Tensions in Indore transgender dera: How feud between 2 factions turned violent; mass suicide bid stuns city
INDORE: About 24 transgenders consumed floor cleaner in an apparent mass suicide bid at Nandlalpura dera during a protest on Wednesday night. They were rushed to MY Hospital, where doctors claimed they were out of danger. It was not clear what the motive behind the act was, but the protest erupted hours after a case of assault and criminal intimidation was registered against a man who claimed to be a journalist and allegedly forced himself on a trans person. Police couldn’t confirm why the transgenders protested till last reports. The transgenders later gathered outside MY Hospital, where a group of them again attempted suicide by pouring inflammable substances over themselves. Hundreds of transgenders protest at MYH, Nandlalpura Even a few journalists, including ToI’s photojournalist Praveen Barnale, were doused with kerosene during the chaotic events as the transgenders poured the inflammable liquid on themselves in a mass self-immolation attempt. “We received inputs about a commotion at the transgenders’ dera (gathering) in Nandlalpura, following which a team was rushed to the spot. Twenty-four members of the transgender community consumed a suspicious substance, which appeared to be a floor cleaner. They were rushed to the hospital in ambulances and police vehicles, where their condition was stated to be stable. We are yet to record statements of the victims, after which the reason behind this will be clear,” DCP Anand Kaldagi told ToI. Preliminary reports suggest that the protests stemmed from a complex sequence of events that started with a clash between two transgender communities. This led to allegations of religious conversions as well an accusation against the self-proclaimed journalist that sought sexual favours from a trans person. DCP Kaldagi, however, said the protest had nothing to do with that incident. However, the exact cause could not be ascertained as the transgenders turned their ire on media persons. CCTV footage purportedly showing the transgenders sitting in a room and consuming the floor cleaner together also emerged, and later went viral on social media. The police released a press note saying the reasons behind the protest or the suicide attempts haven’t been determined yet. “All affected persons were admitted to MY Hospital, where they are receiving treatment under the close supervision of both police and health officials. All senior officials, including Additional DCP Dishesh Agarwal and ACP (Sanyogitaganj), were present at the site, and the Chief Medical and Health Officer was instructed to ensure proper medical care for everyone,” the release stated. It added that the district and police administrations were put on high alert following the incident. Collector Shivam Verma was closely monitoring the situation and taking constant updates. SDM Pradeep Soni, Tehsildar, CMHO Dr Hasani, and senior doctors at MY Hospital were overseeing and monitoring the treatment of all patients. Meanwhile, the protest by transgenders continued till late night, and hundreds of them gathered at Nandlalpura and at MY Hospital, staging a demonstration and raising slogans. They also attacked media persons who tried to approach them. Videos of messages from the transgender community across the country, including UP, suggested that they were planning to reach Indore to support the agitation. The dispute stemmed from a long-running clash over property and leadership between two factions of the transgender community. The factions led by Payal Guru and Seema Guru clashed multiple times in recent months over the control of leadership. To address the ongoing tension, Police Commissioner Santosh Singh, earlier, constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT). Initially, the team was headed by DCP Rishikesh Meena, but following his transfer, the investigation stalled. Recently, members of both factions accused each other of misconduct, and the group even staged a protest outside the Annapurna 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
BJP women leaders join BRS in Telangana
Hyderabad: Some BJP woman leaders, including state executive member Kalavati, B Lakshmi, Sailaja, RK Lakshmi, Anuradha, Manjula and Satyavati, along with 200 others joined BRS in the presence of former minister T Harish Rao at Telangana Bhavan on Wednesday. Speaking on the occasion, Harish Rao said both BJP and Congress betrayed the Telangana people and did not keep their promises. He mentioned that Rahul Gandhi accuses vote theft in Bihar. “Why is he silent about Revanth Reddy’s alleged vote theft in Jubilee Hills? Doesn’t Rahul Gandhi have the responsibility to ensure Revanth Reddy acts honestly?” he asked. Harish Rao stated that both Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi promised to implement six guarantees within 100 days, but they were nowhere to be seen. He said BRS is Telangana’s own party, and thanks to KCR and the pink party, Hyderabad’s brand image improved. 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
‘Frightened of…’: Rahul Gandhi targets PM after Trump claims India won’t buy Russian oil
Taking to X, the Congress MP accused the prime minister of being afraid of Trump and the US Following US president Donald Trump’s claim of India’s assurance to not purchase Russian oil, Lok Sabha leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Taking to X on Thursday, the Congress MP accused the prime minister of being afraid of Trump and the US. In his post, Gandhi claimed that PM Modi is “frightened of Trump” after he “allowed” the US president to “decide and announce that India will not buy Russian oil.” The Congress leader added that Modi also “keeps sending congratulatory messages despite repeated snubs”. Gandhi’s post on X comes after Donald Trump claimed PM Modi had given him “assurance” that India will no longer purchase Russian oil. “I was not happy that India was buying oil. And he (Modi) assured me today that they will not be buying oil from Russia. That’s a big stop,” Trump told reporters at the Oval Office, adding that he shares a “great relationship” with PM Modi. The US President added that after India, he would now “get China to do the same thing.” India’s purchase of Russian oil has been the headlines since August, after Trump announced an additional 25 percent tariff on New Delhi as a penalty. With this additional amount, Trump’s tariffs on India went up to a total of 50 percent. In response to the additional levies, PM Modi stated that he would not compromise on the livelihood of farmers, even if it meant “paying a heavy price”. Furthermore, the prime minister also renewed his push for “Make in India” and “self-reliance.” “We should become self-reliant – not out of desperation, but out of pride,” said Modi in his speech for Independence Day from the Red Fort. “Economic selfishness is on the rise globally and we mustn’t sit and cry about our difficulties, we must rise above and not allow others to hold us in their clutches,” he added further. ‘56-inch chest has shrunk’ says Congress Adding to Rahul Gandhi’s remark, Congress’ general secretary Jairam Ramesh took to X and claimed that the prime minister’s ‘56-inch chest has shrunk and shriveled”, referring to Home Minister Amit Shah’s remark in 2019 where he said PM Modi is a man with a “56-inch chest” by destroying terrorist hideouts in Pakistan. “At 5:37 PM Indian Standard Time on May 10, 2025, the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio was the very first to announce that India has halted Operation Sindoor,” said Ramesh, adding that Trump has claimed 51 times in five countries that it was his intervention which halted Operation Sindoor. Ramesh added that with Trump’s latest statement, the prime minister has “outsourced key decisions to America.” Courtesy : HT Note: This news is originally published on https:/hindustantimes.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Woman booked for abetting suicide of her Dalit lover
Rajkot: Police at Sikka in Jamnagar district registered an FIR against an upper caste woman, Dipali Sonchatra, for allegedly abetting the suicide of her lover, Ashwin Parmar, who was from a scheduled caste and was in a relationship with her for about six years. It was alleged that she harassed him and abused him due to his caste. Police booked Sonchatra for abetment to suicide under Section 108 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act based on a complaint from Hasmukh Parmar, the brother of the deceased. The FIR states that Dipali was in a relationship with Ashwin for five or six years. He wanted to marry her, but she was allegedly avoiding marrying him due to them being from different castes. Hasmukh alleged that Dipali harassed Ashwin and insulted him over his caste. This humiliation led Ashwin to drink acid on Aug 30, which caused his death on Sep 3. Hasmukh stated that he did not initially file a complaint, but after recovering his brother’s phone, he found conversations in which Dipali allegedly made casteist remarks and harassed Ashwin. He then approached police with the evidence. Hasmukh also named three friends of Ashwin’s, who could corroborate the charge that Dipali had been insulting Ashwin due to his caste, which drove him to commit suicide. Police said they have gathered electronic evidence and are investigating the matter. 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 boy’s suicide: HC rejects pre-arrest bail to Rohru woman; says prima facie reading of case shows she gave beatings to deceased
Shimla: The Himachal Pradesh high court on Tuesday dismissed the pre-arrest bail petition of the woman who is accused of abetting the suicide of 12-year-old Dalit boy of her village by allegedly confining him wrongfully and assaulting him. The upper-caste woman, Pushpa Devi (50), is from Limbra village in the Rohru sub-division of Shimla district. She is facing charges under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, and for wrongful confinement, assault, and abetment to suicide. Dismissing the petition as not maintainable, the bench headed by Justice Rakesh Kainthla held, “A prima facie reading of the status report and FIR shows that the accused gave beatings to the deceased (a member of the scheduled caste) and confined him to the cowshed because the deceased happened to touch the house of the accused, and she wanted a sacrificial goat for purification.” The deceased boy belonged to the Koli community. The court underlined that this offence was committed by the accused because of the caste of the deceased and would not have been committed if the deceased had not been a member of the scheduled caste. Justice Kainthla held that it was not possible to conclude, at this stage, that the petitioner had not, prima facie, committed an offence punishable under Section 3(2)(va) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Act. The court also upheld the objection taken by additional advocate general Jitender Sharma that the pre-arrest bail petition is not maintainable in view of the bar contained in Section 18 of the SC and ST Act. The case has sparked outrage, highlighting ongoing caste-based discrimination and abuse especially in rural areas of Himachal Pradesh. The police complaint filed by the deceased boy’s father states that the boy died by suicide on September 17, allegedly after consuming poison. He was reportedly harassed and locked in a cowshed by Pushpa Devi the previous evening, Sept 16. The high court had earlier, on Sept 25, ordered the release of the petitioner on interim bail until further orders, considering that she is a woman and is entitled to special consideration. Until then, Police Station Chirgaon had not added Sections 3(2)(v) and 3(2)(va) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act in the FIR registered on Sept 20. These sections were added later based on the investigation. The bench also noted that the accused also gave an interview to a local news media channel on Oct 1, in which she admitted that she confined the deceased boy inside her cowshed and stated that she would have not released him until the goat was given to her. “Chain Ram, Kardar made a statement about the caste prejudices prevalent against members of the scheduled caste, like ‘Koli’, who are treated as untouchable and not allowed to enter the house,” observed the court. 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
Madhya Pradesh: Hindutva groups accuse Muslims of “transgender jihad”, encroaching government land
A fresh controversy has erupted in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh after some Hindu organisations levelled allegations of “Kinnar Jihad”—an alleged, yet to be proven plot to settle transgender individuals on government land in collaboration with Muslims. The claim has sparked outrage and fears of communal tension in the Ayesha Nagar area of Adhartal tehsil. According to reports, a construction project had been ongoing on a piece of government land for nearly a year. Right-wing activists protested at the site, alleging that the land was being illegally occupied and that a madrasa was being built with funding linked to a transgender individual. Following the uproar, senior administrative officials, including the Tehsildar, Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), and Station House Officer (SHO), reached the site and ordered the demolition of the under-construction structure. Notices were also issued to halt any further development, an action widely seen as a result of pressure from the protesting groups. Hindu organisation members Manoj Rajak and Abhilasha Singh claimed that the site was part of a larger “conspiracy.” Rajak alleged, “Government land was being usurped in the name of religious education. Money was being channelled through a transgender person to establish a madrasa, and classes were about to begin.” He further asserted that “plans were underway for both land jihad and transgender jihad.” However, local Muslims have categorically denied these accusations, calling them fabricated and malicious. Imam Abdul Rahman of the Ayesha Nagar Mosque stated, “These claims are entirely false. The construction was meant for a small madrasa to educate our children. Linking it to any so-called jihad is a deliberate attempt to spread hatred.” Community member Saira Bano said the recurring use of terms like love jihad, land jihad, and now Kinnar jihad has created a climate of fear. “It seems there’s a new label every day to target Muslims. We are being demonised for trying to live and educate our children peacefully,” she said. Several human rights defenders have criticised the allegations, describing them as part of a broader campaign to stigmatise minorities in Madhya Pradesh. Anil Khan, an NGO worker, noted, “Such narratives are designed to deepen divisions. Administrative tools are being weaponised to silence marginalised groups.” Meanwhile, district officials maintained that their intervention was purely administrative. An official statement said the action was taken only to address concerns over unauthorised construction on government land, and not on communal grounds. Despite these assurances, residents and civil society groups argue that the issue has been politicised and communalised, turning a legal matter into a narrative of hate. Imam Abdul Rahman urged authorities to restore calm and truth: “We respect the law, but false propaganda must stop. Education should not be portrayed as a threat.” As tensions simmer, residents of Ayesha Nagar are appealing for peace, justice, and impartial investigation, warning that such polarising rhetoric could further fracture the fragile social fabric of the region. Courtesy : Muslim Mirror Note: This news is originally published on https:/muslimmirror.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Major stir in Maharashtra: Brother Raj Thackeray to enter MVA on Uddhav Thackeray’s recommendation; find out what Congress said.
Raj Thackeray MVA Entry: Following the closeness between the Thackeray brothers in Maharashtra, discussions have begun regarding the MNS’s entry into the MVA. The MVA is a shortened version of the India Alliance. Congress, NCP, Sharad Pawar, and Shiv Sena (UBT) contested the elections under the MVA banner. Congress has given its first response on whether MNS will enter as a fourth partner. Rahul Gandhi on MNS Entry Will Congress welcome Raj Thackeray? Mumbai: The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) in Maharashtra and the Mahagathbandhan (Mahagathbandhan) in Bihar are both part of the India Alliance. With Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray having come closer ahead of the local body elections in Maharashtra, it is believed that the two brothers will contest the elections together. In such a situation, the question arises: what will happen to the MVA if Uddhav Thackeray and his brother join? Will Raj Thackeray join the MVA? Differences have emerged between the Congress and the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena. Now, for the first time, the Congress has clarified its stance on this issue. The Congress party has stated that the decision on MNS’s entry into the MVA will be taken by the leaders of the Bharat Aghadi. The Congress party does not want to send a wrong message by including MNS, which has been known to thrash North Indians, in the midst of the Bihar elections, as the election fever in Bihar is ongoing. Elections are scheduled to be held in two phases. The Bihar results will be announced on November 14th. Meanwhile, the Uddhav Thackeray-led UBS is pushing for Raj’s entry. Maharashtra Congress Chief Clarifies Stand Maharashtra Congress Chief Harsh Vardhan Sapkal has stated that there is no proposal or discussion regarding the inclusion of MNS in the MVA; the decision to include it in the Bharat Aghadi is up to the leaders of the Bharat Aghadi. He stated that the only discussion in the media is that there is resentment or factionalism over the inclusion of the MNS in the Maha Vikas Aghadi. Delhi Congress President Harsh Vardhan Sapkal stated that the Congress is fighting against the BJP’s authoritarian rule and to protect democracy and the Constitution. The Bharat Aghadi has been formed with the participation of several parties from across the country in this fight. If any party wishes to join the Bharat Aghadi, the decision will be taken by the constituent parties of the Bharat Aghadi. Sapkal said that the Maha Vikas Aghadi has also been formed in the state against the BJP. Congress has decided to form an alliance with the Bharat Aghadi constituent parties in the local body elections in Maharashtra, giving them the right to take decisions at the local level. Harsh Vardhan Sapkal also clarified that the decision on alliances will not be taken at the state level. Some political analysts predict that the two brothers’ coming together will benefit Mumbai. Only a united MVA can challenge the Mahayuti, which won a landslide victory in the Assembly elections. In this context, Sanjay Raut, a leader of the Uddhav Thackeray faction, has floated the possibility of Raj joining the MVA. It remains to be seen what happens next. Elections in Maharashtra are expected to be announced in the next few days. Written by: Achlendra Katiyar About the Author Achalendra Kumar Katiyar works for Navbharat Times Online. He began his career with DLA in 2008. During his 17-year career, he has worked for iNext, Aaj Samaj, and Dainik Hindustan. He closely monitors developments in Gujarat, Maharashtra, and western states. He has a keen understanding of politics and closely monitors the developments in the southern and northeastern states. Courtesy : Hindi News
‘End this drama’: Rahul Gandhi meets Haryana IPS officer’s wife, daughters; ‘act against accused officers,’ opposition leader tells PM Narendra Modi
NEW DELHI: Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Haryana chief minister Nayab Singh Saini to take action against the accused cops in the Haryana IPS officer ‘suicide’ case. Rahul Gandhi, along with former CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda and senior Congress leader Kumari Selja, met the officer’s wife and daughters and assured all help to the bereaved family Later, while interacting with journalists, Rahul Gandhi said, “There has been a tragedy. He was a government officer, and the Haryana CM had personally given a commitment that he would initiate a free and fair inquiry and take action. He said this three days ago, but that commitment has not been fulfilled. His two daughters, who have lost their father, are under a lot of pressure.” “My message as LoP to the PM and Haryana CM: fulfil the commitment given to the daughters, allow the funeral, end this drama, and act against the officers exerting pressure on the family,” he added. — PTI_News (@PTI_News) Politicians from across the country are making a beeline to visit the Kumar household in Chandigarh to console the grieving family. Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale and Telangana Deputy CM Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka met the deceased officer’s wife, IAS officer Amneet P Kumar, in the morning. After meeting the family, Athawale said he had assured them of all support and that the entire country’s SC community is awaiting action against the officers responsible for Kumar’s suicide. Later, Athawale also met Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and discussed the case. Both Athawale and Paswan are allies of the ruling BJP. 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
Take action, crores of Dalits are watching: Rahul to PM & Haryana CM
CHANDIGARH: Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday met the family of Haryana IPS officer Y Puran Kumar, and said it was a question of justice “not just for a family but for all Dalits”. Calling upon Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Haryana chief minister Nayab Singh Saini to take action against officers in the case, Rahul alleged that Saini had not kept his promise of a fair and transparent inquiry into Kumar’s death. The Wayanad MP spent around 50 minutes with the bereaved family. After stepping out, he told the gathered mediapersons that Puran Kumar’s daughters are “under pressure”. “As Leader of Opposition, I want to give a clear message to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Haryana chief minister Nayab Saini — the promise made to the daughters of deceased IPS officer Puran Kumar should be fulfilled. Let the last rites of the deceased IPS be performed peacefully. ‘Yeh tamasha bandh kijiye’ (stop this drama). Crores of Dalit brothers and sisters are watching. Strict action should be taken against responsible officers in this matter,” Rahul said. During their meeting, the IPS officer’s wife, IAS officer Amneet Kumar told him that he was relentlessly insulted and driven to suicide, said Rahul. “They were a Dalit couple. Discrimination against the deceased IPS officer wasn’t a matter of 10-15 days but was systematically going on for several years to demoralise him, ruin his career and destroy his dignity and respect. Other officers were conspiring for this,” said the Leader of the Opposition, adding that “justice should be done”. “This is not just a matter of one family, rather, it is a matter of crores of Dalit families living in the country. A wrong message is going out to Dalit brothers and sisters — that no matter how intelligent and sensible a Dalit is, he too can be suppressed and crushed,” Rahul said. Rahul’s sister, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, echoed him and said Puran Kumar’s suicide was a “blot” on the country, “It’s proof that Dalits are neither safe nor is there justice for them under the BJP govt,” she tweeted. She alleged that Kumar died by suicide due to caste-based harassment. “His family is wandering in search of justice, but no one is paying any heed,” she said. A few days ago, former Haryana CM and current Leader of the Opposition Bhupinder Singh Hooda demanded an impartial investigation into Puran Kumar’s suicide, and said “no culprit should be spared and no innocent should be harmed”. After Rahul, Lok Jan Shakti Party MP and Union minister Chirag Paswan arrived at Puran Kumar’s residence on Tuesday and consoled the bereaved family. Paswan later told the media: “Today, people are being harassed in the name of caste, which is very sad. An IPS officer was harassed. People live together in harmony in this country, but some people try to break this brotherhood.” Every demand of the bereaved family will be fulfilled, he said. “If they don’t get justice, then no Dalit family will ever push their children forward”, said Paswan. Action would be taken against the accused officers, no matter how high a position they hold, he said, adding: “This is my family, and I will work to get them justice. Strict action will be taken in this matter.” The Union minister said he has spoken with Haryana’s chief minister and home minister. 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
Sampla flays AAP for politicising ADGP’s suicide, calls it ‘anti-Dalit’
Chandigarh: Former Union minister and ex-chairman of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes, Vijay Sampla, on Monday accused the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) of playing politics in the name of Dalits over the suicide of Haryana ADGP Y Puran Kumar. Sampla called the Punjab AAP and the govt led by Bhagwant Mann “anti-Dalit”. During a press conference, he said: “It would have been understandable if the Haryana AAP raised this issue, but the Punjab AAP is doing it in Punjab to project a clean face since people of the state are gheraoing their leaders for their negative approach during the floods.” The former minister said the BJP firmly stood with the family of Y Puran Kumar. Claiming that he closely knew the family members of the deceased ADGP, Sampla said he was in touch with the bereaved family and “according to them, there was an addition of the offence in the FIR and all the names were included”. Accusing the AAP of “sheltering those accused of atrocities against Dalits”, the BJP leader said: “AAP MLA Manjinder Singh Lalpura, convicted and sentenced for four years in a case of assaulting a Dalit woman, has neither been expelled from the party nor disqualified from Punjab assembly.” On the other hand, he said, the BJP-led Haryana govt “formed an SIT and will not spare anyone found guilty” in the ADGP suicide case. Hitting out at the AAP, Sampla said: “Before the elections, Arvind Kejriwal promised to appoint a Dalit as deputy chief minister of Punjab, but the promise was forgotten after coming to power.” He also said: “Among the AAP’s 13 Rajya Sabha MPs, not a single one is Dalit. Even from Punjab — home to India’s largest Dalit population — none of the seven Rajya Sabha members belong to the Dalit community.” “The Punjab and Haryana high court reprimanded the state govt for withholding its share of post-matric scholarship funds, which disrupted the education of Dalit students,” Sampla added. MSID:: 124531609 413 | 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