UP man gets death penalty for rape, murder of 8-yr-old Dalit girl
Agra: A special SC/ST court in Mathura on Tuesday awarded the death penalty to a 50-year-old man for abducting, raping and murdering an eight-year-old Dalit girl in 2020, calling it a “rarest of rare case for its brutality”. The autopsy report revealed multiple sharp injuries to the victim’s private parts, with severe damage to her uterus and internal bleeding in her kidneys and liver, which led to her death. Additional district govt counsel Subhash Chaturvedi said, “The doctor, Sonu Chaturvedi, who conducted the autopsy, also found injuries on the rectum and neck, deep bite marks on her shoulder and scratches on several parts of her body. She possibly died due to acute blood loss, as the convict, after assaulting her, strangled and left her to die in the forest at night.” On Nov 26, 2020, the Class II student was abducted while collecting firewood with a woman from her village in Mathura district. Her father filed a missing person complaint when she didn’t return home that evening. Police later found her body in a forested area of Vrindavan, where she had been strangled with her own clothes. The accused, a local villager, was arrested two days later on Nov 28. An FIR was registered under IPC sections 363 (kidnapping), 376 (rape), 377 (intercourse against the order of nature), 302 (murder) and 201 (destruction of evidence), along with sections of the Pocso Act and SC/ST Act. A chargesheet was filed on Jan 25, 2021, and the trial began the following month. During the trial, police presented testimonies of nine individuals, scientific evidence and autopsy findings. Investigators found the convict’s skin tissues in the victim’s nails, and a woman from the village testified that the man was a habitual offender who often misbehaved with girls. Chaturvedi said the court of additional sessions judge Brijesh Kumar rejected the convict’s plea for leniency, which claimed it was his first offence. Considering the savagery of the act, the court held him guilty and ruled that “the convict be hanged by neck till death”. It also imposed a fine of Rs 3,20,000 on the convict. 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.
Nine arrested for murdering dalit youth in Madurai
Madurai: The Madurai rural district police arrested a nine-member gang on Monday for beating a 19-year-old dalit youth to death near Perungudi, allegedly due to previous enmity on Sunday. According to police, the deceased was identified as C Alagar alias Ajay, 19, of Valayankulam in Madurai. Alagar reportedly worked for a drum set owner. On Sunday afternoon, a gang of men on two-wheelers waylaid him when he was standing near a community hall in Valayankulam. The gang, who were from a different caste, allegedly verbally abused Alagar, denoting his caste, and threatened him. They proceeded to beat and kick Alagar badly. Though people nearby tried to intervene, the gang threatened them too and fled. Despite being rushed to Government Rajaji Hospital, Alagar died on the way. The Perungudi police registered a case, including sections of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, and were investigating. On Monday, police arrested nine men: Karthik, Vishnu, Indrajit, Pandi Murugan, Hari Raghavan, Pandi, Prem Kumar, Praveen Kumar, and Karuppu in connection with the murder. Police said the gang had enmity with Alagar and they had an argument before the murder. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights.
Dalit teenager rape case: Meerut accused sentenced to 20 years imprisonment and Rs 2 lakh fine
The court has sentenced the accused to severe punishment in the case of rape of a Dalit teenager in Rampur. Abdul Qadir, a resident of Lisadi Gate, Meerut, has been sentenced by the court to 20 years imprisonment and a fine of Rs 2 lakh. The case is of 2 September 2023. The father of the minor living in the Civil Lines police station area had lodged a complaint with the police. He told that his daughter was kidnapped and raped. The police took immediate action and investigated the matter and presented the charge sheet in the court. Special Public Prosecutor Sumit Sharma presented solid evidence against the accused in the court. The defense claimed that the accused has been framed due to enmity. The ADJ POCSO Court pronounced its decision after hearing the arguments of both the parties. Police Captain Vidyasagar Mishra said that the court has settled this serious case in just two years. This decision will send a positive message in the society. Shannu Khan Courtesy : Hindi News
Dalit woman’s house wall broken in Raebareli: Gram Pradhan forcibly got Kharinja installed, victim complained to DM
A case of breaking the wall of a Dalit woman’s house has come to light in Barha village of Lalganj area of Raebareli. A woman named Meena has accused Gram Pradhan Kishore. On January 24, 2025, there was no one in Meena’s house. During this time, the Pradhan along with his associates demolished the wall of her kutcha house. Meena immediately informed the police. When the police arrived, the accused threatened the victim that they would demolish the entire house if she complained. The victim told that the Kharinja installed by former Pradhan Mahendra Singh was at the right place. The current Pradhan has demolished the wall of the house and got Kharinja built from the other side. Meena went to the police station, tehsil and block office for justice. But no officer reached the spot for investigation. On August 2, at 12 noon, Meena gave a complaint letter to District Magistrate Harshita Mathur. She has demanded to register a case against the accused under the SC-ST Act. They have also demanded removal of illegal Kharinja and their own security. Arvind Bharti Courtesy: Hindi News
Dalit Tamil Nadu official falls at DMK councillor’s feet, BJP hits out
A video from Tamil Nadu’s Villupuram district shows an officer belonging to the Scheduled Caste falling at DMK councillor Ramya Raja’s feet inside Tindivanam Municipality office. He later alleged threats and casteist slurs. BJP’s Annamalai accused DMK of “social injustice.”A video from Tamil Nadu’s Villupuram district showing a Scheduled Caste government officer falling at the feet of a DMK councillor inside Tindivanam Municipality office has triggered outrage and political backlash. The officer, Muniyappan, is seen apologising to councillor Ramya Raja as voices in the room asked him to say sorry. 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.
Transformative Change: Empowering Transgender Rights
India’s premier human rights body is set to host a transformative national conference focused on transgender rights, aiming to ensure dignity and equal opportunity for the community. The event will gather diverse stakeholders to discuss and recommend policy reforms, enhancing inclusion and supporting transgender rights in India. India’s National Human Rights Commission is leading the charge for transformative change by hosting a national conference on transgender rights. Scheduled for September 4 at the India Habitat Centre, the event aims to ensure dignity and equal opportunities for transgender individuals, according to officials. The NHRC emphasizes that integrating transgender persons into society is not just a legal obligation but a moral duty. The conference is expected to draw government officials, legal experts, policymakers, civil society representatives, and media to discuss strategies for advancing transgender rights. Focusing on the theme ‘Revamping Spaces, Reclaiming Voices’, the conference seeks to address systemic discrimination and foster inclusion. It will also evaluate legal frameworks and welfare programs to propose reforms that promote equal access to education, healthcare, and employment for transgender persons. (With inputs from agencies.) Courtesy : Devdiscourse Note: This news is originally published on https:/devdiscourse.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights.
NHRC to organise national conference on Rights of Transgender Persons in Delhi on Sept 4
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India, is hosting a national conference on the Rights of Transgender Persons on Thursday in the national capital. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India, is hosting a national conference on the Rights of Transgender Persons on Thursday in the national capital. Centered on the theme “Revamping Spaces, Reclaiming Voices,” the conference, which will be held at the Stein Auditorium, India Habitat Centre, emphasises the immediate need to tackle systemic discrimination, uplift lived experiences, and promote meaningful inclusion for transgender persons in all areas of life. Justice V Ramasubramanian, Chairperson, NHRC, will be gracing the event as the Chief Guest. A wide spectrum of participants, including government officials, judicial and legal experts, policymakers, civil society organisations, community leaders, academics, law enforcement agencies, and media representatives, will convene for an in-depth, day-long dialogue focused on the challenges, opportunities, and policy priorities necessary to guarantee the rights of transgender persons in India. The conference aims to create a national platform for dialogue on the rights and welfare of transgender persons, review the implementation of legal provisions and welfare schemes such as the Transgender Persons Act, 2019, and the SMILE scheme, and recommend practical policy reforms to strengthen institutional care, reduce stigma, and enhance access to education, healthcare, and employment. It also seeks to ensure greater accountability and sensitisation within law enforcement agencies, while celebrating the voices and resilience of transgender persons and acknowledging their contribution to India’s social fabric. As transgender persons have always been part of India’s social and cultural fabric, their journey reflects a passage from invisibility to recognition and now towards inclusion. Once respected and celebrated in epics, traditions, and community practices, their dignity and social standing gradually diminished over time, leaving the community struggling for acceptance and equality. Courtesy : The Statesman Note: This news is originally published on https:/thestatesman.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights.
‘She had nothing to do with politics’: Modi slams RJD, Cong over mother’s insult; women voters in focus
PATNA: Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi on Tuesday hit back at the RJD and Congress, saying the people of Bihar and the country must hold them accountable for humiliating “matri shakti” by using indecent language against his late mother. “Har gali mohalla se aawaaz aani chahiye: Maa ka apman.., RJD ka atyachar … ijjat par vaar nahin sahenge (every street and locality must raise its voice: mother’s humiliation, RJD’s atrocities. We will not tolerate an assault on dignity),” he said emotionally, while addressing around 20 lakh women across the state through videoconference at the launch of Bihar Rajya Jeevika Nidhi Credit Cooperative Federation Limited. Referring to the abusive language used for his mother in Darbhanga during the Congress-RJD ‘Voter Adhikar Yatra’ on Aug 27, Modi targeted leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, for addressing him with “tu-tadak”. He said those born in a “shahi khandan” with a silver spoon could not understand a mother’s struggles in raising children. “It’s easy for them to abuse Modi’s mother, who question even the identity of Bharat Mata. They cannot tolerate a person from backward or extremely backward class running the govt. The prince thinks only the namdaar has the right to rule. Their arrogance bursts into verbal abuse when a kamdaar occupies the chair,” he said in an oblique reference to Rahul Gandhi and RJD chief Lalu Prasad’s son Tejashwi Prasad Yadav. With assembly elections due in Oct-Nov, Modi sought the blessings of nari-shakti for the NDA govt. He alleged that the RJD opposed women’s reservation, resisted their progress and insulted women leaders, including President Droupadi Murmu. “During the RJD rule in Bihar, women worried about the safe return of their husbands and sons because the govt then patronised criminals, rapists and murderers,” he added. The PM accused RJD and Congress of repeatedly abusing him. “They called me a drain worm and a poisonous snake. But I could never imagine what happened a few days ago in Bihar where Maai ke sthan, Devta Pitar se bhi upar hola,” he said, stressing that his late mother, who had nothing to do with politics, had been dragged into abuse. “This is an insult to the mothers, sisters and daughters of the country. Today, when I see the women of Bihar in such large numbers, I share my sorrow with you. With your blessings, I may bear this pain,” he said. RJD spokesman Shakti Singh Yadav said, “The NDA is worried by the success of the Voter Adhikar Yatra in Bihar. The PM should not level false allegations on RJD and Congress. We always respect women and none of our leaders was on the Darbhanga stage where the incident took place.” 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.
‘No coincidence’: Amit Malviya targets Pawan Khera’s wife over 2 voter IDs; drags in Sonia’s 1980 entry
NEW DELHI: BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya on Wednesday intensified his attack on the Congress, this time targeting Pawan Khera’s wife and Congress leader Kota Neelima. Malviya alleged that Neelima holds “two active EPICs – one registered Khairatabad and another in New Delhi.” — amitmalviya (@amitmalviya) He also hit out at Rahul Gandhi, saying the Congress leader held a press conference without “adequate due diligence.” Malviya claimed Rahul “targeted and tarnished honest voters — even putting them at risk by revealing their identities without consent. He doxxed young, upwardly mobile professionals and poor daily wagers who had moved cities in search of better opportunities.” Referring to Rahul’s earlier allegations of “vote chori” and claims that the Election Commission was “colluding with the BJP” during recent assembly elections, Malviya added: “Yet, he has maintained an equivocal silence on the shocking revelation that his close aide holds two EPIC cards. Is he the only one? Apparently not.” Also read: BJP steps up attack on Congress; claims Pawan Khera has 2 voter ID cards Malviya further alleged that “it’s now quite obvious” that Congress leaders hold multiple voter IDs across constituencies. “This is no coincidence,” he said, also drawing Sonia Gandhi into the row: “The rot isn’t limited to Pawan Khera and family. It goes back to the top — when Sonia Gandhi, an Italian, managed to get her name included in the voter list in 1980.” This fresh round of accusations comes a day after Malviya had claimed that Pawan Khera himself held two EPICs. Following that, the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) of New Delhi issued a notice to Khera, stating that his name appears in both the New Delhi and Jangpura constituencies, and asked why action should not be taken against him. Khera, however, hit back at the Election Commission, alleging bias. He said the poll body functions “to support the ruling regime” and questioned why no notice had been issued to “the 1,00,000 fake voters of Mahadevapura constituency” in Karnataka, as highlighted earlier by Rahul Gandhi. 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.
‘Hydrogen bomb in Varanasi’: Rahul Gandhi’s next vote theft ‘expose’ may be on PM Modi’s seat; UP Congress chief Ajay Rai drops hint
NEW DELHI: Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Ajay Rai on Tuesday claimed that Rahul Gandhi’s “hydrogen bomb” will go off in Varanasi — suggesting that the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha may expose alleged “vote chori” (vote theft) on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s parliamentary seat. “Like our leader (Rahul Gandhi) said yesterday, after his ‘atom bomb’ expose on Bengaluru’s Mahadevapura assembly seat, we will now explode ‘hydrogen bomb’. Which is the most powerful bomb? Hydrogen bomb. Such a bomb should explode at the most important place. Now it’s obvious what happened in Banaras (Varanasi) after 1 pm (on June 4 – day of Lok Sabha election counting). PM Modi cheated to win,” Rai told reporters. He clarified, however, that he had not spoken to Gandhi on the matter and that these were his own views. “It’s obvious, isn’t it, what he (Gandhi) was hinting at,” Rai added. Ex-Congress president Gandhi had made the “hydrogen bomb” remark at a mega rally in Patna on Monday, which marked the culmination of his 16-day state-wide tour of poll-bound Bihar. Throughout his tour, he reiterated his “vote chort” charge against the Election Commission and BJP. “I showed ‘atom bomb’ to expose the vote theft in Mahadevapura but now I am coming out soon with a more powerful ‘hydrogen bomb’ to make the whole country aware about the truth of vote theft,” he told the Patna gathering. The RaeBareli MP then directly targeted PM Modi, saying the prime minister “would not be able to face the public” after the revelation. PM Modi’s victory margin in Varanasi—where he was elected to the Lok Sabha for a third consecutive term—was his lowest so far. He secured 54 per cent of the vote, compared with 64 per cent in 2014 and 56 per cent in 2019. Rai, who contested against him, polled 41 per cent, a significant rise from just 7 per cent when he finished third in 2014. 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.