by a chartered plane,” Congress MLA Sharma told News4Nation, a local YouTube channel. The allegation quickly snowballed. The Congress MLA’s focus was not only on the flight. It was also over the (mis)use of privilege, propriety and public money. Deore, who is a Secretary with both the Tourism and Civil Aviation departments of the Bihar government, is a native of Maharashtra. WHAT BIHAR GOVERNMENT MINISTER SAID ABOUT THE FLIGHT AND WAS IT AN OFFICIAL TRIP? The Bihar government moved to clarify on the matter. Bihar Rural Works Minister Ashok Choudhary responded in the Assembly. “Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Civil Aviation Secretary Nilesh Deore and I were on an official trip from Patna to Delhi last July. The plane had to return to Patna anyway. Deore and his family boarded the plane on its return journey,” Choudhary said in a video. Though the flight was reportedly in June, the minister said it was in July. The month, however, is incidental to the entire saga as of now. Choudhary also sharpened the political tone. He asked if Deore had no right to fly because he was a Dalit. “Do Dalits and backward communities not have the right to board an aircraft? What sin has been committed here? And what is the background of those raising these questions?” Choudhary asked. The BJP leader’s explanation suggested that the aircraft was already scheduled to return. The implication was that there was no additional burden on the exchequer because of the flight. “He is an officer with a service record. He worked extensively in the education sector in Banka and Bettiah. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar appreciated his work and later gave him a role in the Civil Aviation Department. Supporters argue it is not a big deal as the flight was, anyway, returning empty. They say questions are being raised without homework and ask why Nilesh Deore is being targeted. Some also point out that during his stint in the health department he took stern action against 25 people, and wonder whether that has anything to do with the controversy now,” Choudhary said while speaking to journalists. Choudhary’s remark shifted the debate to caste. It was no longer just about a flight, professional conduct or accountability. It became a matter of caste and entitlement. IS IAS OFFICER’S CHARTER FLIGHT ABOUT CASTE OR ABOUT USE OF PUBLIC MONEY? The Congress pushed back against the BJP leader’s response, saying the issue was not about caste but about transparency and accountability. “Rather than the government or the officer in question putting the record straight, Choudhary has been trying to play the Dalit card. We only want the government to tell us if the officer was charged a fare for his travel or if the journey was at the expense of the poor,” Bihar Congress spokesperson Asit Nath Tiwari was quoted as saying by The Indian Express newspaper. The Opposition’s central question has been simple. Was any fare paid? If yes, how much? If not, why not? The JDU-BJP government has so far only clarified the circumstances of the return flight. It has not publicly detailed whether Deore paid
Dalit activists demand Karnataka release and implement Rohith Vemula Bill in budget session
Dalit groups, academics and students warned of protests if the Congress government delays the draft of the Rohith Vemula Act, seeking safeguards against caste discrimination in educational institutions. BENGALURU: Even as the Congress government in Karnataka has delayed releasing the draft of the Rohith Vemula Bill, Dalit activists, academics, and students have demanded that it be made public and implemented in educational institutions during the upcoming budget session. Activists have warned of massive protests if the government fails to act. The “Campaign for Rohith Vemula Act,” active for the past two years, has prepared a “People’s Draft” aimed at providing equal educational opportunities for SC/ST students and eliminating caste discrimination in institutions. This draft has already been submitted to the state government during previous meetings. Condemning the delay, Mavalli Shankar, State Convener of the Dalit Sangharsh Samiti (Ambedkar Vaada), said, “The state government has already promised to implement the Rohith Act. It is regrettable that the draft has not yet been made public or discussed in the Assembly. This Act is essential to ensure equal opportunities in higher education for Dalit and Adivasi students. The Congress party, which swears by the Constitution, must take concrete steps to realise the values of the preamble. Enacting the Rohith Vemula Act would mark a historic step toward ensuring dignity, equality, and justice in Karnataka’s universities and colleges.” Ashna Singh, Assistant Professor at the National Law School of India University, Bangalore, who conducted research for the draft, said, “To break the caste hierarchy, reservation in government jobs was first implemented during the reign of the Mysore Wodeyars. Karnataka has a history of protecting Dalits, Adivasis, and Bahujans through special laws such as PTCL, KTPP, the abolition of the Devadasi system, and anti-social boycott laws. In this same spirit, implementing the Rohith Act is a necessity.” 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
In a first, Jharkhand’s Ramgarh gets cafe run by transgender persons
An initiative of the district administration, the cafe will be managed by a group of 10 transgender persons In a first, Jharkhand’s Ramgarh gets cafe run by transgender persons In a first-of-its-kind initiative in Jharkhand, a cafe has been set up in Ramgarh district that will be run exclusively by members of the transgender community. Deputy Commissioner (DC) Faiz Aq Ahmed Mumtaz inaugurated ‘TransCafe’ at the district collectorate park on Tuesday. An initiative of the district administration, the cafe will be managed by a group of 10 transgender persons. “For far too long, members of the transgender community have faced social exclusion and economic marginalisation, and it is time we correct these historic injustices through concrete action,” Mumtaz said after inaugurating the cafe. “Our initiative aims to integrate them into the mainstream while respecting their identity and rights. We are committed to creating an inclusive Ramgarh where everyone can live with respect, safety, and opportunity,” he said. The DC said dedicated OPD services are being provided to the transgender community at the district hospital every Saturday afternoon. “Three dedicated toilets have been opened for them recently at different public places. We have also employed two members of the community, one in the DC office and another in Sadar Hospital, through outsourcing,” he added. A self-help group has been formed, and it will run the cafe, the DC said. SHG president Himanshi Pradhan said the initiative would help transgender persons to lead a respectful life. Himanshi, who is pursuing an MBA from IGNOU, said the steps taken by the district administration would help the overall development of the community and uplift their social strata. Courtesy : Mid-Day Note: This news is originally published on https:/mid-day.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Relief for Rahul Gandhi as Karnataka HC quashes BJP’s defamation case over 2023 ‘graft’ advertisement
BENGALURU: In a big relief for Rahul Gandhi, Karnataka HC Tuesday quashed proceedings against the Congress MP in a defamation case filed by BJP on a ‘corruption rate card’ advertisement against then state BJP govt in 2023. Allowing a petition filed by the leader of the opposition in LS, Justice S Sunil Dutt Yadav said continuation of proceedings would amount to abuse of process of law. The court said, “Imputation itself is by way of innuendo, and such imputation is sought to be stretched to the party. Sans the tweet, the advertisement makes no reference to the party; rather (it) makes an imputation to the functionaries mentioned in the advertisement.” CM Siddaramaiah and DCM DK Shivakumar were arraigned as accused in the case. BJP’s complaint had alleged that, in the advertisement given on May 5, 2023 in all mainstream newspapers, the accused made “fanciful, baseless, foundationless, and irrational allegations” against the complainant party. Case reveals casual approach of complainant, says court The court pointed to procedural lapses, including that there was no inquiry under Section 202 of CrPC, which is mandated where the accused is outside the court’s territorial jurisdiction. This revealed “a very casual approach” of the complainant in not insisting on such an inquiry before summons was issued to the accused (Rahul), the judge said. In his petition, Rahul Gandhi said there was no prima facie material placed by the prosecution to prove the charges against him and that the complainant failed to produce any documentary evidence to show he circulated the alleged advertisement on his Twitter handle. 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
Revanth to brief Rahul, Kharge on govt performance, poll wins
Hyderabad: Chief minister A Revanth Reddy is heading to Delhi on Feb 19 along with his entire cabinet and TPCC president B Mahesh Kumar Goud to meet the Congress high command, in what is seen as a key political review ahead of upcoming electoral battles. A meeting with senior leaders Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge and KC Venugopal is scheduled at AICC headquarters on Thursday. Sources said Revanth is expected to inform the leadership that voters across rural and urban Telangana backed the Congress in recent polls, dealing a major setback to the BRS and BJP. The chief minister is also likely to present a report on the govt’s two-year performance, detailing promises and guarantees already implemented and those planned for the remaining three years of the term. He is expected to convey that public response to welfare schemes has been positive and that the party’s winning streak continues in assembly by-elections as well as panchayat and urban local body polls. The AICC has been conducting similar review meetings with state units to assess the political situation, strengthen grassroots organisation and prepare for upcoming elections. According to sources, consultations have already been held with 14 state units under the ‘Sanghatan Srijan Abhiyan’, which includes the appointment of new district Congress committee presidents. Progress reports Ministers from Telangana are reportedly preparing detailed progress reports of their respective departments ahead of the meeting. “If inquired by the AICC, the ministers will present their progress report too,” a source said. Discussions may also touch upon other sensitive issues, including internal differences among senior leaders and ministers, allegations related to coal mining tenders, and campaign planning in states such as Kerala and others heading for assembly elections in the near future. 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
‘Chinese products showcased’: Rahul Gandhi calls AI Impact summit ‘disorganised PR spectacle’
NEW DELHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday slammed AI Impact Summit, terming it a “disorganised PR spectacle.” In a social media post on X, the leader of opposition in Lok Sabha claimed that Indian data is up for sale in the event while Chinese products are being showcased. “Instead of leveraging India’s talent and data, the AI summit is a disorganised PR spectacle – Indian data up for sale, Chinese products showcased,” Rahul said. Rahul also quoted a post by Congress which said that Modi government has made a “laughing stock of India globally”, with regard to AI. “In the ongoing AI summit, Chinese robots are being displayed as our own. The Chinese media has mocked us. This is truly embarrassing for India. What is even more shameful is the fact that Modi’s minister Ashwini Vaishnaw is indulging in the same falsehood, promoting China’s robots at the Indian summit,” the party said. “The Modi Government has caused irreparable damage to the image of the country – they have reduced AI to a joke – a field in which we could be world leaders given our data power,” it added. This comes after Galgotia University showcased a robotic dog labled “Orion” at the AI Summit expo. However, the university faced backlash as critics claimed that the product was actually a Chinese-made Unitree Go2 and not an in-house innovation. Meanwhile, Galgotias University has been asked to vacate its stall at the AI Summit Expo immediately, news agency PTI reported citing government sources. 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