Villagers oppose free housing plots allotted to transgender persons in Chengalpattu
A group of transgender persons who were given free housing plots by the State government, along with pattas, in a village in Chengalpattu district, are facing opposition from an entirely unexpected quarter: opposition from the residents in the village. The transgender persons have gone on a protest, demanding that the district administration allow them to occupy the allotted lands and construct houses. Transwoman activist Negha, who has been protesting along with the allottees of the free housing plots, said the Chief Minister M.K. Stalin had provided free housing plots to 37 transgender persons at Ozhalur in Chengalpattu district, at a function held in May last year. However, when they wanted to construct homes on the land allocated to them, they were faced with stiff opposition from the villagers and panchayat leaders, who have have been continuously obstructing the construction of houses on their land. On Thursday, things came to a head when the affected transgender persons gathered in front of the Chengalpattu Collector’s office. They appealed to the government authorities to provide them security, as they were being threatened by the residents of the village. Ozhalur village panchayat president O.E. Prabhakaran, however, claimed that the village was not opposed to the transgender persons using the land allotted to them. Their quarrel, he claimed, was about the location of the land granted to them. “The alloted vacant plot is the only place that is of flat terrain, which the children of the village have been using to play sports. We are ready to accommodate them in an alternate location,” he added. The Hindu Bureau 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
Charlie Kirk assassination: Suspect’s transgender boyfriend reportedly kicked out of home; experimented with drugs and alcohol in youth
Charlie Kirk assassination suspect Tyler Robinson’s transgender boyfriend was reportedly kicked out of the parents’ home during the latter years of high school over their Mormon faith. Lance Twiggs, 22, bounced between homes during his latter years of high school after clashing with his family over their beliefs in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, New York Post reported. Twiggs was expelled from his home after distancing himself from the family’s religious doctrines and reportedly experimenting with drugs and alcohol during his youth. He sought refuge with two friends, brothers from a large, blended family comprising six biological children and three adoptees, according to their sister, Braylon Nielsen, who spoke to The Post on Wednesday. While the brothers are now estranged from the family, the 19-year-old remembers Twiggs fondly, noting that they took him in during his junior year in 2021, despite the family’s limited knowledge of the troubled high schooler. “It was on and off. He was bouncing couches. He would live with us for a few months, but didn’t like taking up our couch. He would crash with friends,” she explained. “I loved Lance. His parents kicked him out of his house, and he lived with us. His parents never sat right with my family,” Nielsen added. She further commented that his parents appeared overbearing in their religious zeal and dismissed family members’ claims as spiteful gossip. “Lance, that I know of, has never done drugs. He was always like, ‘I don’t want to go out and party.’ He just wasn’t a big partier,” she said. Despite the tensions, Nielsen praised Twiggs as a “hardworking” and “straight A” student who ensured inclusivity during his time at UT Success Academy, an accelerated programme for gifted students pursuing college-level courses. “We went to a dance once, a high school dance, and he was very involved with it. Made sure everyone had rides. Made sure everyone had clothes. He just took care of people. My sister’s car broke down once, and he came out to help her,” she added. Ben Kaufman, Executive Director of UT Success Academy, did not have direct interactions with Twiggs, who graduated around the time Kaufman began working at the school. However, Kaufman stated, “Everything I’ve heard about him, he was a great kid. He was nice. He worked hard.” Despite being open about his issues, Nielsen revealed she was unaware that Twiggs was transgender. She defended Twiggs, asserting he had no involvement in Robinson’s plan. “I think that’s all Tyler. The Lance that I knew would never do something like that. I could never see Lance doing that,” she insisted. Nielsen’s mother, Jackie, also maintains that Twiggs is innocent in the assassination plot against Kirk, hoping he finds peace post-investigation. “I don’t believe Lance would have any part of that. He’s a good kid. He’s a kid. He’s compassionate. He minds his own business. I hope the world lightens up on him and stops being so hateful until they have all the facts. He doesn’t deserve this,” she told The Post. Twiggs recently left the townhouse he shared with Robinson, who was similarly raised as a devout Mormon, in St George, Utah. Washington County Sheriff Nate Brooksby previously stated that Twiggs was in a “safe space very far away from St George,” and needed “to lay low for a long time.” He has not been charged with any crime in connection with Kirk’s assassination and is reportedly cooperating with authorities. 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
Huge win for Riley Gaines as court rules in her favor against transgender athletes in women’s sports
Riley Gaines, the former collegiate swimmer and outspoken conservative activist, has scored a major legal victory in her ongoing fight to prevent biological men from competing in women’s sports. A federal judge in Atlanta ruled Thursday that the Title IX claims against the NCAA can move forward, marking a critical milestone for Gaines and a group of 19 current and former female athletes. The lawsuit challenges NCAA policies that allowed transgender athletes to compete in women’s competitions, including the high-profile 2022 NCAA Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships. Riley Gaines leads high-profile legal battle Riley Gaines has emerged as a prominent voice in the debate over transgender participation in women’s sports. The lawsuit she leads initially included Georgia officials and the Georgia Tech Athletic Association, but the court has since dismissed them, leaving the NCAA as the primary defendant. The case now focuses solely on whether the NCAA, which receives federal funding, can be held accountable under Title IX for policies that allowed biological males to compete against women. — icons_women (@icons_women) The controversy began at the 2022 Championships, where Lia Thomas, a biological male, competed in women’s events and used women’s locker rooms and facilities. Gaines described the experience to Fox News, saying, “[Thomas] was full naked and, of course, full intact inches away from where we, 18-, 19-, 20-year-old girls, were fully undressed.” Her attorney, Bill Bock of the Independent Council on Women’s Sports (ICONS), praised the court’s decision, stating, “Judge Johnson’s ruling is a significant step forward for Plaintiffs in this lawsuit. We will now move on to the discovery phase and look forward to proving that the NCAA is fully accountable under Title IX.” What this means for women’s sports The ruling is being seen as a landmark moment in the ongoing national debate over fairness in women’s athletics. The NCAA maintains that its policies align with federal directives, noting that it continues to invest in women’s sports and promote Title IX compliance. Meanwhile, Gaines’ case shines a spotlight on questions of competitive equity, safety, and privacy in women’s sports at all levels. As the lawsuit progresses, Gaines remains the de facto spokesperson for female athletes challenging the status quo, and the coming months will be critical in determining the legal and cultural direction of transgender participation in college sports. 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 makes surprise visit to pizza place in Gurugram
NEW DELHI: Leader of opposition and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, on Tuesday night, made a surprise visit at a pizza restaurant in Gurugram’s Galleria Market. Haryana Congress spokesperson Manish Khatana told PTI that only a handful of party leaders knew about the visit. He added that Rahul spent around 45 minutes at the restaurant, where he also interacted with the staff and left for Delhi later, according to PTI. In a video circulating online, the Congress leader is seen wearing a pink T-shirt and greeting people. — ManishKhatanaYC (@ManishKhatanaYC) Speaking to Manish Khatana, Rahul Gandhi said that development has stalled not only in Gurugram but across Haryana due to the BJP’s negligence. The senior Congress leader also noted during his interaction that the BJP has lost public trust and is now resorting to vote theft to stay in power, PTI reported. This was reportedly his second such surprise visit, as Rahul had made a similar stop at another cafe in Galleria Market four years ago. 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
Yatra politics in Bihar: Why Tejashwi Yadav may be reluctant to join hands with Owaisi’s AIMIM
NEW DELHI: It’s yatra season in Bihar, as the state gears up for the upcoming assembly elections. After the Mahagathbabdhan’s “Voter Adhikar Yatra” which was led by Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav’s ongoing “Bihar Adhikar Yatra”, it is now Asaduddin Owaisi, the chief of All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), who is leading his party’s ‘Seemanchal Nyay Yatra’. While all the three yatras aim to mobilise voters against the Nitish Kumar-led NDA government in the state, there is a political subtext which points to the fight within in the opposition space. While Tejashwi’s ongoing yatra is perhaps an effort to establish his dominance within the Mahagathbandhan and counter the narrative that he played second fiddle to Rahul Gandhi during the Voter Adhikar Yatra, Owaisi’s yatra in the Seemanchal region may actually end up dividing the opposition space – like it did five years back. The Seeemanchal region, comprising four districts of Purnia, Araria, Kishnaganj and Katihar, has a high concentration of Muslims. Why Owaisi is keen to join the Mahagathbandhan In the 2020 Bihar assembly elections, AIMIM fought on 20 seats and won five of them — Amour, Kochadaman, Baisi, Jokihat, and Bahadurganj. However, four of the AIMIM MLAs eventually joined the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) in 2022. The NDA had then returned to power by winning 125 seats as against the Mahagathbandhan’s 110. The AIMIM was then blamed for the Mahagathbandhan’s failure to get a majority, by cutting into Muslim votes, especially in the Seemanchal region, which has a sizeable population of the minority community. The RJD and the Congress had then blamed Owaisi for being the B team of the BJP and helping the saffron party. This time around, Owaisi seems to have changed his strategy and has made several public pronouncements about his desire to join the Mahagathbandhan. The AIMIM has not only written letters to RJD bosses- Lalu Prasad and Tejashwi seeking an alliance, but the party, perhaps in a first, also held a demonstration with drums outside the residence of former CM Rabri Devi demanding its inclusion in the opposition INDIA bloc to “prevent a split of secular votes”. The AIMIM has said that it wants to contest only on 6 seats as part of the Mahagathbandhan. “We made the move so that we do not face accusations of helping the BJP. A lack of proper response on RJD’s part will make it clear who is actually helping the BJP,” Owaisi said reacting to the lack of response from RJD to his alliance offer. “Our Bihar president Akhtarul Iman wrote three letters to Lalu Prasad and Tejashwi Yadav expressing our wish to join the INDIA bloc. We had demanded only six seats. We are not interested in any ministerial berth. We only wanted to be treated as equals and not as slaves in the joint fight against BJP and RSS. But, so far, no response has come from them,” the Hyderabad MP added. “My appeal to you is to strengthen your political leadership. We will not go to outsiders’ doors to beg… I and Akhtarul Iman, wrote letters to Lalu Prasad Yadav. After that, Tejashwi Yadav said that he had not received it. My brother, when the father is alive in a household, and a matter is presented in front of elders, the younger ones do not have the right to say: ‘You told the elder, but not me’,” Owaisi said while addressing a rally in Kishanganj. Why RJD may not be interested in Owaisi alliance The RJD, which is going all out to wrest power from Nitish Kumar this time around, should have ideally latched on to the AIMIM offer to ensure there was no division of Muslim votes in the assembly elections. However, the party is yet to respond to Owaisi’s overtures. For the RJD, Owaisi’s alliance offer presents a difficult situation. The RJD, over the years, has drawn its core support from the Yadavs and Muslims. Accepting Owaisi as an alliance partner, RJD would have to concede part of that space to Owaisi, a move that may not be politically prudent for either Lalu or Tejashwi Yadav. Traditionally, Yadavs and Muslims have formed the core voter base of Lalu Yadav’s Rashtriya Janata Dal Secondly and perhaps more importantly, if Owaisi joins the Mahagathbandhan, it will give the BJP and NDA a strong ground to press with its charge of appeasement politics. Already, the Mahagathbandhan’s campaign against vote theft and Rahul Gandhi’s yatra has been lebelled by the BJP as an effort to save the alleged infiltrators, who are mostly Muslims from Bangladesh. The charge has been led by none other than Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who, in an election rally earlier this month accused opposition parties of shielding illegal immigrants and asserted that infiltration had caused a “demographic crisis” in eastern states like Bihar, Assam and West Bengal, making people “worried for the honour of their sisters and daughters”. “This was the reason why I had announced a demography mission from the Red Fort (on Independence Day). But such is vote bank politics that Congress, RJD and their entire ecosystem are busy defending and shielding the foreign infiltrators,” PM Modi had alleged. “They have become so shameless that they are raising slogans and taking out yatras in support of infiltrators from foreign countries,” he had said, in an apparent reference to the ‘Voter Adhikar Yatra’ of the Congress. “But let me tell RJD, Congress and their ilk that the NDA is committed to driving out each and every infiltrator. I challenge leaders who are trying to protect infiltrators to try with all their might. We will continue to flush out infiltrators,” the PM had asserted. Clearly, if the Mahagathbandhan takes Owaisi’s party into its fold, this BJP campaign will become a lot more shriller in the run up to elections and may actually end up polarising the voters. Little wonder, the RJD may perhaps risk some division of votes rather than go on the defensive under the charge of helping infiltrators (read
Congress raises Mandal pitch as Kharge slams caste rally ban in UP
NEW DELHI: After aggressive advocacy of caste census, removal of 50% ceiling on reservations and private sector quota, Congress has asserted its new branding as a “social justice” platform by slamming UP govt’s ban on caste-based political rallies. In a little-noticed statement, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, at a CWC meet in Patna, asked PM Modi to answer how does the all-round acceptance of caste census square up with threat to jail people who come out to protest against atrocities inflicted on them. By linking the ban to UP CM Yogi Adityanath “who has written in the past against reservations”, Kharge sought to paint caste rallies as part of protest and mobilisation rooted in caste injustices – in support for the now-banned gatherings. The reaction from the AICC chief has been stronger than the words of protest murmured by some regional parties of Mandal hue. But insiders said it is in line with the new politics, being pursued by Congress with a special nudge from Rahul Gandhi, who has found a strong ally in the party president. Since his debut, Rahul followed aggressive “pro-poor politics” with an element of Dalits and weaker sections. However, things took a dramatic turn over two years ago when he shifted gears to whole-heartedly embrace Mandalite fervour, with features like caste census and reservations. He even shocked party members by advocating “Jitni Abadi utna haq” – a rather radical advocacy of “proportionate reservation” once identified with social justice outfits that had since mellowed and mainstreamed. After some internal reservations, Congress toed Rahul’s line via the CWC. Since then, even the BJP govt at the Centre agreed to enumerate caste in the much-delayed decennial census now scheduled for 2027. Congress celebrated a reluctant Modi govt’s concession as a big victory, while toasting party-ruled Telangana’s elaborate exercise as the model to be followed at the Centre. But besides caste census, Congress has on multiple occasions gone further to seek removal of 50% ceiling and quotas in private sector educational institutions. Its scale and aggression on social justice lately have appeared to outflank even the Mandal outfits. Interestingly, after the CWC meeting at Patna Wednesday, Rahul Gandhi presided over a show of Bihar allies to release a manifesto focused on “extremely backward castes“ for the coming state elections – reflecting the distance Congress has covered in rebranding its political colour. 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 men harassed for entering temple during procession in Rajasthan
A group of Dalit men were assaulted in Rajasthan’s Churu district when they tried to enter a temple during a religious procession. The incident occurred in a village named Sadasar village. The harassment sparked protests from locals who demanded action against the accused. An FIR was lodged by Kanaram Meghwal, one of the victims, at the police station. The complaint states that a recital was arranged during a ‘shobhayatra’. He alleged that he along with other men tried to enter a temple seeking blessings. However, they were stopped by villagers who prevented them from entering and started to assault them physically. The FIR names the accused — Surdas Swami, Shankarlal, Himmat Kumar, and Anil. All four are on the run and police are trying to trace them. Reportedly, the group was assaulted during a rush hour at the temple. However, DSP Satyanarayan Godara stated differently, “They were told to wait but an altercation broke out between the groups at the temple entrance.” Courtesy : MM Note: This news is originally published on https:/muslimmirror.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
20 years jail to man for raping Dalit minor, woman accomplice gets 10 yrs in prison
Pilibhit: A special Pocso court has sentenced a 25-year-old farmer to 20 years in jail for raping a minor Dalit girl in 2018. His 35-year-old female accomplice, a family friend of the girl, was handed a 10-year term under IPC section 120B (criminal conspiracy) for luring her to the spot. The judgment was delivered on Tuesday evening by special judge (Pocso) Geeta Singh, who also imposed fines of Rs 1 lakh on convict Vipin and Rs 50,000 on Kaushalya Devi. Prosecution said that around 2 pm on May 18, 2018, Kaushalya Devi took the 15-year-old out of her house at a village in Pilibhit district on the pretext of answering nature’s call and asked her to stand guard. Vipin, then 18, was already waiting in a sugarcane field. “He dragged the girl deep inside the field and raped her,” the court was told. The matter came to light when the girl later confided in her mother. Based on a written complaint filed by her father, police initially registered an FIR under IPC section 354 (assault or criminal force to outrage a woman’s modesty), along with relevant provisions of the Pocso and SC/ST Acts. Public prosecutor Anil Kumar Sharma told TOI, “The girl did not disclose the rape at the time of filing the written complaint for the sake of protecting her dignity. However, after her medical examination confirmed the crime, police added section 376 (rape) to the FIR, and she also asserted it during her court statement under CrPC section 164.” Police filed a chargesheet on April 3, 2021, after collecting evidence and witness statements. Both Vipin and Kaushalya Devi were arrested the day after the incident but were later released on bail. The judge further ruled that if the convicts failed to pay the fines, Vipin’s sentence will be extended by six months and Devi’s by three months. The court also ordered that the fine amount be given to the girl, and directed the district legal services authority to provide her additional financial assistance under Rule 7 of the Pocso Act, Sharma 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
Dalit Men ‘Beaten’ Over Temple Entry In Rajasthan’s Churu
The incident, which occurred at Sadasar village on Sunday, led to protests outside the local police station. Jaipur : A group of Dalit men was allegedly assaulted for attempting to enter a temple during a religious procession at a village in Rajasthan’s Churu district, police said on Monday. The incident, which occurred at Sadasar village on Sunday, led to protests outside the local police station on Monday. According to an FIR lodged by Kanaram Meghwal, the incident took place on Sunday evening during a religious procession held after the conclusion of a ‘Bhagwat Katha’. The ‘shobhayatra’ (procession) was taken out from the recital venue to a nearby temple, and when Meghwal and a few others were entering the shrine for ‘darshan’, they were stopped by some villages, including Surdas Swami, Shankarlal, Himmat Kumar and Anil, the FIR said. The complainant alleged that the accused prevented them from entering the temple for being Dalits, and assaulted them. DSP Satyanarayan Godara said there was a rush at the entrance of the temple and Meghwal and others were asked to wait when an argument broke out between the two groups. “A case has been registered against four persons who are absconding. A search is on to trace them,” the DSP said. 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
Dalit families in Erode stage protest seeking patta
Urging the District Administration to allot 250 acres of land to Dalit families in Mathur village, Anthiyur taluk, as promised three decades ago, residents staged a protest at the Collectorate here on Wednesday (September 24, 2025). Led by S. Karuppaiah, State president of the Dalit Liberation Movement – Tamil Nadu, the families said the State government, in 1956, had earmarked over 1,000 acres for Dalit families in the western districts. However, they claimed that many of the beneficiaries were later evicted, and the land was encroached upon by other communities. According to them, large portions of land that were originally meant for Arunthathiyar and Paraiyar families in Gobichettipalayam and Anthiyur taluks have been occupied by individuals from other communities. They pointed out that the land in Mathur village remains under government control and is classified as forest land. Hence, they demanded to allot it to Dalit families in the village. Later, officials held talks with the protesters. The Hindu Bureau 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