Literary window to Dalit life, ideology at book fair
Lucknow: Where stories travel across languages, generations and social backgrounds, literature on caste and equality is drawing the attention of young readers. From autobiographies documenting discrimination, to work tracing the history of marginalised communities, Dalit literature has emerged as a significant section at the Gomti Book Festival. Books such as Omprakash Valmiki’s ‘Joothan’, Bama’s ‘Karukku’, and Sharankumar Limbale’s ‘The Outcaste’ are finding readers alongside work, including B R Ambedkar’s ‘Who Were the Shudras?’ and ‘The Untouchables’, as well as literature on the Dalit Panthers movement. The collection also features writings of social reformer Jyotirao Phule, including ‘Gulamgiri’ and ‘Shetkaryacha Asud’, along with works by authors and thinkers who have examined caste, identity, dignity, social justice and resistance. For many students, buying these books is an opportunity to understand experiences different from their own. “I wanted to read ‘Joothan’ because it gives a first-person account of caste discrimination and shows why equality cannot remain only an idea,” said Amitesh Pal, a student. Another student, Jahnvi Singh, said she bought ‘Who Were the Shudras?’ to understand the historical development of the caste system and its impact on people’s lives, adding that students should read such books to develop a better understanding of society. “Among the books on caste and social justice, ‘Annihilation of Caste’ is drawing strong interest from young readers, with around seven copies being sold each day. Students are increasingly picking up such books because they want to understand caste, equality and social reform through the writings of those who challenged existing social structures,” said a publisher at the festival, Kamla Kumar. 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
Mamata Banerjee moves Supreme Court against EC freeze on TMC name, ‘Flowers and Grass’ symbol
Challenge comes after EC barred both factions from using the original party identity and allotted new names and symbols for October 6 bypolls NEW DELHI: Former West Bengal chief minister and Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee has moved the Supreme Court against the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) decision to freeze the party’s name and election symbol. The plea is likely to be mentioned before the Chief Justice of India-led Bench on September 21 for urgent listing and hearing. On Friday, the poll panel allotted the Mamata Banerjee-led faction the name “Mamata All India Trinamool Congress” and the ‘Football Player’ symbol. The rival faction led by Arup Roy was allotted the name “Democratic Trinamool Congress” and the ‘Envelope’ symbol for the October 6 bypolls in two West Bengal Assembly constituencies, Nandigram and Rejinagar. In an interim order on Thursday, the Election Commission barred the rival factions from using the original name of the All India Trinamool Congress and its ‘Flowers and Grass’ symbol for the upcoming bypolls. The factions were directed to choose new names and symbols until the dispute is resolved. The EC’s Thursday order said, “on due consideration of the totality of information available on record…the Commission is of the opinion that there are two rival groups in the All India Trinamool Congress, one led by Ms Mamata Banerjee and the other led by Shri Arup Roy, and each group is now claiming to be the party and therefore the matter requires a substantive determination by the Commission under Para 15 of the Election Symbols (Reservation & Allotment) Order 1968.” AI in sports video 2AI in sports video 2 Banerjee had on Friday described the EC’s decision as a “Black Day” in the country’s democratic history and said she would continue to claim the original party name and symbol. “We will not surrender. We will not bow our heads before political pressure. We will fight this battle democratically and legally,” she said, according to The New Indian Express. She also said the organisation was built through nearly three decades of political struggle and that she could not abandon the All India Trinamool Congress, which she founded in 1998 after breaking away from the Congress. The dispute over the party’s identity followed a rebellion within the TMC after its defeat in the West Bengal Assembly elections earlier this year. The rival camp has staked its claim to control of the party, with the EC examining competing submissions on its organisational structure, authorised representatives, name and election symbol. The EC’s intervention was prompted by the approaching bypolls in Nandigram and Rejinagar in West Bengal, and Nagaon in Assam. Both factions had sought to contest under the original TMC identity, prompting the Commission to issue an interim arrangement before the elections. The legal challenge also comes as the TMC’s political crisis deepens. Banerjee’s faction has decided to support the Congress candidate in the Nandigram bypoll after its own nominee withdrew from the contest. Banerjee said the decision was intended to strengthen the INDIA bloc. The Supreme Court challenge will now bring the dispute over the TMC’s original name and symbol before the judiciary, while the EC’s substantive proceedings under Paragraph 15 remain pending. Suchitra Kalyan Mohanty 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
Rahul Gandhi to address Cong’s ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ event in Indore today
Indore: Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi will visit Indore on Saturday for a Congress programme “Chhatron Ki Goonj”, which seeks to highlight issues related to education, recruitment and unemployment. The campaign focuses on question paper leaks, education costs and alleged irregularities in govt recruitment. Four editions have been held so far in Kota, Dehradun, Prayagraj and Pune. The Indore event was earlier scheduled for Sept 12 and was postponed by a week. The district administration denied permission to use Nehru Stadium, citing a pending court matter. Indore Mayor Pushyamitra Bhargava said a high court order allows the stadium to be used only for sports or state-level govt events. Congress then leased 12,000 square metres of land in front of Regional Park from Indore Development Authority for Sept 17 to 19, at a fee of Rs 10.08 lakh. Another charge of around Rs 4 lakh was imposed by local authorities as the land was used in violation of lease terms before the prescribed dates. Congress paid the amount. The party has named the venue “Bharat Jodo Maidan”. It claims about 1.5 lakh students have registered, but around 15,000-20,000 are expected to attend at the venue. “We will make arrangements on wide screens for youths unable to attend the event in areas around the venue,” Congress state chief Jitu Patwari told reporters. Patwari accused BJP of delaying permissions, a charge the party dismissed. He alleged that organisers were repeatedly asked to pay for the ground. Describing the programme as non-political, he said: “The administration can impose as many difficulties as it wants; we accept them.” Congress said police security conditions require organisers to deploy at least 1,500 volunteers, including 500 women. Police may restrict entry if the gathering exceeds the approved capacity. The party said the conditions also barred the display of objectionable or provocative pictures, banners, posters or hoardings, and prohibited inflammatory or derogatory remarks against any religion, caste, community or political or non-political organisation that could hurt anyone’s religious sentiments. 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
CJP joins Rahul, says EC ‘fixing’ on behalf of BJP
NEW DELHI: Slamming the freezing of TMC symbol and name as “fixing” on behalf of BJP, Rahul Gandhi and CJP co-convener Saurav Das Friday called for a wider political battle to hold Election Commission to account – their programmatic convergence and acerbic tone raising prospects of a Jantar Mantar-like protest. Reactions came in late evening from the CPM general secretary MA Baby and the CPI(M-L)L general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya. While Baby told TOI that EC “doesn’t have a reputation of impartiality any more”, Bhattacharya claimed what EC has done is “wrong” and “now with Congress candidate arrested, there is a walkover-like situation for BJP”. Bhattacharya’s remarks were related to the TMC candidate for the Oct 6 Nandigram bypoll withdrawing after the EC order and Congress nominee’s arrest. Taking a jibe at EC, Das said, “‘Envelope’ symbol for TMC defectors. Envelope me bharr ke kya aaya tha? (what came filled in the envelope?).” Rahul said, “Shiv Sena, NCP, and now TMC. Every time, the same pattern – BJP and EC join forces to split a party. Then its poll symbol is snatched away. Vote chori, govt chori and now party chori – these have become symbols of our democratic decline.” 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 Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
Delhi to hold special voter camps for homeless, trans and sex workers
Delhi election officials will hold evening camps at shelters and other locations to help homeless citizens, transgender persons and sex workers enrol during the electoral roll revision. The outreach follows a sharp drop in third-gender electors and aims to ease document and address barriers for eligible voters. Election Commission held a special voter registration camp for over 800 sex workers in Sonagachi to address documentation issues. The camps will be organised on September 23 and 24 from 5 pm to 9 pm at all Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board night shelters. Poll officials in Delhi on Thursday said special camps will be held at night shelters and other identified locations across the city to reach homeless citizens, transgender persons and sex workers who may face difficulty in proving their identity or residence during the ongoing special intensive revision of electoral rolls. The camps will be organised on September 23 and 24 from 5 pm to 9 pm at all Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board night shelters and other such locations across the capital’s 13 districts, according to a statement issued by the Delhi Chief Electoral Officer. Separate outreach for transgender persons and sex workers will be carried out in coordination with NGOs working with these communities, with booth-level officers deployed at the designated locations during the camps. The exercise comes amid a 64.55 per cent fall in the number of third-gender electors in Delhi’s draft roll. Their number has dropped from 1,261 in the electoral roll used for the 2025 Assembly polls to 447 in the draft published on August 31. Transgender persons and community representatives have earlier raised concerns over hurdles in the revision process, including differences in names across identity documents, difficulty in providing proof of permanent residence and lack of access to documents held by estranged family members. Booth-level officers said details of homeless voters can also be difficult to verify during an enumeration exercise that relies heavily on address and documentary records. “Several homeless people lack fixed addresses, family records or other documents ordinarily used to establish their identity and residence,” a booth-level officer said. However, the Delhi CEO office said anyone who qualifies as an “ordinary resident” would be included in the final electoral roll. “Online submission of forms on the BLO app should be encouraged. However, physical form should also be obtained without fail from the applicants,” the statement said. Officials have also been instructed to process applications from the three groups strictly under the Election Commission’s Manual of Electoral Rolls-2023 and ensure that no ineligible person is enrolled. The initiative is part of a wider effort to encourage participation in the claims and objections phase of the special intensive revision. General special camps will also be held at all polling station locations in Delhi on September 20 and 27 from 10 am to 5 pm. At these camps, voters can check the draft roll, submit forms and seek help in filing applications through the Election Commission’s Voters’ Service Portal or the ECINet mobile application. The draft roll published on August 31 has 97,53,577 electors, including 49,88,993 men and 47,64,137 women, compared with 1,55,24,858 electors on the rolls for the 2025 Assembly polls. Those left out of the draft roll can file claims for inclusion till September 30 through Form 6 along with supporting documents, while the examination and disposal of claims and objections will continue till October 29. The final electoral roll is due on November 4. 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
Kerala HC seeks State response on transgender post-operative aid
Transgender Person in Kerala Seeks Assistance for Post-Op Treatment Kochi, The Kerala High Court on Thursday sought the State government’s response to a plea by a transgender person over the non-payment of financial assistance for post-operative treatment.Try Time Trackers Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas gave the Government Pleader time to get instructions and the court posted the case for further hearing on October 8. The petitioner said he comes from a financially poor background and is currently unemployed. He had undergone Sex Reassignment Surgery and he was initially given Rs 62,563 as financial assistance for the surgery. After the Sex Reassignment Surgery, he applied for financial assistance for post-operative care and treatment, relying on a government order issued on November 14, 2018. The government order provides Rs 3,000 per month for 12 months to transgender persons who have undergone Sex Reassignment Surgery. The total assistance under the scheme is Rs 36,000 and the petitioner said he received Rs 15,000 for five months but the remaining Rs 21,000 for seven months was not paid. He said he made repeated requests to the authorities for the remaining amount but there was no payment coming forth. He has now approached the High Court seeking directions to the government officials to release the balance amount. The petitioner has also contended that the denial of the assistance violated his fundamental rights under Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution. He relied on a Supreme Court judgment in Jane Kaushik vs. Union of India in support of his argument.Stream History Documentaries The petitioner has sought an order directing the authorities to release the remaining Rs 21,000. As an interim relief, he has also sought a direction to the authorities to consider a representation submitted before the Director of Social Justice. The petitioner also pointed out that he had learnt from others in the transgender community that funds released for their benefit were sometimes not fully utilised and subsequently lapsed, resulting in beneficiaries being deprived of the intended assistance. The High Court has now sought the State’s response before considering the matter further and the case will now be heard on October 8. Courtesy : The Hawk Note: This news is originally published on https:/thehawk.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Six police officers suspended in Firozabad after a pregnant Dalit woman died during police action
The death of a 28-year-old pregnant Dalit woman in Firozabad, Uttar Pradesh, has led to serious allegations against the police. The family alleges that during a scuffle with police who had arrived to take her husband for questioning in a theft case, the woman was pushed or kicked in the stomach, causing her health to deteriorate. Six police officers have been suspended in connection with the case. According to a report in Maktoob Media, the incident occurred in Labhaua village, under the jurisdiction of the Shikohabad police station. According to Gaurav Kumar, the husband of the deceased, Anjali Verma, a police team led by Sub-Inspector Dharampal Singh arrived at their home around 11:45 pm on Sunday night. The police had come to arrest Gaurav in connection with a theft at a local grocery store. According to the family, Anjali, who was approximately eight and a half months pregnant, resisted the arrest of her husband. The family alleges that during this time, the police officers pushed or kicked Anjali in the stomach, causing her to fall. The police then took Gaurav with them. Following the incident, Anjali’s condition deteriorated and she was taken to the government hospital in Shikohabad. On Monday morning, she gave birth to a son, but her condition worsened after delivery. She was taken to a private hospital in Firozabad, where doctors declared him dead. The newborn’s condition was also reported to be critical and he was referred to Agra for further treatment. Following the incident, protests erupted in the village, with villagers demanding action against the police officers. Based on a preliminary investigation, Firozabad Superintendent of Police Aditya Langhe suspended six police officers: Sub-Inspectors Dharampal Singh and Satyapal Singh, Head Constables Mohan Singh and Arvind Kumar, and Constables Bhavtosh Kumar and Kuldeep Kumar. The responsibility for conducting an impartial investigation into the matter has been assigned to Shikohabad’s Additional Superintendent of Police and IPS officer Jaibind Kumar Gupta. However, the police have denied the allegations of assaulting the woman. According to the official statement from Firozabad police, Gaurav was brought to the police station on the evening of September 13th for questioning in connection with case number 724/2026 and was released to his family the following morning after questioning. Police say Anjali was taken to the hospital by her family for delivery, where she died during delivery. Police also stated that the post-mortem revealed no external injury marks. Political leaders have also demanded action in the case. Samajwadi Party National General Secretary and Rajya Sabha MP Ramji Lal Suman, after meeting the victim’s family, staged a protest at the Shikohabad police station, demanding a murder case against the allegedly responsible policemen and a fair investigation. Azad Samaj Party chief and MP Chandrashekhar Azad also demanded an investigation into the case, legal action against those found guilty, and financial assistance to the family. Courtesy: Hindi News
UP: Allegations of discrimination against Dalit engineers in the power department, SC/ST Commission demands high-level investigation from CM Yogi
Following a complaint from the UP Power Officers Association, the SC/ST Commission has taken a firm stance, recommending an impartial investigation to the Chief Minister regarding the alleged double standards faced by Dalit engineers in the power department. Lucknow: The issue of alleged discrimination against Dalit engineers working in the Uttar Pradesh Power Department (DISCOM) is gaining momentum. Baijnath Rawat, Chairman of the Uttar Pradesh Scheduled Caste/Tribe (SC/ST) Commission, has written a letter to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on this serious issue, demanding a high-level and impartial investigation into the matter. In the letter, written on Wednesday, Rawat specifically mentioned a memorandum submitted by UP Power Officers Association President RP Kane and other officials. The association alleged that Dalit engineers have been facing persistent discrimination for several years and that service rules are being selectively enforced in certain cases. However, this letter from the Commission’s Chairman does not independently confirm these allegations. Nevertheless, the letter urges the Chief Minister to investigate the facts stated in the association’s memorandum and appeals for appropriate and strict action based on the findings of the investigation. Regarding this controversy, the UP Power Officers Association issued a statement stating that it has submitted detailed records of more than a dozen Dalit engineers working in various state power companies to the Commission. The organization claims that different criteria have been applied in the cases of these officers. To prove its serious allegations, the association has presented several documents to the Commission. Association President RP Kane, Acting President Awadhesh Kumar Verma, Vice President PM Prabhakar, and office bearers Harishchandra Verma and Mukesh Babu expressed hope that an investigation will soon be initiated to establish the true facts. The organization clarified that its primary objective is not to create any conflict with the government or the department, but to protect the rights of its engineers under constitutional and legal provisions. Rajan Chaudhary Courtesy: Hindi News
Dalit youth sacrificed on the altar of casteism: Fact-finding report on Kosa honor killing exposes nexus between police and feudal lords
Brutal honor killing of Dalit youth in Kosa, Janjgir-Champa: Fact-finding report reveals sensational nexus between police and feudal lords Chhattisgarh: On September 15th, a state-level seminar was organized at the XISA Center in Raipur against hate speech, hate campaigns, and targeted violence. As part of this collaborative effort, a detailed report on the murder of a Dalit youth in Kosa, Chhattisgarh, was released by Harsh Mander, National Convenor of Caravan-e-Mohabbat, and in the presence of the fact-finding team. This multi-organizational report exposes the dark truth of a brutal honor killing that occurred under the jurisdiction of the Mulmula police station in Janjgir-Champa district. This horrifying incident occurred in Kosa village of Janjgir-Champa district, where 25-year-old Dalit youth Amit Kumar Bhandari suddenly went missing on the night of June 27, 2026. Two days later, on June 29, 2026, his body was found lying face down in a deserted grove near the village’s Amha pond. The deceased’s head and chest bore fatal injuries and clear marks of brutality, indicating a premeditated murder. According to the independent investigation team’s fact-finding report, the murder was rooted in an inter-caste love affair. The deceased Amit Bhandari (Satnami community) had been in a love relationship with Santoshi Singh, a Kshatriya woman from the same village, for the past seven to eight years. Angered by this relationship, the girl’s family had previously threatened Amit. This brutal murder was a direct result of the prevailing upper-caste dominance in society and the violent feudal mentality against Dalits. The report raises serious questions about the functioning of the local police and their caste biases. For two months after the incident, the police attempted to protect the real culprits and cover up the case. The police and cyber cell of Mulmula police station illegally detained and brutally beat the deceased’s elder brother, Amrit Bhandari, his wife, Lakshmi, and friend, Vinod. The police attempted to discredit the deceased’s sister-in-law and threatened her with electrocution, pressuring her to falsely confess to the murder. The case gained momentum following the activism of Dalit rights organizations, field visits by a fact-finding team, and an intensive social media campaign. Growing public pressure forced the police chief to form a Special Investigation Team (SIT). Finally, on September 9, 2026, the police uncovered the murder and arrested Santoshi Singh, her brother Bajrang Singh, and Pappu Singh Kshatriya. The police investigation established that Bajrang Singh, upon seeing Amit, who had come to meet Santoshi on the night of June 27th, lost his temper and brutally murdered him with a shovel. Pappu Singh and Santoshi then conspired to dispose of the body and mislead the police. For more facts and detailed context related to this incident, please see the “Kosa Words” report below. Rajan Chaudhary Courtesy: Hindi News
The High Court has sought a report from the Punjab government on the death of a Dalit laborer, raising demands for a CBI investigation.
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has taken a firm stance on the suicide of a laborer in Sangrur who confronted Minister Harpal Singh Cheema over the drug issue, and demands for a CBI investigation have gained momentum. New Delhi: The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Wednesday summoned a detailed status report from the Punjab government regarding the suicide of Dalit laborer Gulzar Singh. The court scheduled the next hearing for October 6th and directed the state government to submit complete details of the investigation. While emphasizing the need for a fair investigation, the division bench also questioned how, based on the current circumstances and facts, the state Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema could be implicated in the case. The court’s direction came during the hearing of a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by the chief spokesperson of the Scheduled Caste wing of the Shiromani Akali Dal. The petitioner has questioned the functioning of the Punjab Police and demanded that the investigation be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or another independent agency. An FIR in this matter is currently registered at the Didba police station in Sangrur district. The case has been filed under Section 108 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Sections 3(1)(r) and 3(1)(s) of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, naming five local residents, including the village sarpanch. According to the petition, the entire controversy began on September 6th when Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema visited Turbanjara village in Sangrur to lay the foundation stone for development projects. During this event, Gulzar Singh expressed his anguish over his son’s drug addiction and directly questioned the minister about the spread of ‘chitta’ (synthetic drugs) in the area. It is alleged that following this incident, police personnel arrived at Gulzar Singh’s home that evening and questioned him. Following this, the panchayat members threatened him and used casteist slurs against him. On September 7th, the Panchayat reportedly summoned Gulzar Singh and put him under intense pressure to apologize unconditionally to the minister. Hurt by this humiliation and pressure, he consumed poison. The next day, on September 8th, he died while undergoing treatment at a hospital in Ludhiana. His family alleges that the administration hastily cremated his body without their consent. The family and the petitioner claim that Gulzar Singh, in his video-recorded dying declaration, had blamed Minister Cheema and the village sarpanch for his death. This incident has created a major political storm across Punjab. The Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and Shiromani Akali Dal have united and are continuously demanding the resignation of Minister Harpal Singh Cheema. Recently, Congress leaders organized a large protest march towards the minister’s residence in Chandigarh, which the police had to disperse using water cannons. Meanwhile, National Commission for Scheduled Castes Chairman Kishore Makwana also visited Sangrur and met with the victim’s family, assuring them of justice. Rajan Chaudhary Courtesy: Hindi News