Ceasefire at the border rekindles conflict within Karnataka Congress
Bengaluru: With tensions between India and Pakistan easing with the declaration of a ceasefire, conflicts and internal bickering has resumed in the two major national parties — governing Congress and principal opposition BJP — in Karnataka. Some members in both parties are pressing for a change at the helm. Senior Congress functionaries say the decision to go ahead with the Sadhana Samavesha event — scheduled for May 20 in Hospet, Vijayanagara district to mark two years of the party in office — has kicked off rivalries between camps led by chief minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy DK Shivakumar. Besides talk over the unofficial “pact” that Shivakumar would replace Siddaramaiah as CM at the halfway mark of this govt’s five-year tenure, there is also bickering on the appointment of a new KPCC president and an impending reshuffle of the cabinet. Functionaries claim the party high command had promised to induct a new batch of MLAs into the cabinet after the govt crossed the halfway mark. They say this is why Siddaramaiah filled all 34 ministerial berths when he formed the govt in May 2023. Seniors including Lok Sabha opposition leader Rahul Gandhi and Shivakumar, also KPCC president, had previously suggested as much when they said in public forums that the current set of ministers must make way for those who did not get an opportunity earlier. A large section of MLAs intends to remind Rahul and the party’s high command of this promise when he visits for the Sadhana Samavesha. “As elected representatives, we obviously aspire for ministerial posts so that we serve our constituents better,” said PM Narendra Swamy, Malavalli MLA and chairman of Karnataka State Pollution Control Board. “We will raise the issue at the proper forum. However, we will abide by the decision of the high command.” While a huge contingent of fresh faces is hoping for a ministerial berth, many seniors, including UT Khader, currently serving as speaker of the assembly, former minister RV Deshpande, former deputy chief minister Lakshman Savadi and legislators like Shivalinge Gowda, Vinay Kulkarni, and Appaji Nagagouda are also hoping to make the transition. However, the hitch is that incumbent ministers are unwilling to vacate their posts. While Shivakumar’s supporters like Channagiri MLA Shivagganga Basavaraj insist Siddaramaiah will have to make way for “their leader”, the CM’s loyalists, including urban development minister Byrathi Suresha, have said Siddaramaiah will continue in his present position for the full term. “As ministers, we cannot comment on a cabinet reshuffle or appointment of CM since it is the high command’s decision,” said food and civil supplies minister KH Muniyappa. “However, I think all of us, except a few first-time ministers who need more time to prove their mettle, may consider making way for others.” In BJP, the friction over the state president is intensifying as the detractors of incumbent BY Vijayendra are still pressing for his replacement, while his supporters maintain that the high command has promised to reaffirm his position. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https://timesofindia.com/ and is for use by the non-military/non-commercial community, especially those in the human rights sector.
Operation Sindoor: Congress demands answers from Modi govt
NEW DELHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will hold a press conference on Friday to address the issues arising after the ceasefire between India and Pakistan, as the party said the govt needs to answer the questions triggered by US President’s Donald Trump’s announcements on ceasefire that have led to internationalisation of Kashmir and a hyphenation of India and Pakistan. Congress will take out Jai Hind Yatras in cities to counter the BJP’s attempt to “politicise the operation against Pakistan”. The party reiterated the need for accountability on “intelligence failure” in Pahalgam, lamenting that it had not yet been fixed yet. A meeting of the CWC, chaired by Rahul Gandhi, expressed concerns that Prime Minister has chosen to remain silent on the crucial issue of comments from US leaders, which have resulted in hyphenation between India and Pakistan and led to belief that it has a leverage over the country. It said the PM should clarify the issues raised by Trump’s remarks. The gathering decided that Modi govt needed to be put on the mat for its “poorly devised” conclusion of hostilities without any guarantees on terror from Pakistan. Congress reiterated its demand for an all-party meeting chaired by the PM and a special session of Parliament. The party also demanded the resignation of MP minister Vijay Shah for his “appalling” comments on Col Sophiya Qureshi. Rahul Gandhi is learnt to have said that Congress fully backs the actions of the armed forces, but the US seems to have taken India for granted and it is not clear who rushed to America seeking intervention. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said that tough questions should be asked of the govt. Crucially, Sachin Pilot is learnt to have noted that Trump and US secretary of state Marco Rubio have not mentioned the word “terror” even once in their tweets and comments, while Kashmir has figured prominently there. The development was dubbed as alarming by many in the meeting which included P Chidambaram, K C Venugopal, Ajay Maken, Shashi Tharoor, Randeep Surjewala, Pawan Khera and Jairam Ramesh among others. According to sources, the leaders felt BJP’s “politicisation of war” should be countered, with Randeep Surjewala suggesting that Congress take out Jai Hind Yatras in cities to challenge the BJP’s Tiranga Yatras. However, there appeared not much worry about BJP seeking to play the war card, with many opining that the ruling party’s rallies are a “face saver” because people were asking questions about the ceasefire brokered by the US, which has given Pakistan an advantage. Jairam Ramesh told reporters that PM calling an exclusive meeting of NDA chief ministers on May 25th, excluding other CMs, is a blatant attempt at politicisation of the operation against Pakistan. He said the PM should have called all the CMs. Interestingly, Shashi Tharoor, who has emerged as a vocal face in media defending India’s actions while also backing the govt, is learnt to have suggested that foreign secretary should be grilled on strategy when he briefs the parliamentary standing committee. Foreign secretaryVikram Misri will meet the panel chaired by Tharoor next week. Some leaders including Pilot are said to have underlined that China has come out openly in support of Pakistan but international support has been missing for India, with even Russia staying mum. The very durability of ceasefire was questioned as Pakistan govt is unstable and the army is calling the shots, sources said. In a resolution, the CWC said the abrupt end to action against Pakistan has raised questions as US President Donald Trump announced the ceasefire first and said he used the threat of trade to pressure India. It termed the govt’s silence “inexplicable and unacceptable”. “This represents a dangerous and unprecedented hyphenation of India with Pakistan, which compromises our national position and prestige,” the resolution said. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https://timesofindia.com/ and is for use by the non-military/non-commercial community, especially those in the human rights sector.
Dalit young man stopped from entering temple in Karnataka
When the man protested, reminding the upper caste man of being a hindrance in exercising his constitutional rights, others joined in, abused him with casteist slurs, and forced him to leave. Tension broke out in Karnataka’s Kavanadala village of Madhugiri taluk on Saturday, May 10, after a Dalit young man was allegedly stopped from entering a local temple by members of the temple committee. Swaminatha, who was visiting relatives, went to the Ramanjaneya temple to perform a pooja but was denied entry by Shivananda, who curtly told him that Dalits were not allowed inside. When Swaminatha protested, reminding the upper caste man of being a hindrance in exercising his constitutional rights, others joined in, abused him with casteist slurs, and forced him to leave. The Dalit young man filed a police complaint with the Badavanahalli police station. On information, officials from the Police, Revenue, and Social Welfare departments visited the village and a peace meeting was held where they said practising caste discrimination is against the rule of law. After the intervention, Swaminatha was allowed to enter the temple. Authorities assured that Dalits in the village would no longer face such discrimination. Superintendent of Police Ashok KV said the issue was resolved peacefully, but an investigation is ongoing and legal action will follow based on the findings. Posted by Veena Nair Courtesy : TSD Note: This news is originally published on https://thesiasatdaily.com/ and is for use by the non-military/non-commercial community, especially those in the human rights sector.
Justice B R Gavai, second Dalit to be sworn in as Chief Justice of India
Justice Gavai has been a part of several Constitution benches in the apex court, which delivered path-breaking verdicts. New Delhi: Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai, who has been part of several benches that delivered landmark rulings, including the one upholding the Centre’s decision to abrogate provisions of Article 370 bestowing special status to Jammu and Kashmir, was on Wednesday, May 14, sworn in as the 52nd Chief Justice of India. The 64-year-old was administered oath by President Droupadi Murmu at a brief ceremony at the Ganatantra Mandap in the Rashtrapati Bhavan. He succeeds Justice Sanjiv Khanna, who demitted office on Tuesday on attaining the age of 65. MS Creative School CJI Gavai, who was elevated as a judge of the Supreme Court on May 24, 2019, will have a tenure of over six months and will demit office on November 23. He took the oath of affirmation in Hindi. Soon after he took oath, CJI Gavai sought blessings of his mother Kamal Tai Gavai by touching her feet. He was greeted by Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union ministers and former judges. He is the second Dalit person and the first Buddhist to hold the esteemed position of Chief Justice of India. The first Dalit CJI was KG Balakrishnan, who served from 2007 to 2010. About CJI Gavai Born on November 24, 1960, in Amravati, Justice Gavai was elevated as an additional judge of the Bombay High Court on November 14, 2003. He became a permanent judge of the High Court on November 12, 2005. He had joined the bar on March 16, 1985, and was the standing counsel for the Municipal Corporation of Nagpur, Amravati Municipal Corporation and Amravati University. Justice Gavai was appointed an assistant government pleader and additional public prosecutor in the Bombay High Court’s Nagpur bench from August 1992 to July 1993. He was appointed a government pleader and public prosecutor for the Nagpur bench on January 17, 2000. Important verdicts by CJI Gavai Justice Gavai has been a part of several Constitution benches in the apex court, which delivered path-breaking verdicts. He was part of a five-judge Constitution bench which in December 2023 unanimously upheld the Centre’s decision to abrogate provisions of Article 370, bestowing special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. Another five-judge Constitution bench, of which Justice Gavai was a part, declared the electoral bonds scheme unconstitutional and cancelled for political funding. He was part of a five-judge Constitution bench which, by a 4:1 majority verdict, gave its stamp of approval to the Centre’s 2016 decision to demonetise Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 denomination currency notes. Justice Gavai was also part of a seven-judge Constitution bench, which by a 6:1 majority held that states are constitutionally empowered to make sub-classifications within the Scheduled Castes, which form a socially heterogeneous class, for granting reservation for the uplift of castes that are socially and educationally more backwards among them. A seven-judge Constitution bench, also having Justice Gavai ruled that the arbitration clause in an unstamped or insufficiently stamped agreement between parties was enforceable as such a defect was curable and did not render the contract invalid. In an important verdict, a bench headed by Justice Gavai laid down pan-India guidelines and said no property should be demolished without a prior show-cause notice, and the affected must be given 15 days to respond. He is also heading the bench which is hearing matters related to forests, wildlife and protection of trees. Posted by Veena Nair Courtesy : TSD Note: This news is originally published on https://thesiasatdaily.com/ and is for use by the non-military/non-commercial community, especially those in the human rights sector.
The Caste on Your Plate: How Food Became India’s Silent Divide
Explore how India’s food culture is intertwined with caste, highlighting Dalit chefs like Asha Kowtal and Shahu Patole as they challenge norms through festivals and books. The sizzle of Tadka/Chhunka in a pan. The aroma of freshly cooked rice. The comfort of a home-cooked meal. In India, food is love, tradition, and identity. But scratch just beneath the surface, and you’ll find an uncomfortable truth – our plates are caste-certified. What we eat, who cooks it, and who we share it with isn’t just about taste. It’s about centuries of hierarchy served fresh every day. Kitchen apartheid runs deeper Let’s talk numbers first. A 2021 CSDS survey drops a bombshell – 64% of Brahmins are vegetarian versus just 8% of Dalits. That’s not a coincidence. That’s caste at work. For generations, vegetarianism has been marketed as “pure”, while meat became code for “dirty”. Remember the 2017 Gujarat school meal controversy? The government banned non-veg food, hitting Dalit and tribal kids hardest – their main protein sources suddenly taboo. Jignesh Mevani called it out for what it was – casteism on a platter. The kitchen apartheid runs deeper. In 2018, Kausalya, a Dalit cook in Tamil Nadu, lost her job because upper-caste parents refused to let their children eat her food. Her crime? Her caste. Fast forward to 2024, and a National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights study shows 30% of midday meal workers still face this discrimination. Some things haven’t changed since Manusmriti times – the idea that food becomes “impure” if certain hands touch it. But here’s where the story gets interesting. Dalit chefs and foodies are flipping the script. Take Asha Kowtal’s Dalit Food Fest – where dried fish curry and stuffed vegetables became symbols of pride, not shame. Or Shahu Patole, whose book “Dalit Kitchens of Marathwada” sold 10,000 copies, bringing recipes like kala mutton into mainstream consciousness. His YouTube channel? Packed with 50,000 viewers learning what school never taught them – that Dalit cuisine is rich, diverse, and damn delicious. Small wins, but seismic shifts Social media has become the new battleground. #DalitFoodPride trends with over a million views. WhatsApp groups like “Dalit Culinary Network” connect cooks across states. Facebook’s “Food Without Caste” hosts virtual cook-alongs where Brahmins and Dalits share recipes – and stories. One post that went viral? A Brahmin woman’s confession: “I never knew your food could taste so good.” Small wins, but seismic shifts. Of course, pushback comes with the territory. Vidya Biradar’s Pune eatery got vandalized in 2023 – her crime? Serving authentic Dalit cuisine. Online, trolls swarm Dalit food posts with “disgusting” comments. A Digital Empowerment Foundation study found 15% of Indian food content has casteist undertones. The irony? The same “unclean” dishes – paya, bamboo shoot curry, wild boar – are now gourmet trends when served in five-star hotels. Here’s the real pickle. While urban Dalits use Instagram to reclaim their food heritage, rural Dalits still face violence for breaking dining rules. A 2019 case from Uttarakhand says it all – a Dalit man beaten for daring to eat at an upper-caste wedding. The National Family Health Survey shows that only 20% of rural Dalits have internet access to join this food revolution. The divide isn’t just about caste anymore – it’s about who gets a seat at the digital table. It’s all coded with caste Yet, hope simmers on slow fire. When Osmania University students hosted a mutton curry festival despite threats, they weren’t just serving food – they were serving notice. When home cooks like Priya Thakur get Brahmins to taste their food and ask for seconds, centuries of taboo crack a little. And when millets – long dismissed as “poor man’s food” – become urban health fads, it proves everything is about who’s selling the story. The bottom line? Food in India is political. Always has been. The rotis you eat, the hands that make them, the people you share them with – it’s all coded with caste. But the kitchen, that most traditional of spaces, is becoming an unlikely site of revolution. Every time someone tries Vidya’s masala fish fry, every time a Brahmin follows @DalitFoodStories, every time a college kid chooses mutton over judgment – the old order trembles. So next time you sit down to eat, ask yourself: Is my plate free? Or is it still carrying the weight of centuries? Because in a country where food is god, the real test of progress isn’t just what’s on your thali – but who cooked it, who’s eating with you, and whether anyone still cares about caste when the first bite hits. The revolution won’t be televised. It’ll be served hot, with a side of stories, and shared across tables that are finally learning to become equal. One meal at a time. Parambrahma Tripathy is an author and Communication for Development professional with over 18 years of experience. He has worked with organizations like BBC Media Action, Landesa, The Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago, IPE Global, and Coceptual Media. He has been recognized with several awards, including the prestigious Laadli Media and Gender Sensitivity Award in 2022 and 2023, Best Lyricist of the Year in 2022, Dr. Radhanath Rath Fellowship for Journalism, Kalinga Literary Youth Award, Timepass Bestseller Award, Srujan India Youth Award, Utkal Sahitya Samaj Felicitation and Odia Yuva Stambha Samman(2023) (DISCLAIMER: This is an opinion piece. The views expressed are the author’s own and have nothing to do with OTV’s charter or views. OTV does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.) Courtesy : Parambrahma Tripathy, Odishatv Bureau, Odisha TV
Today is a mega-show of Dalit politics in Bihar, Rahul Gandhi will roar with his entire army, the program will range from dialogue to cinema
Congress is putting in all its efforts to win the Bihar assembly elections in its favour. Former Congress President Rahul Gandhi is entering the battlefield of Bihar on Thursday with his entire army of leaders. Actually, Rahul Gandhi is trying to get 17 percent Dalit votes with him, for which he is continuously visiting Bihar. This is Rahul Gandhi’s fourth visit to Bihar in five months. As the Bihar assembly elections are getting closer, the political heat is increasing. The issues of migration and employment have become the center of the campaigns of political parties. All the parties of the ruling and opposition are making these issues the main basis of their strategy. Former Congress President Rahul Gandhi is entering the battlefield of Bihar on Thursday with his entire army of leaders, where the Dalit community is going to be at the center of his political agenda. Rahul Gandhi has made a strategy from communicating with Dalit students to watching movies. Congress’s youth leader Kanhaiya Kumar has led the ‘Palan Roko, Naukri Do’ Yatra and has already brought the issues of migration and unemployment to the political centre stage in Bihar. Now Rahul Gandhi is coming together with senior Congress leaders to give it a political edge and set the political equations. In all the districts of Bihar, Congress leaders will discuss the issues of employment and education with Dalit and backward class students through the ‘Shiksha Nyay Samvad’ program. Rahul will start ‘Shiksha Nyay Samvad’ Rahul Gandhi will start the ‘Shiksha Nyay Samvad’ program from Darbhanga, Bihar. This program of Rahul was to be held in Ambedkar Hostel, but permission was not given. In such a situation, Rahul Gandhi will communicate with Dalit students in Darbhanga’s Nagar Bhawan. During this time, more than 60 national level leaders of Congress will participate in the dialogue program at about 75 places in different districts of Bihar. They will visit colleges, universities and hostels and communicate with the students. The purpose of this program is to spread awareness among students and youth about the right to education and social justice. Congress national secretary and co-in-charge of Bihar Sushil Pasi says that the biggest problem in Bihar is of better education and employment. Students of Bihar are constantly migrating for better education and jobs, in which the biggest problem is being faced by the people of Dalit society. Economically and socially, the people of Dalit society are very weak, due to which they are neither able to provide better education to their children nor are they able to get employment. Due to this they have to migrate, Rahul Gandhi and Congress leaders will also do Shiksha Nyay Samvad to know and understand the problems of Dalit society. The purpose of Congress’s ‘Shiksha Nyay Samvad’? Sushil Pasi told that the Congress’s ‘Shiksha Nyay Samvad’ program means to provide social justice in education and jobs to Dalit, backward and extremely backward class people. Through ‘Shiksha Nyay Samvad’, Congress will loudly raise issues like delay in academic session, question paper leak, crumbling education system. Congress’s Shiksha Nyay Samvad can be understood in five points… The aim is to remove the 50 percent limit of reservation. The limit of reservation is 50%, and the Supreme Court is stopping any further increase. Congress is demanding to abolish this limit and increase it. Congress wants that reservation should be given to people as per their participation in the society. Implement sub-plan on Dalits and tribals. To achieve the goals set by the Constitution for the development of SCs and STs as per Articles 46 and 47. To promote socio-economic development of SCs and STs and provide social justice. To ensure participation of SCs and STs in development plans and provide equal opportunities. Such as education, health, employment and social security. Demand to improve education infrastructure- Congress is demanding to strengthen and improve the education system in Bihar. Congress leaders will raise this demand through Shiksha Nyay Samvad. Give jobs, not loans- Congress leaders will raise the demand through Shiksha Nyay Samvad that give jobs, not loans. Through this, the strategy of Congress leaders and Rahul Gandhi is to target the BJP’s Modi government. Give 3-year degree in 3 years only- Congress leaders will raise the demand in Bihar that the exams should be conducted on time and there should be no delay in the results. In recent times, it has been seen that exams are being delayed in many universities of Bihar. It is taking four to five years to complete a three-year degree. Students of Bihar have been continuously raising demands regarding this. Rahul Gandhi will watch Phule film in Patna Rahul Gandhi will reach Patna directly after inaugurating the Shiksha Nyay Samvad program in Darbhanga, Bihar. In Patna, he will first interact with the representatives of various social organizations. Representatives of the civil society ‘Phule’ based on EBC thinker Jyotirao Phule will be seen with the people of the Dalit community at P&M Mall. This film is based on the life of social reformer Mahatma Jyotiba Phule and his wife Savitribai Phule, who have deeply hurt the caste system of the society. Jyotiba Phule has his own political importance among Dalits and backward classes. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will try to give a political message by watching the Phule film with social justice activists in Bihar. Bihar has been the land of the social justice movement. Jyotiba Phule may have belonged to Maharashtra, but he has his own political importance in Bihar, especially the Dalit and extremely backward communities consider him their messiah. Jyotiba Phule used to play an important role in the politics of BSP founder Kanshiram. He is considered the pivot of social justice. Congress will give edge to Dalit politics Congress is focused on students and youth, but its eye is on wooing Dalits. Congress is busy preparing for the Bihar assembly elections. Rahul Gandhi is busy in reviving the Congress organization in Bihar. He wants to make the organization sharper. In such
Rampur News: Uproar over beating of Dalit youth
Maswasi. There was a ruckus late on Wednesday night over the beating of a Dalit youth resident of Mohalla Chaupura in the city. Last Tuesday, a group of some youths had beaten up the Dalit youth. When the victim gave a complaint to the police post, he was taken into custody, although after some time the police released him. Angry with this incident, on Wednesday night at around 9:30, people of the Dalit community started marching towards the post in large numbers for protest, but the police stopped them in the middle of the market. During this, there was a long argument between the police and the protesters. Meanwhile, people of the other group also reached the post and they also started a ruckus there. The atmosphere became tense due to sloganeering and debate of both the sides. Due to the protest, the road was blocked and long queues of vehicles were formed on both sides. The situation remained chaotic for about an hour. Later, the police tried to pacify both the parties by explaining. During this time, the people of the Dalit community who had marched to the police post returned, but the other group continued to create a ruckus at the police post. An atmosphere of tension has prevailed in the area since the incident. Courtesy : Hindi News
Budaun News: 20 Dalit villages will be transformed, four crore rupees will be spent
Add Your Heading Text HereBudaun. 20 Dalit dominated villages of the district have been selected for PM Adarsh Gram Yojana. Development work will be done in these villages at a cost of four crores. The survey report has been sent by the Social Welfare Department for carrying out development work. Work will be started as soon as the budget arrives. Advertisement: 0:18 Development work is to be done in 34 Scheduled Caste dominated revenue villages of the district under PM Adarsh Gram Yojana. Facilities like road, water, electricity, toilets etc. will be provided in these villages. This will lead to the development of Scheduled Caste dominated villages. Assistant Manager of Scheduled Caste Finance Development Corporation Santosh Diwakar said that under the scheme, integrated development of villages with more than 50 percent Dalit population will be done. He said that work will be done in the direction of poverty eradication and education in the selected villages of the district. Rs 20 lakh will be spent on each selected village. He said that the file has been sent to the government regarding the demand for budget. Development work will be done in these villages Jarawan, Harpalpur, Mirzapur, Jajpura, Mugarra Jarasi, Sakhamai, Dandah, Koda Gujar, Tikai Kham, Mary Bajar Mary, Atsena, Bijauri, Daulatpur, Harnathpur Mustakharj, Kaur, Mallamai, Nainamai, Nizampur Mazra Midoli, Paharpur, Sahaspur. Courtesy : Hindi News
Ludhiana News: Sexual harassment and assault case against AAP Dalit wing chief
Halwara. A case has been registered against Aam Aadmi Party’s Dalit wing chief Meva Singh, a resident of Halwara, from Raikot assembly constituency, under sections of sexual harassment and assault of his former female employee at Thana Sudhar. Police is raiding in search of the accused. It is alleged that Meva Singh also beat the mother of the victim woman. Mother and daughter are admitted in the civil hospital of Raikot. Police have registered a case on the complaint of the victim woman and the MLR. The victim Amandeep Kaur said in the complaint that she was working in Meva Singh’s photography studio since 2021. He had contracted to pay a salary of Rs 10,000 per month, but used to pay only Rs 5000 per month. During this time, Meva Singh touched her inappropriately. He mentally harassed her to have sex. Fed up with this, on November 6, 2024, she left her job from Meva Singh’s studio and took up a job somewhere else. She pleaded with Meva Singh several times to pay her her six months’ salary, but he would refuse by threatening to kill her. Now Meva Singh called her to his M-10 restaurant near Rajoana Chowk to pay her the salary. She reached there with her wife. Meva Singh, along with his wife and two other female employees, beat her up. He also tried to kill her by strangulating her. On the other hand, the victim has accused the Sudhar police of being biased in registering a case against only Meva Singh. On the other hand, Jaswinder Singh, in-charge of Sudhar police station, said that if the role of anyone else comes to light, he will also be named in the case. Courtesy : Hindi News
Siwan mourns BSF jawan Rambabu Singh killed in cross-border firing during Operation Sindoor
PATNA: An eerie silence prevailed in Siwan’s Wasilpur village on Tuesday as news spread of the martyrdom of 28-year-old BSF jawan Rambabu Singh, who succumbed to injuries sustained in Pakistani cross-border firing during Operation Sindoor in Jammu & Kashmir. “Rambabu, originally posted in Jammu, had been transferred to Rajasthan but was asked to remain due to the ongoing operation,” said his cousin Pritam Kumar. Speaking over the phone from Wasilpur, Pritam added that Rambabu had briefly spoken to a relative at 11.43am on Monday. “Bhaiya told him to call later. Bhabhi had asked him in the morning to recharge their mother’s phone, which he did. At 4pm, Akhilesh bhaiya got a call from the BSF about his death,” he said. Rambabu’s mortal remains are expected to arrive in the village on Wednesday morning. His father-in-law, Subhash Chandra, told reporters that Rambabu had spoken to his wife, Anjali, till 11am on Monday. “What is worrisome is the fact that he got injured in shelling from the Pakistan side despite a ceasefire announced Sunday evening,” he said. Local police officers, including SHO Ritesh Kumar Mandal and DSP Vinod Kumar, said they had only received confirmation of Rambabu’s martyrdom and were unaware of the exact location of the incident. CM Nitish Kumar expressed deep condolences and announced Rs 50 lakh in compensation for the martyr’s family. “The country will always remember his martyrdom,” he said, adding that Rambabu would be cremated with full police honours. Rambabu’s wife Anjali Devi, who was at her paternal home in Dhanbad, was devastated by the news. The couple had married on Dec 14 last year. His mother, Sumitra Devi, unaware of the tragedy, questioned the crowd outside their house until she was informed, said neighbour Umesh Prasad. Mukhiya Kamleshwar Singh, overseeing preparations at the cremation ground, said, “The whole panchayat is proud of Rambabu’s sacrifice. He came from a humble background. The govt should support his family.” Rambabu’s father, Ram Vichar Singh, passed away two years ago, and his brother, Akhilesh, recently joined the railways as a loco pilot. “His sudden departure has left his grandfather, Jagdish Prasad Singh, speechless,” the mukhiya added. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https://timesofindia.com/ and is for use by the non-military/non-commercial community, especially those in the human rights sector.