A tutor raped a Dalit girl in 2001, converted to Islam and remained in hiding for 24 years. Find out how the police apprehended him.
Kerala police have arrested a rape accused in Chennai after 24 years. The man was accused of sexually assaulting a minor Dalit girl in 2001. Police are investigating the case further. Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala police have arrested a rape accused who was absconding in Chennai after 24 years. This Kerala man was accused of sexually assaulting a minor Dalit girl in 2001. The accused has been identified as 50-year-old Muthukumar, who converted to Christianity and was living in Chennai under the alias Pastor Sam. Police arrested the accused on Wednesday. The accused worked as a tutor. According to Thiruvananthapuram police, Muthukumar was arrested in 2001 for raping a 14-year-old schoolgirl. At that time, the accused was working as a tutor. Police say he took the Dalit girl to his home and sexually assaulted her. He was subsequently arrested and sent to judicial custody for three months. He escaped after being released on bail in 2001. A police officer stated that this was one of the longest-pending cases. The police officer stated that the police had intensified their search for him over the past year. He further stated that he may have converted to another religion to hide. The police officer stated that he had neither purchased a mobile connection nor opened a bank account. Mother and brother traced during police investigation After being implicated in the rape case, Muthukumar was asked to vacate his rented house. He lived in the rented house with his mother. After being released on bail, he moved to Nagercoil. He then moved to Tenkasi, Tamil Nadu. The police officer stated that during the investigation, police traced his mother and brother in Tenkasi. The police officer further stated that when they checked the family’s mobile phone call details, they discovered that calls from certain numbers had stopped after the police arrived. The officer further stated that funds had also suddenly stopped flowing into their accounts from some accounts. Police are investigating further. With the help of the cyber cell, the police discovered that the same mobile device was operating with two different SIM cards. Further investigation revealed that the mobile phone was being used by a woman in Chennai, who turned out to be the accused’s wife. Police stated that the court would be informed of the accused’s arrest. Authored by: NBT Desk About the Author NBT Desk: Whether it’s national, international, sports news, or insider news from the political corridors, NBT News Desk brings you every news.
3 RPF officials booked for murder after Dalit man dies in custody
His family members allege that he was beaten severely by the RPF personnel and was given electric shocks during interrogation. A 35-year-old Dalit man, taken in for theft, was found dead while in the custody of the Railway Protection Force (RPF) in Uttar Pradesh‘s Gonda district. The incident prompted the suspension of three officials, who have also been booked for murder. The victim, Sanjay Kumar Sonkar’s family, has claimed that his death was a result of custodial torture. They alleged that he was beaten severely by the RPF personnel and was given electric shocks during interrogation. The officers reportedly placed the body in the mortuary without informing them. The RPF had detained him on Tuesday, November 4, in connection with a recent oil theft case from a goods train at Barua Chak railway station. Soon after, Sonkar was rushed to the government medical college by the RPF officials, where he was declared dead. Three officers suspended Sub-inspectors Surendra Kumar and Karan Singh Yadave, along with constable Amit Kumar Yadav, have been suspended. RPF senior commandant Chadra Mohan Mishra confirmed that a departmental probe was initiated into the custodial death charges. Crime inspector of Gonda City Kotwali police station, Sabhajeet Singh, verified that a murder case has also been registered against the three officers. Singh stated that the preliminary medical report from the attending doctor confirmed that Sonkar was dead when he arrived at the hospital. Meanwhile, RPF senior commandant Mishra stated that the RPF team was led to Sonkar during the investigation of the oil theft case. The stolen oil was procured from the accused victim’s possession on the same day. Mishra also claimed that the accused’s condition deteriorated while they were conducting the recovery procedure. He was immediately transported to the hospital, where he later died. The circle officer (CO) of Gonda City said that the initial autopsy report was inconclusive, stating that the “cause of death is not ascertained.” However, the viscera were preserved for forensic tests to investigate further. The CO also clarified that the body showed no clear signs of injury, other than “one or two abrasions”, which cannot be a cause for death. Posted by Khadija Irfan Rahim Courtesy : TSD Note: This news is originally published on https:/thesiasatdaily.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Rahul Gandhi attacks Maha govt over ‘land theft’ for Parth Pawar
Rahul Gandhi attacked the Maharashtra govt over a land deal involving Parth Pawar, alleging Dalit-reserved land worth Rs 1800 cr was sold for Rs 300 cr. He called it ‘land theft’ by a govt formed through ‘vote theft’. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday launched a scathing attack on the Maharashtra government after it was reported that Parth Pawar, son of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar had acquired government land without allegedly paying stamp duty. He said the government sold Dalit-reserved land worth Rs 1,800 crore in Pune’s Koregaon Park area for just Rs 300 crore, calling it “land theft” and alleging the same government came to power through “vote theft.” Gandhi Alleges ‘Land Theft’ by ‘Vote Theft’ Government In a post on X, Rahul Gandhi wrote, “In Maharashtra, government land worth ₹1800 crore, which was reserved for Dalits, was sold to the minister’s son’s company for just ₹300 crore. On top of that, the stamp duty was also waived – meaning not only is it a robbery, but even a legal stamp of approval on the theft! This is ‘land theft’ by that government, which itself was formed through ‘vote theft’. They know that no matter how much they loot, they will return to power by stealing votes again.” He also called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to break his silence, questioning whether the central government is supporting those who “usurp the rights of Dalits and the deprived.” “No regard for democracy, nor for the public, nor for the rights of Dalits. Modi ji, your silence speaks volumes -Are you staying silent for this reason, because your government is propped up by those very looters who usurp the rights of Dalits and the deprived?” the post read. A company allegedly owned by the son of the National Congress Party (NCP) chief is facing major allegations over a land deal worth crores. Further, the Inspector General of Registration in Pune has submitted an interim report to the Additional Chief Secretary in Mumbai on the alleged land scam. According to the interim report, a property, allegedly valued as high as 1,800 crore rupees, was sold to a company linked to Parth Pawar for just Rs 300 crore with a nominal stamp duty of only Rs 500, allegedly bypassing proper procedures for government-linked land. Following the submission, one official has been suspended, and the government has ordered a high-level committee to conduct a full investigation into the irregularities and financial losses to the state. The final report from the investigation committee is expected within eight days. (ANI) (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Asianet Newsable English staff and is published from a syndicated feed.) Courtesy : Asianet News Note: This news is originally published on https:/asianetnews.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Bihar Elections 2025: Voting for the BJP proved costly in Gopalganj, RJD supporters brutally beat a Dalit family, injuring three.
Bihar Elections 2025: Following the first phase of voting in the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections, shocking news has emerged from Gopalganj. A Dalit family was attacked by RJD supporters for voting for the BJP in the Baikunthpur Assembly constituency. Three people were seriously injured. Bihar Elections 2025: Following the first phase of voting in the Bihar Assembly elections on November 6th, a shocking incident has emerged from the Baikunthpur Assembly constituency in Gopalganj. Three members of the same family were fatally attacked while returning after casting their votes. According to reports, the attackers allegedly asked them which party they had voted for. When the three mentioned the BJP, they became enraged and brutally beat them with sticks and rods. Beaten for Voting for the BJP This incident occurred with Mukesh Ram (28), his father Chhattu Ram, and his brother Chhotu Ram. All three live in the Dalit settlement of Bucheya village. Mukesh, describing the incident, said that yesterday (November 6th), late in the evening, they were returning from the Sidhavaliya polling booth in the Baikunthpur Assembly constituency. On their way to the Dalit settlement, some dominant villagers stopped them and asked whom they had voted for. According to Mukesh, as soon as they revealed that they had voted for the BJP, the men became enraged. They attacked them with deadly weapons and beat them with sticks. The attackers turned out to be RJD supporters Mukesh and his family have accused Akhilesh Yadav, Vishal Yadav, and his father, along with about half a dozen other people from the village, of the attack. Mukesh stated clearly that these people attacked them because they did not vote for the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). All three men sustained serious injuries in the attack. He was immediately admitted to the Sidhavaliya Community Health Center (CHC), where he received initial treatment. Later that evening, he was referred to the emergency ward of Gopalganj Sadar Hospital for better treatment. BJP candidate also reached the hospital Upon learning of the incident, BJP candidate Mithilesh Tiwari reached Gopalganj Sadar Hospital late at night and inquired about the well-being of the victims. Mithilesh Tiwari has accused supporters of RJD candidate Premshankar Prasad of assaulting him. Police taking action Gopalganj SDPO 2 Rajesh Kumar confirmed the incident. He stated that, after voting concluded in the Baikunthpur Assembly constituency, incidents of assault were reported at three locations: Bangra in Baikunthpur, Devkuli in Mohammadpur, and Bucheya in Sidhavaliya. The SDPO also stated that written complaints from the injured individuals are being taken and legal action will be taken after investigation. These incidents have raised serious questions about the security arrangements during the elections. Sunil Kumar Tiwari Courtesy: Hindi News
US Supreme Court allows Trump to enforce two-gender passport policy
The US Supreme Court allowed Trump’s administration to enforce a policy restricting passport gender markers to only “male” or “female,” sparking debate over transgender rights. The US Supreme Court on Thursday allowed President Donald Trump’s administration to enforce a policy restricting passport gender markers to only “male” or “female,” reversing lower-court orders and igniting sharp debate over transgender rights and safety. The ruling permits the administration to proceed with the policy while a lawsuit challenging it continues. It halts a lower-court order that had required the State Department to let applicants choose “M,” “F,” or “X” on passports to align with their gender identity. The court’s three liberal justices dissented, according to The Associated Press. The decision marks another victory for Trump on the court’s emergency docket. Since the beginning of his second term, the Supreme Court has issued nearly two dozen short-term orders favouring his administration in various policy disputes, including one that barred transgender people from serving in the military. In an unsigned order, the conservative majority said the policy does not violate equal protection principles. “Displaying passport holders’ sex at birth no more offends equal protection principles than displaying their country of birth,” the court wrote. “In both cases, the Government is merely attesting to a historical fact without subjecting anyone to differential treatment.” Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, joined by the court’s two other liberal justices, issued a strong dissent. She warned that the ruling puts transgender and nonbinary Americans at risk. “This Court has once again paved the way for the immediate infliction of injury without adequate (or, really, any) justification,” Jackson wrote, arguing that the policy stems from Trump’s executive order describing transgender identity as “false” and “corrosive.” Jackson noted that several plaintiffs reported being strip-searched, sexually assaulted, or accused of using fake documents at airports because their passports did not match their gender presentation. The majority argued that blocking the policy would harm the government’s ability to manage passports under the president’s foreign affairs authority. The dissenters countered that the link between personal identification documents and foreign policy was unclear. The passport policy originates from Trump’s January executive order declaring that the United States would “recognize two sexes, male and female,” based strictly on birth certificates and “biological classification.” Sex markers first appeared on US passports in the mid-1970s. By the early 1990s, applicants could change them with a doctor’s note. Under President Joe Biden, the State Department in 2021 removed documentation requirements and introduced an “X” option for nonbinary applicants after years of legal challenges. Attorney General Pam Bondi welcomed the ruling, saying it affirms “the simple truth that there are only two sexes,” and pledged to continue defending the administration’s position. 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
Bar Council Approves Kerala’s Proposal To Reserve Seats For Trans Students
The approval follows a directive from the Kerala High Court on October 24, which had asked the BCI to consider and approve the government’s request. Kochi: The Bar Council of India (BCI) has granted interim approval to the Kerala government’s proposal to create two supernumerary seats for transgender students in all law colleges across the state. The move is being hailed as a significant step towards inclusivity in legal education. The approval follows a directive from the Kerala High Court on October 24, which had asked the BCI to consider and approve the government’s request. The Kerala government had submitted its proposal on August 6, seeking permission to introduce additional seats under the transgender category in both three-year and five-year LLB programmes. When the matter came up on Thursday, Justice VG Arun recorded his satisfaction over the progress made. “It is heartening to note that pursuant to this Court’s order dated 24/10/2025, the Bar Council of India has granted interim approval to the proposal of the Government of Kerala for two supernumerary posts in each law college for the transgender category for the academic year 2025-26,” the court observed. The development came during the hearing of a petition filed by a transgender woman, who had qualified in the Kerala Law Entrance Examination (KLEE) 2025 and was ranked eligible for admission to the Government Law College, Kozhikode. However, she was denied admission since no separate category or seat existed for transgender candidates in the allotment list prepared by the Commissioner for Entrance Examinations (CEE). The petitioner argued that the denial violated her fundamental rights, as well as the Supreme Court’s NALSA judgment and provisions of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019, which mandate equal access to education and non-discrimination. She sought the court’s direction to secure her admission under the transgender category and to ensure that such reservations are implemented across all government law colleges and universities in the state. Following the BCI’s submission, the petitioner’s counsel informed the court that they would implead all law colleges and universities in Kerala in the case, noting that only the University of Calicut had been named so far. The court posted the matter for further hearing on Friday, November 7, to issue appropriate directions. “Let this be helpful to others also,” Justice Arun orally remarked. (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.) Courtesy : NDTV Note: This news is originally published on https:/ndtv.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Modi and Shah have ‘unleashed real jungle raj’ across India: Rahul
PATNA: Slamming NDA over its “jungle raj” jibe, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi Thursday alleged that PM Modi and home minister Amit Shah have unleashed real jungle raj across India by misusing ED, CBI & Income Tax dept. Addressing a rally in Bihar’s Araria, Rahul said INDIA bloc would form an inclusive govt in the state, with focus on generating employment, providing quality education, including establishing a world-class university, and ensuring better healthcare facilities. He added Bihar’s tourist circuit would be developed in a way that directly benefits locals. Rahul accused Modi of spreading hatred to win elections. Alleging that BJP indulged in vote theft in Haryana, Maharashtra, MP and Chhattisgarh, he urged people to ensure such malpractice does not occur in Bihar. His sister, Priyanka Gandhi, addressed separate rallies in Bihar and accused NDA functionaries of vote theft in collusion with EC. “On Thursday, Rahul Gandhi showed you how BJP stole the entire govt in Haryana. They stole 25 lakh votes. The Constitution your ancestors fought for is being weakened today. Their arrogance has grown so much that they don’t even respect your vote. They cut 65 lakh votes in Bihar. I can confidently say that if this election is fair, you will oust them and install a govt that respects you,” she said. Alleging a rise in crime graph in Bihar. she said:”Modi govt has no respect for the people of Bihar or its CM. In fact, Kumar is not even invited to the stage by BJP netas.” The Congress MP promised free medical treatment up to Rs 20 lakh if INDIA bloc comes to power, along with Rs 2,500 per month assistance for every poor woman. (With inputs from CS Jha Azad & CB Pandey) 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
‘What craziness is this’: Brazilian ‘model’ reacts after Rahul Gandhi’s Haryana voter-fraud allegation; claims old photo used
NEW DELHI: A Brazilian woman named Larissa reacted after discovering that her photograph was allegedly used multiple times in the Haryana voter list — a claim highlighted by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi while alleging large-scale voter fraud in the 2024 Haryana Assembly elections. In a video reaction, model Larissa said, “Guys, I’m gonna tell you a joke — it’s too horrible! They’re using an old picture of me for elections in India, showing me as Indian. What a mess! A reporter even reached out to my workplace for an interview. I couldn’t believe it when a friend sent me the photo again.” Rahul, addressing a press conference at the Congress headquarters on Wednesday, unveiled what he called the ‘H-Files’, alleging that one in eight voters in Haryana were fake. He claimed that around 25 lakh voter records were either duplicate, non-existent, or manipulated. During the briefing, the leader of opposition of Lok Sabha displayed a section of a voter list showing the same woman’s photograph used repeatedly under different names — including Seema, Sweety, Saraswati, Rashmi, and Vilma. “Who is this lady? Where does she come from?” he asked, before asserting that the woman was not Indian but a Brazilian woman whose stock photograph had been misused. Fact-check by Aos Fatos: Photo used in Haryana voter list was free stock image The Congress also posted the image on X, saying, “A Brazilian citizen, Matheus Ferroro’s photo, has been used 22 times in Haryana under different names — from Sweety to Saraswati.” According to Brazilian fact-checking agency Aos Fatos, the image was originally taken by photographer Matheus Ferrero, who lives in Belo Horizonte, and was first published in 2017. The photo had been uploaded to free stock image platforms such as Unsplash and Pexels, which allow anyone to use images provided proper credit is given. As a result, the same image has appeared in numerous articles, advertisements, and websites across different countries — not just India. After the controversy erupted, the picture was deleted from those platforms. Aos Fatos also found that the image had been used to create fake profiles on social media. The woman’s identity was not listed on the stock platforms, but the agency confirmed — through reverse image search and by examining Ferrero’s social media — that the person is a hairdresser from Belo Horizonte who participated in a photoshoot with the photographer in March 2017. Rahul accused Haryana of stealing 25 lakh votes: Rahul alleged that 1 in 8 voters in Haryana are fake, claiming large-scale voter fraud and pointing to unexplained differences between postal and booth votes. “We have crystal clear proof that 25 lakh voters (in Haryana) are fake, that they either don’t exist or they are duplicate or are designed in a way for anybody to vote…1 in 8 voters in Haryana are fake, that’s 12.5%.” Rahul claimed that a plan was set in motion to turn a predicted Congress win into a loss and also urged young voters to pay attention, citing claims backed by strong evidence. “All (exit) polls pointed to a Congress victory (in Haryana). The other thing that was surprising to us was that, for the first time in Haryana’s electoral history, postal votes differed from the actual voting. This had never happened in Haryana before. So, we thought, ‘Let’s go into the details.’ When I first saw this information, I struggled to believe it. I was in shock. I told the team to cross-check multiple times,” he said. “I want the young people, GenZ of India to understand this clearly because this is about your future…I am questioning the EC and the democratic process in India, so I am doing it with 100% proof. We are pretty sure that a plan was put in motion to convert Congress’ landslide victory into a loss…Please note the smile on his face (CM Nayab Saini) and notice the ‘vyavastha’ that he is talking about. This is 2 days after election when everybody is saying that the Congress is sweeping the elections,” he said. Rahul’s Hydrogen bomb is just a small cracker: BJP Haryana chief minister Nayab Singh Saini hit back, dismissing the charges, saying, “Rahul Gandhi is doing the work of misleading the nation. The way Congress has become agenda-less, they are misleading the nation by spreading lies.” Union minister Kiren Rijiju also ridiculed Rahul’s allegations and said, “Why doesn’t his atom bomb ever explode? Rahul Gandhi says that the atom bomb is going to explode, but why doesn’t his atom bomb ever explode? He doesn’t take any subject seriously and even says that a hydrogen bomb will explode.” Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis says, “What Rahul Gandhi called a ‘Hydrogen bomb’ was not a bomb at all. It was just a small cracker. It had no noise or energy. Rahul Gandhi is now pursuing an agenda to not let democracy function properly. Rahul Gandhi’s agenda matches the agenda of external forces. All these external forces are striving to erode faith in India’s democracy and the Indian Constitution. These external forces are creating a false atmosphere and narrative that calls into question the various institutions created by the Indian Constitution. Rahul Gandhi is fueling this narrative. What could be more tragic than this? While Rahul Gandhi attempts to view our army through caste lines, I don’t understand who he is working for. He raises a question mark on the army, the Constitution and the system established by the Constitution’s institutions. Whose agenda is Rahul Gandhi pursuing?” 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
‘Fake vote, fake photo’: Rahul Gandhi’s ‘wholesale chori’ charge at BJP; claims party will repeat it in Bihar
NEW DELHI: Lok Sabha leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi on Friday launched a sharp attack at the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Election Commission, alleging large-scale electoral malpractice and claiming that Prime Minister Narendra Modi “became the PM through chunav chori.” Speaking to reporters in Delhi, Rahul said his party had gathered extensive evidence to expose what he described as a pattern of election manipulation. “We have a lot of material, we will continue this process. We will clearly show India’s GenZ and youth that Narendra Modi became the PM through ‘chunav chori’ and BJP indulges in ‘chunav chori’,” he said. Referring to recent reports of a BJP leader allegedly casting votes at two different locations, Rahul claimed that electoral fraud was not isolated but systematic. “I gave a presentation that Haryana elections were not elections at all. A ‘wholesale chori’ occurred there. There was no response by the EC to the allegations levelled by me – fake vote, fake photograph,” he said. According to Rahul, the BJP’s defence of the incident without denial only reinforced his charge. “BJP is defending this but not negating what I said. Media is picking up small examples, like a Brazilian woman voted. How was voting done on the photo of a Brazilian national?” he asked. The Congress leader went on to accuse the Prime Minister, home minister Amit Shah, and the Election Commission of jointly undermining the Constitution. “The reality is that Narendra Modi ji, Amit Shah ji and EC are attacking the Constitution together. Constitution says ‘One man, one vote’. Haryana shows that there was no ‘One man, one vote’ there. It was ‘One man, multiple votes’,” he said. He alleged that the same pattern of electoral malpractice was being repeated across states. “They are going to do the same in Bihar. It happened in MP, Chhattisgarh, Haryana and Gujarat,” he said, adding that his party would continue to raise the issue to “protect the Constitution and the people’s vote.” The Election Commission has not yet responded to Rahul Gandhi’s latest allegations. The BJP, meanwhile, has dismissed earlier claims by the Congress leader as politically motivated attempts to discredit the electoral process. 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
“I’m scared…” The Brazilian model, who came into the spotlight after the vote-stealing controversy, made explosive revelations. Will action be taken against Rahul Gandhi?
Brazilian model Larissa Neri is in the news after Rahul Gandhi’s allegations of vote-stealing in the Haryana elections. She denied the allegations, saying the controversy was caused by AI and that she is not a model but a hairdresser. Larissa explained that her eight-year-old photo was misused. New Delhi: Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi recently mentioned a Brazilian model while accusing her of vote-stealing in the Haryana Assembly elections. He alleged that this Brazilian model cast 22 fake votes at 10 polling booths in the Haryana elections. Since then, alleged Brazilian model Larissa Neri has been in the news. Now, regarding the allegations against her, she said, “I’m scared after being embroiled in controversy without any reason. I think this controversy was caused by AI.” Alleged Brazilian model Larissa Neri stated in an interview that she is not a model but a hairdresser. Regarding the issue of her photo appearing on the voter list, she explained, “I believe it’s a work of artificial intelligence.” She also stated that she feels scared after being at the center of the controversy. The photo is 8 years old Larissa explained in an interview with NDTV that the photo was taken about eight years ago, when she was about 20 years old. She had the photo taken with the help of a photographer friend. The photo was taken near a wall outside her house and was not a professional photo. She clarified that she has never been a model, but has been working as a hairdresser for years. She added that her photos are available for free download on online sites. Larissa Does Not Get Involved in Political Matters Larissa stated that she has never visited India nor heard of anyone named Rahul Gandhi. She clarified that she never gets involved in political matters. Regarding the political use of the photo, she said, “It’s sad to know that my photo is linked to such things.” Larissa Neri, a Brazilian resident, stated that she is consulting with her lawyer regarding further action. She added that the matter is more serious in India but has not reached Brazil. If it does, they will have to take legal action. Larissa further stated that they are waiting for things to calm down in India to understand who misused the photo. Then they can take necessary action. Curated by: Abhishek Pandey About the Author Abhishek Pandey is a consultant writer at Navbharat Times Online. He has over three years of experience covering current affairs, politics, crime, and public interest news. He has closely covered the 2022 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections and the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Courtesy: Hindi News