Congress to be voice of OBCs, Dalits and minorities: Ajay Rai
Varanasi: Terming BJP-led govt as anti-other backward class, Dalit and minority sections of society, UP Congress Committee president Ajay Rai said, “During Modi-Yogi govt’s rule at Centre and in UP, a horrific rise in atrocities against backward classes, Dalits, tribals, women, and minorities is evident as their slogan of ‘Amrit Kaal’ (period of healing) has converted into ‘Atyachar Kaal’ (era of atrocities).” Referring to latest NCRB report during a press conference at his residence here on Saturday, Rai said, “The report states clearly that highest increase in crime against SC/ST occurred in UP. Incidents of inhuman crime recently in Fatehpur, Rae Bareli, Kakori, etc, including loot, murder and kidnapping are common in Yogi’s rule and people in the state are living in an atmosphere of fear and injustice. Congress will be the voice of these sections for justice and equality. As long as even one person faces injustice in the name of caste or religion in the country and state, Congress’s fight will continue.” Rai targeted Modi govt at Centre and Yogi govt in UP, alleging that it increased inflation and corruption with their anti-people policies. He alleged that state govt could not ensure proper arrangements for cleaning ghats and uninterrupted flow of Ganga before the festival of Chhath. He said people of Varanasi were distressed by govt-sponsored mismanagement, loot and insensitive attitude of govt machinery. Speaking on Bihar assembly election, Rai said Nitish Kumar-led NDA govt had provided employment only in liquor smuggling. Today, farmers, youth, Dalits and backward class people of Bihar were fed up of the misrule of Nitish govt, said Rai, adding that public had completely made up its mind for change, and it was going to be proved by their votes. 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
2 more arrested in assault on Dalit teen at birthday party
Noida: Two more people were arrested on Saturday for their alleged involvement in the assault on a 17-year-old boy Aniket and his uncle Sumit, both Dalits, earlier this month. Aniket died on Friday while Sumit is undergoing treatment. Two accused, Ankit and Rachit, were held from Sector 18’s Gaur Yamuna City and the Kheda underpass, respectively. Four people have been arrested in the case so far. Police said Rachit and his associates from his community, including Yuvraj Meena, Jeetendra alias Jeetu Meena, Ravi, Bharat, and Sunil, carried out the attack on Oct 15 at Syed Pokhar, where the victims had gone to celebrate Aniket’s birthday. According to an FIR lodged by Sumit’s brother, a group of 10-12 men, armed with iron rods and sticks, assaulted the duo over a personal dispute. “They started hitting my brother Sumit and Aniket with rods and sticks. Aniket sustained severe head injuries and collapsed on the spot. Sumit managed to escape,” the FIR stated. The attackers allegedly hurled caste-based abuses and snatched Sumit’s mobile phone and gold chain before fleeing. The victims were taken to a hospital in Greater Noida and later referred to a Delhi hospital. “Aniket succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment in the ICU,” a senior police official from Rabupura police station said. His body was handed over to his family and later cremated. A case has been registered under BNS sections 103(2) murder, 191(2) (rioting), 190 (every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object), 115(2) (voluntarily causing hurt), 352 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace), 109 (attempt to murder), 309(4) (robbery) and Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. On Oct 19, police arrested Yuvraj and Jeetendra. 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 girl raped for three years in Khaga: Youth lured her with the promise of marriage, assaulted her when she resisted; case filed
A case of rape of a Dalit girl for three years has come to light in the Sultanpur Ghosh area of Fatehpur district. A youth from the same village is accused of repeatedly having physical relations with her under the pretext of marriage and then assaulting her when she resisted. The victim has filed a complaint at the police station. In her complaint, the victim stated that Ajay Kumar (Lodhi) of the village had entangled her in a love affair about three years ago. The accused, promising marriage, pressured her into physical relations and continued to rape her. Last Friday, when the girl’s brother learned of this and she refused to have physical relations, the accused assaulted her. The victim alleges that the accused also threatened to kill her brother. CO Khaga stated that the matter is under investigation. He has ordered the registration of a case under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act (SC/ST Act) and sections related to rape. Station House Officer Tej Bahadur Singh confirmed that the case is being investigated and a case is being filed, and that the victim will be provided justice. Vikash Trivedi Courtesy: Hindi News
Fourth accused arrested in Noida Dalit youth murder case: Death occurred after attack at birthday party, police sent to jail
Police arrested the fourth accused, Ankit, late Saturday night in the murder case of Dalit youth Aniket in the Rabupura police station area of Greater Noida. According to police, Ankit, along with his friends, attacked Aniket and his family members with sticks during a birthday party on the night of October 16th. Aniket was seriously injured in the attack and died during treatment on Friday. Aniket’s death sparked widespread outrage among family members and villagers. People blocked the road and protested, demanding the arrest of the accused. In view of the rising tension, a heavy police force was deployed at the scene. The Chief Minister also took cognizance of the matter and spoke to the victim’s family, assuring them that all the accused would be arrested soon. According to Rabupura police, four accused have been arrested so far in this case, while three other accused are still absconding. Four special teams have been formed to search for the absconding accused. Police stated that all absconding accused will be arrested and sent to jail as soon as possible. Courtesy: Hindi News
Kerala HC Orders Bar Council Of India To Approve 2 Seats For Transgender Students In All State Law Colleges
The Kerala High Court directed the Bar Council of India to approve two seats for transgender students in all state law colleges. Justice V.G. Arun issued the interim order after noting delays by the BCI, following a petition by a transgender woman denied admission despite qualifying KLEE 2025, citing NALSA v. India and the Transgender Persons Act. Kochi: The Kerala High Court on Friday directed the Bar Council of India (BCI) to approve two seats for transgender students in all law colleges across the state. Interim Order Issued Justice V.G. Arun issued the interim order while hearing a petition seeking to expedite the decision on the proposal, which had been pending before the BCI. The court observed that the matter could not be kept waiting indefinitely for the Council to act. During the hearing, the petitioner’s counsel informed the court that at an earlier session, the BCI had been directed to finalise a date for holding its General Council meeting to decide on the matter. However, the BCI’s standing counsel told the court that the proposal was placed before the Standing Committee for Legal Education, which, after deliberation, decided that the final call must be taken by the General Council. The standing counsel added that it was not possible to say when the next meeting of the General Council would be held. Taking note of this delay, Justice Arun remarked, “In my opinion, the issue cannot wait endlessly for the General Council of the Bar Council to meet.” Accordingly, the court issued an interim direction to the BCI to approve the Kerala Government’s request, communicated through a letter dated August 6, for the creation of two seats for transgender students across all law colleges in the state. The court also instructed that the approval should be given within ten days of receiving a copy of the order. The directive came while hearing a petition filed by a transgender woman who was denied admission to Government Law College, Kozhikode, despite qualifying in the Commissioner for Entrance Examinations’ Kerala Law Entrance Examination (KLEE) 2025. The petitioner also cited the landmark NALSA v. Union of India judgment and the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019, in support of her claim. (Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by FPJ’s editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.) 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
GMCH, IGGMCH residents join black ribbon protest
Nagpur: Resident doctors at Nagpur’s Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) and Indira Gandhi Government Medical College and Hospital (IGGMCH) joined the statewide black-ribbon protest called by the Central Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (Central MARD) on Saturday. The demonstration was held to condemn the death of a medical officer posted at the Phaltan Sub-District Hospital in Satara district. According to the association, the woman medical officer had been harassed by a police personnel named in her suicide note. Wearing black ribbons while on duty, resident doctors across Maharashtra expressed solidarity with the bereaved family and demanded the immediate arrest of the accused police officer, transfer of the investigation to the Maharashtra Criminal Investigation Department (CID), and the implementation of effective safeguards to ensure the safety of medical professionals. The protest emphasized that although the symbolic gesture was widespread, patient care at hospitals remained unaffected and work continued uninterrupted. Central MARD warned that unless authorities intervene promptly and deliver justice without delay, the agitation would be escalated into a full-scale non-cooperation movement and further statewide protests. The demonstration underscored mounting concerns among resident doctors that their safety and occupational dignity are under threat—and that institutional mechanisms must respond robustly to protect them. 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
Bihar train trips inhuman: Rahul; 12k spl trains running, 1.5cr travelled: Rlys
NEW DELHI: As Congress MP Rahul Gandhi slammed the rush in trains to Bihar, the railways reiterated it was running 12,000 special trains for Diwali, Chhath and Bhai Dooj to ease travel during the festive season. Rahul Saturday claimed on X that trains to Bihar are “packed, tickets are impossible to get, and the journey has become inhuman” during the festival season. “Where are the 12,000 special trains?,” he asked the Centre, as he also shared a video showing overcrowded trains at railway stations on one hand and PM Minister Narendra Modi flagging off trains on the other on a split screen. In response, railways asserted, “Crowds are natural during festivals, but Indian Railways is striving for the convenience of passengers.” Listing its efforts for passenger safety and comfort, railways mentioned holding areas at 30 stations in Bihar for return journeys after Chhath Puja, war rooms and mini control rooms in every zone, and war room at the board level. The Congress neta alleged in his post, “These are not just helpless passengers, they are living proof of the deceitful policies and intentions of the NDA.” Railways in its rebuttal said over 1.5 crore passengers have travelled on special trains; holding areas have been created at major stations, additional ticket counters have been set up, and there is 24×7 deployment for cleanliness, security and ensuring smooth travel. “It is a month of festivals – Diwali, Bhai Dooj, Chhath. In Bihar, these festivals do not just mean faith, they also mean a longing to return home – the smell of soil, the affection of family, the feeling of belonging in the village. But this desire has now become a struggle,” Rahul said. Congress MP Akhilesh Prasad Singh highlighted that Chhath is very special for Bihar and its people. “There was initially a great deal of relief when (PM) Modi and railway minister announced that 12,000 trains would be used to transport people to their homes, but only 1,500 trains were actually run,” 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
Dalit man assaulted in Maharashtra; three held
11-member group attacks and abuses Dalit in Ahilyanagar district of Maharashtra A 22-year-old Dalit man was allegedly abducted and brutally assaulted by a group of 11 individuals in Ahilyanagar district of Maharashtra. Three of the accused have been arrested in connection with the incident that took place on October 19 in Sonai village. According to the FIR filed on a complaint from the victim’s father, the man and his friend were standing near a hospital when the main accused, Sambhaji Lande, who reportedly had prior enmity with the victim, arrived with a group. They kicked and punched the victim and assaulted him with sticks. When the victim’s friend attempted to intervene, he too was assaulted. The attackers then forced the victim into an SUV and took him to an undisclosed location, where the assault continued. The FIR said the group allegedly urinated on the victim and hurled casteist slurs during the ordeal. After nearly an hour of abuse, they left him near a college ground. His parents later took him to a local hospital, from where he was referred to the Civil Hospital at the district headquarters, a senior police officer from Sonai. The police have invoked relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including those related to causing hurt, using dangerous weapons, and kidnapping. “Provisions of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act have also been applied in the case. So far, three individuals, including Lande, have been arrested, and efforts are under way to apprehend the remaining accused,” the police said. Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi leader Prakash Ambedkar urged the authorities to invoke the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) against the accused. In a post on X, Mr. Ambedkar said that he had spoken with the victim’s father and assured the family of his support, adding that he plans to meet them soon. 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
Karnataka: Dalit Sene march to express solidarity with Minister Priyank Kharge
Members of Dalit Sene hit the streets in Kalaburagi city on Friday in a show of solidarity for Minister Priyank Kharge in the fight against the RSS. The march was led by Dalit Sene State president Hanumanth Yelasanghi. The Dalit Sene members, including its Women Wing, Youth Wing members from Kalaburagi, Bidar, Raichur, and Yadgir districts, took out a massive march from Jagat Circle to the Deputy Commissioners’ office, displaying the portraits of Dr. Ambedkar, the Constitution’s preamble, and posters of Mr. Kharge. The Sene members burnt tyres demanding the State government to ban RSS activities completely. Coming down heavily on the RSS leaders, Mr. Yelsanghi said that the RSS has been targeting minorities and Dalits across the country. They have issued threatening calls to Mr. Kharge for questioning the organisation’s funding sources and its registration, they said. “If RSS take out route march holding a lathi, the Dalit Sene members are ready to give RSS a befitting reply,” he expressed. Alleging a secret alliance between Congress and RSS, Mr. Yelsanghi claimed that Congress was extending its support to RSS. He claimed that more than 100 Congress workers participated in the RSS route march held at Sedam town recently. 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
Dalit leader’s exit reveals RJD’s internal differences
Gaya: The unexpected exclusion of Makhdumpur MLA Satish Das from the RJD’s candidate list for the Magadh division has stirred unease within the party’s regional ranks. Das, a former Marxist who joined the RJD to champion social justice, is believed to have faced consequences for not aligning with the region’s most influential RJD leader, according to his supporters. Political circles are abuzz with reports that following the denial of ticket, prominent Dalit leader and Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad reached out to Das, offering him a ticket from his party. Dalit leader Ratan Lal also reportedly contacted Das to express solidarity, recognizing him as an emerging Dalit voice in the region. When asked about these developments, Das declined to confirm or deny the outreach. “What I can confirm is that I remain committed to the party and will continue advocating for the marginalised,” he stated. On speculation that Jehanabad MP Surendra Yadav played a role in his exclusion, Das refrained from naming persons but remarked that “neo-feudal” elements exist across parties and still struggle to accept Dalit assertiveness. Yadav did not respond to calls seeking his comment. Regarding whether he would campaign for Vishwanath Yadav, Surendra Yadav’s son and RJD candidate from Belaganj (a constituency bordering Makhdumpur), Das said he would follow the party leadership’s directives. Privately, several RJD leaders acknowledged that denying Das a ticket may have sent a negative message. Former MLA and senior RJD leader Vinod Kumar Yadavendu described the decision as unjustified. Although Subedar Das, the new RJD candidate for Makhdumpur, belongs to the same Dalit sub-caste, insiders believe the move signals a reluctance by mainstream parties to embrace Dalit empowerment. Adding to the concern is Satish Das’s broader appeal—he is also popular among minority communities and played a key role in the anti-CAA protests in Gaya during 2019–20, alongside Congress leader Omair Khan. While Khan has secured a ticket from Biharsharif, Das finds himself sidelined. 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