NHRC team to visit Kendrapada on Oct 5 over assault on Dalit sarpanch
Kendrapada: A team from the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) will visit Kendrapada on Oct 5 to conduct an inquiry into an alleged assault and mistreatment of Tikhiri gram panchayat sarpanch Chameli Ojha (33), a Dalit woman, in June. Ojha was allegedly abused and assaulted by police and the block development officer (BDO) of Mahakalapada, under which the panchayat falls, on June 11 after she raised allegations of corruption against officials, according to a complaint. The NHRC team will conduct a spot inquiry and examine officials, eyewitnesses, police personnel and others connected with the case. Kendrapada collector Raghuram R Iyer said on Friday that the commission has already intimated him and the superintendent of police (SP) about the visit. Earlier, a human rights group filed a petition before the NHRC on July 14, alleging that Ojha had been falsely implicated in a case registered on the complaint of the Mahakalapada BDO under charges, including attempt to murder, causing hurt and obstruction of a public servant. The NHRC took cognisance of the complaint and forwarded a copy to the district magistrate and SP, seeking an inquiry and expeditious report. The SP subsequently submitted a detailed report to the commission on June 27, stating that three FIRs had been registered in the matter and that they were cross-cases. Ojha had earlier written to chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi, alleging that officials were hindering developmental works in her gram panchayat by withholding payments. In her letter, she alleged that she had gone to the BDO’s office on June 11 to request clearance of pending bills, but the BDO and others abused her. She also alleged that police assaulted and misbehaved with her inside a vehicle while taking her to police station. 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 youth’s ashes collected under police watch; kin released
Sangrur: Tension continued in Sangrur on Friday as the family of 23-year-old Dalit youth Sanamdeep Singh collected his ashes under heavy police deployment, a day after police took possession of his body, conducted a post-mortem and carried out the cremation amid protests. Police also released 12 detainees, including eight members of the victim’s family, even as no arrests have been made so far of the village sarpanch and three others named in the FIR for allegedly abetting Sanamdeep’s suicide. Sanamdeep, a resident of Kanoi village, died on Sept 26, a day after allegedly consuming poison. His family accused the village sarpanch and three others of harassment and had refused to allow a post-mortem until the accused were arrested. On Thursday, police forcibly took possession of the body, broke through a protest by family members and supporters, conducted the autopsy and cremated the body while detaining relatives and opposition leaders. The action drew sharp criticism from civil rights groups and opposition parties. The episode has sparked a political confrontation between the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party government in chief minister Bhagwant Mann’s home district. Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa was denied permission on Friday to meet senior Congress leader Rajinder Singh Deepa at Central Jail, Patiala. Deepa was arrested during Thursday’s clash between police and protesters outside Sangrur civil hospital and was later shifted to Patiala jail. In a letter dated Oct 2, 2026, jail superintendent Gurcharan Singh Dhaliwal said visits were restricted to family members, relatives and legal counsel under the Punjab Prisons Rules, 2022. As Deepa had authorised only his wife and son-in-law as visitors, permission for Bajwa’s meeting request was declined, he said. After visiting the bereaved family, senior Congress leader and former cabinet minister Raj Kumar Verka accused the state government of being insensitive towards Dalits and demanded that provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act be added to the FIR. “If justice is denied to the Dalit community, followers of Baba Saheb Ambedkar across the country will make life difficult for the chief minister. The pot of sins is full,” Verka said. Defending its decision to cremate the body, police said on Thursday that the Senior Medical Officer had issued multiple notices warning that the corpse was rapidly decomposing and that, under Section 301 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), causing indignity to a dead body is an offence. Police claimed repeated notices were served on the family, but they refused to accept them due to political influence. Police said an FIR had already been registered on Sept 28 at Sadar Sangrur police station under Section 108 (abetment of suicide) and Section 3(5) of the BNS against the village sarpanch, his brother, a former panchayat member and a woman on the complaint of Sanamdeep’s father. However, police alleged that Congress leader Rajinder Deepa and other outsiders had prevented the family from agreeing to the post-mortem, insisting on arrests before the procedure could take place. According to the police, protesters turned violent when authorities proceeded with legal formalities, allegedly damaging property, using abusive language and attacking officials. Police said minimal force was used to disperse the crowd. Following the clash, City Sangrur police registered FIR No. 194 against Rajinder Deepa and three others under various sections of the BNS, including assault on a public servant, and secured 14 days’ judicial remand for the accused. Family members of the deceased who had been taken into preventive custody on Thursday were released on Friday. 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
Uproar over Dalit woman’s roadside delivery amid untouchability allegations
Rani Vanvasi, a 20-year-old pregnant woman gave birth on the roadside outside government district hospital in Bhadohi on September 29, after she was allegedly denied admission for delivery; the victim’s family also alleged that hospital staff failed to provide timely treatment and did not admit her. Uproar escalated on Friday (October 2, 2026) after a video went viral showing a Dalit woman who was allegedly denied admission at the government hospital in Bhadohi district during labour pain and forced to deliver outside the hospital in public. While the victim’s family and Opposition parties alleged untouchability, claiming feudal elements are running the government in Uttar Pradesh, the authorities said disciplinary action has been taken against personnel found guilty of partial negligence. “The family categorically alleged that hospital staff failed to provide timely treatment and did not admit due to her caste affiliation, this is so sad and inhuman that even after 79 years of independence, untouchability and discrimination prevails in government system, forcing a Dalit woman to give birth on the roadside, outside a government hospital. The feudal elements within the administrative system are emboldened by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government. The fight of the Samajwadi Party (SP) for justice, equality is against such tendencies,” said Sunil Singh Yadav ‘Sajan’, the SP spokesperson. “The incident is a cruel, evil act, which is unacceptable in a civilised society,” said Ajay Kumar Lallu, a senior U.P. Congress leader. In the matter, Rani Vanvasi, a 20-year-old pregnant woman gave birth on the roadside outside government district hospital in Bhadohi on September 29, after she was allegedly denied admission for delivery. The victim’s family also alleged that hospital staff failed to provide timely treatment and did not admit her. Ms. Vanvasi eventually went into labour near the hospital gate while she and her family were leaving. Women accompanying her used saris or a sheet to provide privacy as she delivered the baby beside the road. “The victim had a hemoglobin level of around five grams per deciliter, indicating severe anemia. She was referred to a higher-level facility in Mirzapur but in the meantime the pain started. Upon learning of the incident, I immediately arrived at the scene and provided appropriate medical assistance. Currently, both the infant and mother are completely healthy and recovering at the district hospital. Disciplinary action has also been taken against personnel found guilty of partial negligence. The remaining statements were found to be untrue,” said the Chief Medical Officer of the Hospital. Mayank Kumar Courtesy : The Hindu Note: This news is originally published on https:/thehindu.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
TMC rebel MPs’ new party urges PM Modi to give ‘highest recognition’ to Gyanesh Kumar
Asked about the request, NCPI parliamentary party chairperson and former TMC MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar said, “I have heard about the letter, but I am not aware of the details.” The Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI), into which several breakaway Trinamool Congress (TMC) MPs merged, has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi praising Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar’s role in conducting the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections. NCPI national president Jyoti Prokash Chatterjee said Kumar “deserves the nation’s highest recognition”, describing the election as one held without bloodshed, intimidation or electoral malpractice. His comments come amid opposition criticism of the CEC following a newspaper report alleging differences within the Election Commission over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. In a letter to the prime minister sent on Wednesday, Chatterjee referred to the state’s history of political violence and allegations of electoral irregularities, and said the conduct of the elections had helped restore voters’ confidence in the electoral process. “By upholding the independence, neutrality and discipline of the Election Commission, Kumar has reinforced the foundation of the Constitution and strengthened the faith of over a billion citizens in the ballot,” he said. “For these contributions, I humbly submit that Gyanesh Kumar deserves the nation’s highest recognition. Honouring him would also send a message to election officials across the country that dedication to fairness and integrity is valued by the Republic,” Chatterjee added. Asked about the request, NCPI parliamentary party chairperson and former TMC MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar said, “I have heard about the letter, but I am not aware of the details.” The NCPI, a little-known political outfit, emerged as a new player in Bengal politics after 20 TMC MPs joined the party following Mamata Banerjee’s defeat in the West Bengal Assembly elections. The breakaway MPs subsequently extended support to the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). After NCPI decided not to field candidates in the Nandigram and Rejinagar Assembly bypolls, its president Chatterjee said the party would campaign for the BJP nominees as part of its alignment with the NDA. 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
‘I am Hanuman to Rahul Gandhi’: Ajay Rai after being replaced as UP Congress chief
NEW DELHI: Former Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee (UPCC) president Ajay Rai on Saturday called himself a “Hanuman” to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, saying he would continue to follow the party’s national leadership and carry out its political fight regardless of the position he holds. “Whatever decision the national leadership makes. They told me to fight Modi, and I fought openly with full strength, and I will continue to fight. So whatever the national leadership decides, I stand by it. I am certainly a ‘Hanuman’ to my leader Rahul Gandhi; wherever he says, I will be there,” he told ANI. Rai also recalled his contest against Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections from Varanasi. Describing himself as a “simple worker”, he said he had been fielded against PM Modi with the support of the Congress leadership and Rahul Gandhi. Rai made the remarks after the Congress appointed Aradhana Mishra ‘Mona’ as the new UP Congress president, replacing him as part of an organisational reshuffle ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh assembly elections. Speaking to reporters, Rai said he had always followed the decisions of the national leadership and would continue to do so. “A simple worker like me was fielded against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. With the support of the top leadership and Rahul Gandhi, we secured 4.6 lakh votes in Varanasi and defeated PM Modi in seven rounds. I thank Rahul Gandhi and the top leadership for their faith in me and extend my best wishes to Aradhana Mishra Mona. I hope she works hard, takes the party forward and strengthens the trust of workers by standing with them against oppression and injustice,” he said. Rai said political positions were temporary and pointed to his record as a five-time MLA from Pindra. He said he had worked extensively for people in his constituency and recalled arranging blood donations when required. “Positions in politics come and go. I have been an MLA from Pindra five times and have worked extensively for the people, even arranging blood donations through my family when needed. I thank the Pradesh Congress Committee employees, drivers, staff, workers and supporters who stood by me around the clock and helped me throughout my journey across Uttar Pradesh. We have always stood against oppression and injustice wherever it occurred,” he said. Meanwhile, Mishra, after taking charge as the new UP Congress president, said the party was ready for the 2027 Assembly elections and would contest them with the INDIA alliance. “Today marks the beginning of a new dawn. I express my gratitude to my leadership for entrusting me with this responsibility. This is a big challenge; time is short, and every Congress worker will have to work. Together, we must work with full strength,” she said. Mishra also highlighted the Congress’ focus on women’s empowerment, saying, “If there’s anyone who is the biggest example of ‘Beti Hun, Lad Sakti Hun’, it is me.” She recalled the party’s decision under Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s leadership to field 40% women candidates in the 2022 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. “Before this, under Priyanka Gandhi’s leadership, we fielded 40% women candidates with tickets in the 2022 elections. It is evident today that the Congress Party has always worked for the empowerment of women,” she said. “We are ready for the 2027 elections, and the INDIA alliance will contest the elections with full strength. We will fight the elections with the entire alliance,” the newly appointed UP Congress chief said. 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
Rahul Gandhi launches ‘Satyagraha’ website for information on current protests across India
NEW DELHI: Congress MP and leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Saturday launched “Satyagraha,” a digital platform aimed at consolidating information on various issue-based protests taking place across the country. The website was launched a day after the 157th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, whose philosophy of “Satyagraha” — peaceful resistance for truth — Rahul Gandhi invoked. In a post on X, the Raebareli MP noted that protesters can submit details about their causes, find similar movements across the country through an interactive map and seek direct support. “People across the country are fighting for their rights and often fighting alone. Gen Z, students, farmers, tribals, Dalits, women — every struggle has its own story. But the voice that rises alone often gets suppressed. ‘Satyagraha’ is an initiative to bring these voices together on a map. Bapu taught us this; truth is the greatest weapon. But an even greater weapon is standing together with truth in unity. If you’re also fighting against any injustice, share your story. It will take two minutes,” Rahul Gandhi said. — RahulGandhi (@RahulGandhi) “Your story will appear on the map. You’ll see who else is fighting like you. And I’ll do whatever I can, in Parliament, on the streets, by writing letters, standing with you wherever I’m needed, as the Leader of the Opposition; this is my responsibility,” the former Congress president added. In a video accompanying the post, Rahul Gandhi asserted that as the leader of opposition, it was his “responsibility” to consolidate information about protests across the country in one place. “Protests are taking place in every corner of the country. Someone is speaking about students, someone is speaking about women, someone is protesting against price rise, so there are lakhs of different protests happening across the country. I am the Leader of Opposition, and I wanted us to consolidate the information about all these protests in one place. That is why we have launched the Satyagraha website for you. Whatever your protest may be, big or small, enter your name, the name of your group, and detail what the protest is about. And if we can help you, or if you seek help from us, we will gladly support you,” Rahul Gandhi said. 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
CM Vijay launches expanded ‘Vettri Payanam’ scheme; 84 lakh women to benefit daily
A total of 12,692 government buses have been brought under the expanded scheme. CHENNAI: Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on Friday launched the expanded Vettri Payanam scheme at the Koyambedu bus terminus, under which women and transgender persons can travel free of cost in government buses across Tamil Nadu. Vijay formally launched the scheme by distributing free tickets to women passengers waiting inside buses at the terminus. The gesture marked the commencement of the expanded free-travel facility, which is expected to benefit around 84.32 lakh women every day. A total of 12,692 government buses have been brought under the expanded scheme. This accounts for 69% of the 18,413 scheduled buses operated by the seven state transport undertakings. Of the total 1,94,649 scheduled trips (singles), 1,65,312 trips, or 85%, will be operated under the scheme. The expansion covers Express, LSS and Deluxe buses operating within cities and urban areas, Mofussil Ordinary buses and Ghat Ordinary buses operating beyond 40 km, in addition to the services already covered by the free-travel scheme. However, buses operated by State Express Transport Corporation (SETC) have been excluded from the scheme. The implementation of this scheme will entail an annual expenditure of approximately Rs 6,000 crore. Under the women’s free bus travel scheme (Vidiyal Payanam) launched by previous DMK government, women are permitted to travel only in ordinary city and town buses and ordinary buses operating in hilly areas for distances up to 40 km. Free travel was not permitted in Express, LSS, Deluxe and Mofussil buses. The Electronic Ticketing Machine (ETM) systems in the buses have been integrated to record the free journeys. The government had completed the integration work, with testing and verification and trial runs were conducted on September 27. The expansion is aimed at widening access to free public transport for women, including students travelling to colleges located far from their homes and women travelling to workplaces, hospitals and for essential services, transport minister A Vijay Tamilan Parthiban said. 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
‘100% Govt Failure’: Rahul Gandhi BASHES BJP Over Deaths Of 30+ Tribal Children In Balaghat
Congress leader and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi visited Jagla village in Madhya Pradesh’s Balaghat district to meet families of tribal children who have died in recent months amid reports of suspected infectious diseases and malnutrition. More than 30 children, primarily from the Baiga tribal community, have reportedly died in the Birsa block. Gandhi alleged that the government has failed to provide adequate healthcare, education, employment and support on issues including land rights, MGNREGA and the Forest Rights Act. He called the situation a “complete government failure” and said he would raise the issue in the Lok Sabha, including concerns affecting tribal communities across the country. 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
‘15,000 voters targeted’: Rahul Gandhi’s fresh attack on EC over Karnataka rolls
NEW DELHI: Lok Sabha leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi on Thursday launched a scathing attack on the Election Commission and accused it of erasing nearly 15,000 voters from electoral rolls in Karnataka’s Belagavi region. In a social media post on X, Rahul said that a massive “flood” of Form 7 applications was filed in bulk over three days to remove targeted groups from the voter list. “In just three days – September 22, 23, and 24 – there was a flood of Form 7 applications to remove nearly 15,000 voters… Muslims, SCs, STs, and OBCs are being systematically targeted because they do not vote for the BJP,” Rahul said. “I had already exposed this method of vote theft – votes are deleted through software in a centralised manner. ‘Select’ people are targeted as BJP and EC officials collude to fill out Form 7 in bulk through automated means – and in the blink of an eye, millions vanish from the voter list. And all of this is controlled from the top,” he added. The Congress leader also demanded that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar immediately take action or step down, alleging that refusal to register an FIR undermines democratic institutions. “Karnataka Congress leaders are at this moment demanding an FIR against the culprits at the Karnataka CEO’s office. Why is the CEO refusing this FIR? In this way, Modi, Shah, and Gyanesh are collectively destroying democracy through SIR. This is treason. That’s why I’m saying Gyanesh Kumar should resign and become an approver, and there should be an investigation against Modi and Shah,” he added. Form 7 is the official document prescribed by the Election Commission for objecting to the inclusion of or seeking the deletion of a name from an existing electoral roll. In Belagavi, local election officials reportedly received thousands of such applications over a span of 72 hours, triggering alarm among local Congress workers and booth-level officers (BLOs). Meanwhile, the poll panel and regional authorities clarified the procedural safeguards surrounding Form 7 filings. Election officials stressed that no voter’s name can be deleted automatically or solely based on the submission of a Form 7. Every application requires physical field verification, notices to be issued to the affected voter, and due process to be conducted by Booth Level Officers (BLOs) before any deletion is finalised, the panel said. Election officials instructed local BLOs to halt the immediate processing of suspected bulk filings and initiated internal inquiries to trace the origin of the submissions and verify whether the signatures were genuine. Earlier on Wednesday, INDIA bloc leaders held a coordination meeting in New Delhi and announced a series of protests against the EC. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said Opposition parties would organise a nationwide “Save Democracy March” at the district level from October 2 to October 8. 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
‘INDIA Bloc stands united and will move forward collectively….it is not about individual decisions’: Mamata
NEW DELHI: A day after the INDIA Alliance announced a joint agitation to demand the resignation of Gyanesh Kumar over the SIR exercise, Trinamool Congress Chairperson and former West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee said that for the Opposition this was a “collective” fight and shared that she had promptly responded to CPI(M) general secretary MA Baby last week when he reached out to her over the working of the Election Commission as it was a “national issue”.Reports of the interaction between Baby and Banerjee had attracted much attention last week as it saw two parties with decades-long differences in Bengal coming together on the question of the Election Commission (EC). Banerjee shared details of the interaction and the sentiment behind both sides putting aside their differences and coming together, while responding to questions at a press conference in Delhi. Party national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee and senior party leaders Derek O’ Brien, Dola Sen, Mahua Moitra, Menaka Guruswamy and Saket Gokhale were among those present with Mamata Banerjee at the press conference. “Our position is that when Constitutional institutions and democratic rights are at stake, political parties should examine the issue beyond their individual colours and interests,” Banerjee asserted. When asked about Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, the question of leadership of the opposition alliance and her view on who can be the Bloc’s PM candidate, the TMC Chairperson said, “INDIA Alliance is United and together. It is not about individual decisions. We are like a family, and we will decide collectively on these issues.” “Regional political parties have their own circumstances and compulsions, and we understand that. We maintain good relations with leaders such as Arvind Kejriwal (AAP), Nitish Kumar (JDU) and MK Stalin (DMK), while local political decisions may differ from state to state. Sometimes, INDIA’s alliance partners may not attend a particular programme because of local political considerations, but that does not necessarily mean there is disagreement on broader national issues,” she added. “We are with the INDIA alliance, and whatever decisions the alliance takes, we will respect them like a family and work together with unity. Our priority is to stand together and move forward collectively,” Banerjee said. “2029 is still far away; first, look at what is happening in 2027. “Khela toh ab hoga” — the real political game begins now. You never know what may happen in the next two, three, or six months. Politics can change very quickly, and we will continue to watch the situation, remain united and make decisions together as an alliance,” she emphasised. “It is important for Gyanesh Kumar to go…change is critical at this stage to make way for a free and fair electoral system,” Banerjee said in response to a question about whether the resignation of CEC would help resolve the systemic problems. TMC national general secretary and Lok Sabha MP Abhishek Banerjee lashed out, saying, “When questions are directed at Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar or the Election Commission, I believe the answers should come from the Election Commission itself. Instead, we repeatedly see BJP leaders responding to those questions. My point is simple: constitutional authorities must answer legitimate questions themselves and place facts before the public rather than allowing political parties to speak on their behalf.” He called for a thorough investigation to bring out the truth. 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