‘Forced into death for wages’: Dalit sanitation worker dies cleaning drain without safety gear in Delhi
Rahul (32), a contractual sanitation worker from the Valmiki community, died on March 30 while manually desilting an 8–to 10-feet-deep drain in Tahirpur, Dilshad Garden, allegedly without any safety gear, supervision, or mechanised support. The incident, which occurred under the jurisdiction of the Public Works Department, has raised serious questions about illegal manual scavenging practices, caste-based labour exploitation, and institutional accountability. According to findings by a fact-finding team from Dalit Adivasi Shakti Adhikar Manch (DASAM), Rahul had gone to collect two months of unpaid wages on the morning of the incident but was allegedly coerced into cleaning the hazardous drain, with payment conditional on completing the task. Witnesses and family members claim that he was forced to enter the toxic environment without protective equipment, exposing him to lethal gases such as methane and hydrogen sulphide. Rahul and a co-worker began the work from 8 am and by 2 pm, he was found unresponsive inside the drain. Rescue operations reportedly took nearly two hours, and he was declared dead on arrival at Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital. His family was informed only hours later, around 5 pm by an unknown person, raising concerns about official delay and insensitivity. Police initially registered a case at Seemapuri Police Station but did not include key provisions of the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and the Rehabilitation Act, and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. These sections were reportedly added later following pressure from the family and civil society groups. Authorities have since invoked provisions under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including Section 106 (causing death by negligence), but no arrests had been made at the time of reporting. Family members have alleged that Rahul’s death was not accidental but the result of toxic gas exposure and unsafe working conditions. They also raised suspicions of evidence tampering, noting that his body was found in clean clothes, contrary to standard conditions of sewer work. “We sent Rahul at 8 in the morning to collect his pending salary, but instead of paying him, the contractor told him to first clean the drain and only then he would get his two months’ wages”, Rahul’s sister said in conversation with DASAM. “We never imagined this would lead to his death. This tragedy happened because of toxic fumes, hazardous conditions, and the negligence of the contractor and the PWD”, she added. “It has been three days, and no one has come to us, not from the department, not any official, not even the contractor. We received his body on March 31”, she further said. “He was found dead in the drain around 2 p.m., and the police took nearly two hours to recover him and bring him to Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, where he was declared dead. We were not informed by anyone, neither the contractor nor co-workers. Someone else told us around 5 pm and we were asked to rush to the hospital.” Rahul’s brother Vijay said, “When people clean drains, they usually wear only underwear, but Rahul was found in full clothes, and they were clean. He was forced into death for wages. We suspect the contractor tried to remove evidence,” said Vijay.” A sewer worker, Jayvir said, “Workers were given no safety equipment at all,” noting that Rahul earned just 350 rupees a day. “He was the youngest in our family, with five brothers and one sister, and he was unmarried. Some people even threatened us to remove the contractor’s name, but the best officer assured us that justice would be done. The police kept pushing for cremation, but we refused until we were given assurance of 30 lakh rupees compensation”, Vijay said. The case has drawn attention to the continued existence of manual scavenging despite its legal prohibition and repeated judicial interventions. In its 2023 ruling, the Supreme Court of India increased compensation for sewer deaths to 30 lakh rupees and reiterated the state’s obligation to eradicate the practice. Activists argue that Rahul’s death highlights a persistent gap between legal safeguards and their implementation. The fact-finding report by DASAM also points to a multilayered system of contractors and subcontractors, allowing state agencies to deflect responsibility. “While the work fell under the PWD, officials have reportedly distanced themselves by attributing operational control to private contractors, a practice critics say enables systemic evasion of accountability”, National Coordinator of the organisation, Mohsina Malik told Maktoob. She added, “We along with the family demanded compensation, accountability, and the immediate arrest of the contractor, but the authorities kept refusing. It was only after sustained pressure from the SDM, MLA Kuldeep, and organisations like DASAM that the administration began to respond and included the appropriate sections in the FIR.” Malik said, “So far compensation had been promised but not disbursed. No arrests had been made. The investigation remains ongoing.” The fact-finding team recommended immediate arrest of all responsible contractors and officials, along with the payment of ₹30 lakh compensation in line with guidelines laid down by the Supreme Court of India. It also called for interim financial relief and rehabilitation support for the family, strict enforcement of the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and the Rehabilitation Act, and mandatory mechanisation of all sewer and drain cleaning work. The recommendations emphasised the need to eliminate informal subcontracting chains and clearly fix principal employer liability, while ensuring provision of safety gear, proper training, and supervision. Further, it urged formalisation of employment through written contracts, timely payment of wages, and access to social security and insurance for workers. The report also demanded criminal liability for officials permitting illegal manual scavenging, regular independent audits of sanitation work, and public disclosure of contractor details and working conditions. Additionally, it called for awareness campaigns on the prohibition of manual scavenging, training for police and municipal authorities, and community-level initiatives to promote safe sanitation practices. Rahul, the youngest of six siblings, earned between 300 and 400 rupees per day under precarious employment conditions. His family delayed his cremation until assurances of compensation were made. The last rites were
Clinical Psychology Society Flags Concerns Over Transgender Persons Amendment Bill, 2026
The Clinical Psychology Society of India has raised concerns over the Transgender Persons Amendment Act, 2026, criticising the removal of self-identification rights and mandatory medical certification. It said such provisions contradict legal and global norms and could harm mental health and access to care for transgender individuals. Mumbai: The Clinical Psychology Society of India (CPSI) has issued a formal position statement expressing concern over key provisions in the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill, 2026, which received Presidential assent on 31 March 2026. The organisation stated that its intervention is guided by its ethical obligation to safeguard the wellbeing, dignity and access to care of vulnerable populations. Removal of Self-Identification Right Violates NALSA Judgment In its statement dated 7 April 2026, CPSI criticised the removal of the right to self-identification and what it described as the arbitrary introduction of recent amendments that redefine gender classification. The body argued that such provisions run contrary to the landmark NALSA v. Union of India (2014) judgment, which recognised the right to self-identify one’s gender as a fundamental aspect of dignity, autonomy and inclusion. The organisation further highlighted that the World Health Organization’s International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11), adopted in 2019 and widely followed in India, acknowledges gender identity as a natural variation in human experience rather than a mental disorder. CPSI noted that this global shift towards more affirming and rights-based approaches is reflected in contemporary clinical practice, where diverse gender identities and expressions are recognised and supported. Raising additional concerns, CPSI warned against processes mandating medical certification or review as prerequisites for recognising gender identity. It stated that such measures could function as gatekeeping mechanisms, potentially creating further barriers for individuals already navigating systemic inequities and minority stress. These barriers, the organisation cautioned, could adversely affect mental health outcomes, help-seeking behaviour and access to essential care services. Reaffirming its professional commitments, CPSI underscored the importance of ethical standards in mental healthcare, including the right to dignity, confidentiality, informed consent and access to the least restrictive care. It cited provisions under the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 as foundational to its approach. The statement concluded with a call for policies that are trauma-informed, inclusive and aligned with both constitutional principles and international best practices, emphasising the need for legal and social systems that respect and respond to gender diversity. Courtesy : TFPJ Note: This news is originally published on https:/thefreepressjournal.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Delhi HC seeks Centre’s stand on petitions challenging amended transgender law
The Delhi High Court on Wednesday sought the Centre’s stand on two petitions challenging provisions of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Act, 2026, for taking away one’s right to a self-perceived gender identity. A bench of Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia issued notice on petitions by Chandresh Jain and Lakshay Jain and asked the central government to file its reply within six weeks. The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill, 2026, was passed by Parliament on March 25 and received President Droupadi Murmu’s assent on March 30. Petitioner Chandresh Jain said the Act “removes and dilutes” self-perceived gender identity and instead introduces a regime of State-controlled verification, certification and screening of gender identity, which violates rights to dignity, privacy and decisional autonomy under Article 21 of the Constitution. His petition further said that the amendment Act is manifestly arbitrary and disproportionate, and it infringes Article 19(1)(a) by restricting the expression of gender identity. Lakshya Jain’s petition said that the amendment altered the existing statutory framework by replacing self-perceived gender identity with a regime of medical and administrative verification, including scrutiny by a district magistrate (DM). His plea said that such a requirement was ex facie violative of the law laid down by the Supreme Court in National Legal Services Authority versus Union of India, which held that gender identity is a matter of self-identification and psychological identity must take precedence over biological attributes. Chandresh Jain’s plea emphasised that the apex court has already held that gender identity is an integral part of dignity, autonomy and personal liberty under Articles 14, 19(1)(a) and 21, and every individual has the right to a self-identified gender. The case would be next heard on July 22. Courtesy : The Pioneer Note: This news is originally published on https:/thepioneer.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Why activists see the imprint of Hindutva in the new transgender law
The law foregrounds trans identities that lie broadly within Hindu society, and cuts off paths to recognition for a range of others. What is common between khwaja sira in Punjab and Kashmir, thirunar in Tamil Nadu and nupi maanbi in Manipur? These are some of India’s traditional trans communities whose legal standing is left uncertain under the new transgender law passed in March. The law in force earlier, the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019, contained a wide and inclusive definition of a transgender person. It began by stating that a transgender person was someone “whose gender does not match with the gender assigned at birth”. This included a “trans man or trans woman”, irrespective of whether or not they had undergone a medical procedure such as a sex reassignment surgery, someone “with intersex variations” and “genderqueer” individuals. Apart from these categories, the 2019 law also included individuals “having such socio-cultural identities as kinner, hijra, aravani and jogta”. Further, it accorded all transgender individuals “a right to self-perceived gender identity”. In contrast, the new law has a far more restrictive definition of a transgender person. It foregrounds the four socio-cultural identities of kinner, hijra, aravani and jogta, adding “eunuch” to the list. The other categories it includes are individuals who have “intersex variations”, “a congenital variation” in certain sexual characteristics, or have been “by force, allurement, inducement, deceit or undue influence” been put through one of several medical procedures. The 2026 law leaves out all other categories. Its statement of “objects and reasons” notes that the act’s aim is “not to protect each and every class of persons with various gender identities, self-perceived sex/gender identities or gender fluidities”. Activists are alarmed at this dramatic reduction of the scope of the definition of transgender individuals. They fear that the prominence given in the definition to the four specific socio-cultural categories, combined with the complete omission of self-determined identities, represents a grave threat to numerous other traditional transgender communities in the country, including the khwaja sira in Punjab and Kashmir, thirunar in Tamil Nadu and nupi maanbi in Manipur. These identities are Muslim, syncretic or unaffiliated with any particular religions – in contrast, the four specifically named socio-cultural groups are broadly located within Hindu society. Thus, activists argue that the new law is, in effect, an extension of the Bharatiya Janata Party and the wider Sangh Parivar’s Hindutva agenda. As a statement by the All India Students’ Association noted, the act was restricting the definition to communities that were “already culturally legible to the state”. It observed that the hijra, kinnar, aravani and jogta communities were “historically visible through ritual roles at births, weddings, and religious spaces” and so “may be tolerated within this framework”. The queer feminist academic Jennifer Loh made a similar argument in a 2022 book chapter, noting that the “Hindu right favours Hindu trans (feminine) identities above other less visible, non-homonormative trans identities and Muslim trans people”. Loh argued that this was because Hindu trans feminine identities such as hijras align with the “broader goals of promoting Hindu ideologies, through the reinforcement of existing gender and religious norms”. A statement by the All India Students’ Association noted that the hijra, kinnar, aravani and jogta communities were “historically visible through ritual roles at births, weddings, and religious spaces”. Photo: Sam Panthaky/AFP The writer and filmmaker Rayyan Monkey argued that even the traditional communities mentioned in the act were in a sense limited by it. “While the hijra and kinnar communities do want to sustain their place in the spiritual ecosystem of India, they also want to get into schools, colleges and jobs,” she said. Scroll spoke with experts and trans activists in Manipur, Nagaland, Tamil Nadu and Punjab to learn about the traditional identities that are at increased risk of exclusion under the new act. Thirunar, thirunangai, thirunambi in Tamil Nadu Activists from Tamil Nadu explained that the late chief minister, M Karunanidhi, had introduced the terms thirunar, thirunangai and thirunambi in the late 2000s, to refer to trans persons, trans women and trans men, respectively. They noted that the positive intent underlying the move was evident in the fact that the word “thiru” translates to “respected” in Tamil. Many activists prefer this term to others, like aravani and “third gender” that are also used in the state. Negha, a trans activist and actor, noted that the former term, used for trans women, is rooted in Hindu mythology. The traditional aravani community worships the Mahabharata character Aravan – the son of Arjuna, who marries Krishna in the form of a woman, Mohini, before going to war and dying. Not all trans women in Tamil Nadu participate in the rituals of the aravan community, Negha noted. “The term aravani is not an inclusive word,” she said. “Many trans women are concerned about being pushed to assume a Hindu identity. Not everybody believes in the Ramayana and Mahabharata.” In comparison, she said, the terms thirunar, thirunangai and thirunambi were rooted in the legacy of the state’s self-respect movement, which promoted social justice and gender equality, and challenged caste-based oppression. Karunanidhi “researched Tamil literature and then came up with the words thirunar and thirunangai,” Negha said. “It is an inclusive word which can be used by Hindus, Buddhists and Dalits regardless of caste and religions. This amendment will erase and invisibilise these words.” Activists and members of these and other communities are also anxious about the fact that the new act lays emphasis on medical procedures and clearance from authorities before a transgender individual is accorded recognition, such as with an identity certificate recognising them as transgender. Negha explained that these identities were not typically linked to gender reassignment surgeries or other medical procedures, but were based on individuals’ self-perception. Under the previous law, a transgender individual could obtain such a certificate by applying through an online portal to the district magistrate – the rules of the act only required that they furnish a self-attested affidavit, along with identity documents
‘Vulgar and insulting’: Priyanka Gandhi flags Assam CM Sarma’s remarks on Kharge, seeks PM Modi’s clarification
Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi on Wednesday rebuked Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for using “rude” and “derogatory” language against Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, calling it “utterly shameful and unacceptable.” She also called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to clarify whether he supports what she called an “insult to crores of Indians.” Sarma’s remarks came a day earlier, targeting senior Congress leader Kharge. He said, “Kharge is ageing and is speaking like a ‘pagal’ (madman). You insult the people first and then say you will ask the external affairs minister for verification?” The comments followed Kharge’s call for central agencies to probe allegations against the Assam chief minister. ‘Insult to crores of people’: Priyanka Gandhi Posting on X, Priyanka Gandhi described Sarma’s statements as “derogatory,” “indecent,” and “unacceptable.” She wrote, “Kharge ji is one of the seniormost leaders of the country. He is not only a representative of the Congress party but also an enlightened voice for the Dalits and marginalized sections of the nation. By insulting him, the BJP’s Chief Minister has insulted crores of people across the country.” She added, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji must clarify before the nation: Does he agree with this insult to crores of Indians?” Rahul Gandhi’s demand Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also spoke out on X on Tuesday. He said Sarma’s “derogatory language” against Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge was an insult to the entire SC/ST community. He added that Prime Minister Modi’s silence “is not helplessness, it is consent.” Rahul wrote, “If the Prime Minister sees an attack on the dignity of crores of Dalits in the country and does not speak up – he is not only shirking his responsibility, but is also a party to that insult.” He further accused the BJP-RSS of having an “old and premeditated mindset” against Dalits. He added, “Whenever a Dalit leader speaks the truth, they stoop to humiliating him. This is the party’s true character and face.” 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
‘Sincere regret’: After BJP backlash, Mallikarjun Kharge apologises for ‘people illiterate in Gujarat’ remark
NEW DELHI: Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday apologised for his recent remarks targeting people of Gujarat, saying his comments were ‘deliberately misinterpreted’ and that he never intended to hurt sentiments. In a post on X, the Congress president said, “Some remarks of mine in a recent election speech in Keralam are being deliberately misinterpreted. Even so, I express my sincere regret. It was never my intention to hurt the sentiments of the people of Gujarat for whom I have always had and will continue to have the highest of respect.” The apology comes amid a political row triggered by his remarks during an election rally in Kerala’s Idukki district. Addressing a rally ahead of the assembly elections, Kharge had said that people in Kerala were ‘educated and clever’ and could not be misled, unlike those who were ‘illiterate’ in Gujarat and some other places. The statement sparked sharp reactions from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which termed the remarks insulting and unacceptable. Senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad criticised Kharge’s statement, calling it “shameless, demeaning and utterly despicable.” He also asked Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to clarify whether they agreed with the remarks. Prasad questioned whether Kharge deserved to remain Congress president, saying the post had historically been held by leaders such as Jawaharlal Nehru and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and demanded that the Congress leadership distance itself from the comment. He further highlighted Gujarat’s literacy rate and contribution to the country, arguing that such remarks insult the people of the state. The BJP also demanded an apology to the people of Gujarat, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Reacting to the controversy, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said that political discourse should not deteriorate and emphasised the need to maintain standards in public debate. He highlighted that political leaders should focus on constructive arguments rather than using language that lowers the quality of discourse. Meanwhile, Gujarat deputy chief minister Harsh Sanghavi strongly criticised Kharge’s remarks, calling them an insult to the people of the state and its legacy. He said Gujarat, which has produced leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel, would not accept such comments. 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
Annamalai sees rift between DMK and Congress
Coimbatore: Former BJP state president K Annamalai on Wednesday alleged that there was a growing rift between DMK and Congress in the Secular Progressive Alliance, which came evident during the final phase of campaigning in Puducherry. “Both Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and DMK president and chief minister M K Stalin didn’t mention each other’s name during their separate campaigning in Puducherry, though both are allies in the Union Territory,” Annamalai said while addressing media at the Coimbatore Airport. Annamalai said, “Rahul Gandhi remains an uninterested and disinterested politician when it comes to Tamil Nadu. Rahul Gandhi, who flew to Coimbatore Airport from Palakkad recently, did not even consider campaigning for his party’s candidate in one of the constituencies, which is Singanallur, just next to the airport.” Annamalai urged the Election Commission (EC) to deploy additional security force to manage the massive crowds gathering for TVK leader Vijay’s rally, questioning whether state officials are operating independently or under the DMK influence. “The ECI must act with integrity and grant necessary permissions for his campaign without bias,” he stated. Turning to his own record, Annamalai challenged sceptics to investigate his past candidacy in Aravakurichi. “I challenge anyone to find a single instance where I distributed money to voters. I will personally bear the bus fare for anyone willing to conduct an on-the-spot inquiry,” he 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
UP govt launches Dr B R Ambedkar Murti Vikas Yojana
With a push on Dalit issues barely a week ahead of the birth anniversary of Dr B R Ambedkar, Uttar Pradesh government on Tuesday launched a new ” Dr. B R Ambedkar Murti Vikas Yojana”. With a push on Dalit issues barely a week ahead of the birth anniversary of Dr B R Ambedkar, Uttar Pradesh government on Tuesday launched a new ” Dr. B R Ambedkar Murti Vikas Yojana”. UP backward welfare Minister Asim Arun stated that under the “Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Murti Vikas Yojana Scheme”, umbrellas, boundaries, and beautification work would be carried out around statues of Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar. The minister said 10 memorials will be developed in each Legislative Assembly, with a cost of ₹10 lakh per memorial. Thus, a total expenditure of ₹403 crore is expected for the development of 10 memorials in 403 Legislative Assembly constituencies. The new scheme was approved by the state cabinet here on Tuesday. According to officials, under this scheme, statues of great personalities, national social reformers, and cultural figures and important symbols of our nation’s historical, cultural, and social heritage will be covered. These statues represent public memory, social values, and respect for national and local contributors. Currently, many statues are installed in accordance with prescribed legal standards, but lack walls and guardrails. Consequently, these statues are highly vulnerable to weather, encroachment, and neglect. The lack of adequate security and glazing also compromises the statues’ beauty and visual appeal. Officials said keeping the above circumstances in mind, this plan has been prepared, the objective of which is to ensure the safety of such existing statues installed till December 31, 2025 and to provide them a protected and respectable form by sanctifying the area around them. Besides, the physical security of the statues and the preservation of cultural and historical heritage will be ensured, and the statue sites will be beautified and enhanced. This will make the statue sites informative and useful to the public. With the launch of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Statue Development Scheme, the site around the statues will be developed and boundary walls will be constructed, which will lead to employment generation. Courtesy : The Statesman Note: This news is originally published on https:/thestatesman.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Dalit mason assaulted for asking Rs 1.5L pending wages; 3 held
BIJNOR: A 24-year-old Dalit labourer was allegedly stripped and brutally beaten for demanding Rs 1.5 lakh in pending wages in Dabarasi village of Hasanpur area in Amroha district on Sunday. After a video of the assault started circulating on social media, police registered a case and arrested three accused men. The FIR was registered at Adampur police station under BNS sections 115(2), 351(2) and 352, along with Section 3(2)(Va) of the SC/ST Act against the accused. According to police, Sachin Kumar, a resident of Dhabarsi village under Adampur police station, is a mason and is engaged in installing ceiling at an under-construction house. He works along with his two brothers. On Sunday morning, the two brothers arrived to take Sachin to work at another place. Before leaving, he demanded unpaid wages from the employer, and this led to an argument. The dispute soon turned violent, and the accused allegedly cornered Sachin on the road and assaulted him. A bystander recorded the assault and posted it online. SP Lakhan Singh Yadav confirmed that three accused — Mohammad Nausad, Samayuddin and their father Haseen Khan — have been arrested in connection with the assault and caste abuse case. 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
Student Harassed by Molesters Sets Herself on Fire; Molesters Also Beat Her Father After Complaint Was Filed
In Sagar, a 14-year-old Dalit student, tormented by harassment, set herself on fire following a brutal assault on her father. The molesters had beaten her father after he filed a complaint with the police. A case has been registered against four minors. Student Tormented by Harassment Sets Herself on Fire A deeply tragic and harrowing incident has come to light from the Sagar district of Madhya Pradesh. In the Malathone (Khurai) police station area of the district, a 14-year-old Dalit student—a 9th-grader—who was tormented by the harassment of local miscreants, poured diesel over herself and set herself ablaze. The student was driven to take this horrific step because, after she complained about the molesters, the accused individuals had severely assaulted her father right in front of their home. The critically burnt student has been admitted to the Bundelkhand Medical College in Sagar for treatment. Molester Had Been Harassing Her on the Bus for a Long Time The victim’s father stated that his daughter studies at a government school in Malathone and commutes daily by bus. A boy from a nearby village, Kapil Lodhi, had been harassing her for the past three months, frequently calling her on the phone and pressuring her to talk to him. When the molester refused to desist despite being reasoned with, the father filed a complaint against him at the Malathone police station. Upon Complaint, Accused Came to House and Beat Father According to the father, on the evening of April 5—after he had filed the police complaint and returned home with his daughter—the accused, Kapil, was standing outside their house along with three accomplices. The four began hurling abuses, and when the father objected, they brutally beat him with kicks and punches. As they left, the accused also issued death threats. Terrified by Her Father’s Beating, Daughter Sets Herself on Fire Witnessing her father being beaten right before her eyes, the innocent student became utterly terrified. She ran inside the house, doused herself with diesel, and set herself on fire. Hearing the child’s screams, family members rushed to the scene and used a bedsheet to extinguish the fire; however, by that time, her neck, the right side of her chest, and both hands had already sustained severe burns. The family members immediately transported her to a hospital with the assistance of the ‘Dial 112’ and ‘108’ ambulance services, from where she was subsequently referred to Sagar for further treatment. **Case Registered Against All Four Minor Accused; Investigation Underway** Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Lokesh Sinha stated that the police had promptly registered a case regarding the assault on the girl’s father. In her statement, the victim also corroborated the allegations of molestation and the physical assault on her father. The police have registered a case against four individuals—including two who were specifically named—under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the SC/ST Act. All four accused are reported to be minors. The matter is currently being investigated with the utmost seriousness. By: Vinod Arya, Sagar Courtesy: Hindi News