A snip of freedom: Banaskantha village ends Dalit haircut ban
Aalwada (Banaskantha): In a moment as symbolic as it was long overdue, a barber’s scissors in Aalwada village cut through decades of caste prejudice. On Aug 7, 24-year-old farm labourer Kirti Chauhan became the first Dalit ever to walk into a barber’s shop in the village and get a haircut. It felt like an early Independence day for the community as all five barber shops opened their doors to Scheduled Castes for the first time. For generations, the 250-odd Dalits in this 6,500-strong village were denied service by local barbers and forced to travel to other villages, often concealing their identity for something as basic as grooming. That changed last week after months of dialogue, when elders from all communities agreed to end the unwritten ban. “I am the first Dalit to get a haircut here. Ever since I can remember, we had to go to other towns for basic grooming. In 24 years of my life, I finally felt free and accepted in my own village,” said an emotional Kirti Chauhan. The breakthrough followed persistent efforts by the Dalit community, supported by local activist Chetan Dabhi. Their campaign involved sensitising upper-caste residents and barbers about the unconstitutional nature of the practice. Where persuasion failed, the police and district administration stepped in. Village sarpanch Suresh Chaudhary admitted, “As sarpanch, I felt guilty about the earlier practice. I am proud it ended during my tenure.” The district administration, led by mamlatdar Janak Mehta, played a crucial role in resolving the issue. “We addressed complaints of discrimination and worked with village leaders to ensure a harmonious resolution,” Mehta said. “Small cut, big change,” is how Dalits describe this first step towards social equality. Chhogaji Chauhan, 58, recalls, “We have walked miles for a haircut. My father faced this before independence, and my children endured it nearly eight decades after.” Now, barbers are welcoming all customers. Pintoo Nai, 21, who gave Kirti his historic haircut, said, “We simply followed society’s diktat earlier. Once the elders agreed to change, it was no longer prohibited. It’s also good for business.” Activist Chetan Dabhi explained, “Many resisted change despite months of sensitisation. Only after constant intervention by police and the district administration did the upper castes agree.” Even members of dominant communities backed the move. Prakash Patel, a Patidar, said, “If customers are welcome at my grocery store, why not at a barber’s shop? We’re glad the wrong practice is gone.” While celebrating the change, Ishwar Chauhan, a Dalit farmer, noted that prejudice lingers. “We still face separate seating at community feasts. I hope that will change too 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.
Suspicious death of Dalit youth: Suicide note makes serious allegations including police beating and casteist slurs
Victim made serious allegations of beating, casteist slurs and harassment against constable and PSI before his death, kin demand Rs 50 lakh compensation Chikkamagaluru. A 27-year-old Dalit youth from Samase village in Kalasa taluk of Chikkamagaluru district of Karnataka committed suicide on Wednesday. In his suicide note, the deceased alleged that he was beaten and abused by a Kudremukh police employee. The deceased has been identified as Nagesh, a resident of Bastigadde. According to information, Nagesh had lodged a complaint against constable Siddesh at Kudremukh police station on July 15. The complaint alleged that Siddesh thrashed him and made casteist remarks. According to the complaint, the incident took place around 10:30 pm when Nagesh was returning in his autorickshaw. On the way, he saw Siddesh and two locals standing on the road, whose car was blocking the way. As it was dark, Nagesh moved ahead with his mobile phone torch light. Siddesh suspected that Nagesh was clicking pictures of them while drinking alcohol, following which he allegedly thrashed and abused him. Family members say that instead of taking action on Nagesh’s complaint, the police registered a case against him for obstructing government work. The police had seized his autorickshaw and pesticide spray machine. Though he later got bail, he was unable to release his vehicle due to financial constraints and also feared further police harassment. In the suicide note, Nagesh accused constable Siddesh of torturing him and also named PSI Aadarsh, alleging that they did not take any action on his complaint. Family members and locals staged a protest after Nagesh’s death. They demanded that Siddesh and Aadarsh be dismissed from service and a compensation of Rs 50 lakh be given to the victim’s family. However, the police have started investigating the case. Rajan Chaudhary Courtesy : Hindi News
Dalit student Somnath Suryavanshi custodial death: Bombay High Court orders to form SIT, will the secrets of police torture be revealed?
Bombay High Court’s big decision in the case of suspicious custodial death of Dalit law student Somnath Suryavanshi, order to investigate by forming SIT. Aurangabad – The Aurangabad bench of the Bombay High Court has directed the Director General of Police (DGP) of Maharashtra to constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT) within a week to investigate the suspicious custodial death of Dalit law student Somnath Suryavanshi. This order was passed orally by a division bench of Justice Vibha Kankanwadi and Justice Sanjay A. Deshmukh. The court clarified that the inquiry committee appointed earlier by the state government will be dissolved and all documents related to it will now be handed over to the new SIT. The bench said, “If the petitioner Vijayabai Venkata Suryavanshi has any objection to the members of the SIT, she can register it before the court.” Petitioner’s allegation This interim order was given on the petition of Somnath’s 61-year-old mother Vijayabai Suryavanshi. He alleged that his son was illegally detained and brutally tortured in police custody during a peaceful demonstration in Parbhani in December 2024. Later, the authorities tried to hush up the case by calling his death a heart attack. Somnath, a final year law student from Latur and belonging to the Scheduled Caste community, was arrested while recording on camera a protest against the desecration of the replica of the Constitution near the statue of Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar in Parbhani. FIR and Supreme Court proceedings On July 4, 2025, the High Court directed the Parbhani police to register an FIR within a week. The court had said that prima facie evidence of custodial torture and violation of fundamental rights exists. After this, on July 30, the Supreme Court dismissed the petition of the Maharashtra government, which challenged the High Court’s order to register an FIR. Custodial torture and death The petition said Somnath was illegally arrested despite peacefully recording the protest while carrying a copy of the Constitution. After being produced before a magistrate on December 12, 2024, he was handed over two days of police custody during which he was brutally beaten. His condition deteriorated further when he was produced before a magistrate again on December 14. He was then sent to judicial custody, where he suddenly died at 6:49 am on December 15. While the police attributed the cause of death to chest pain, the postmortem report of a seven-member medical team cited 24 serious injuries and stated the cause of death as “shock resulting from multiple injuries”. Alleged bargaining attempt The petitioner alleged that upon reaching Parbhani, he was taken to the IG by police officer Ashok Ghorband, where he was told that other sons of the family could be given police jobs and was asked not to file a complaint in exchange for Rs 50 lakh. Also, he was advised to perform the last rites in Latur. But he turned down these proposals and demanded that his son’s death be registered as a custodial murder. Court’s strict comment The High Court said that the judicial inquiry conducted under Section 196 of the Indian Civil Security Code (BNSS) found serious human rights violations and the death was directly linked to custodial beating. The court reprimanded the state government and said, “When the constitutional rights of a person are violated while in custody, this court cannot remain a silent spectator.” The bench also questioned the delay of the CID and the credibility of the internal investigation. The court said that the CID tried to get a second opinion from JJ Hospital, Mumbai by bypassing the doctors who conducted the postmortem, which casts doubt on the investigation. Order of SIT inquiry The court directed to register an FIR on the basis of the petitioner’s complaint lodged on December 18, 2024 and get the case investigated by a Deputy Superintendent of Police under the SIT. Also, CID officer D.B. The earlier order restraining Talpe from filing the final report has now been revoked. Welcoming the decision, advocate Hitendra Gandhi, appearing for the petitioner, said, “The order to form an SIT in the case of Somnath Suryavanshi’s death is a big step towards justice. We hope that the SIT will conduct an impartial investigation and bring out the truth and the culprits will be punished.” Rajan Chaudhary Courtesy : Hindi News
Punjab’s inter-caste marriage horror: Dalit family evicted from village, house vandalised and looted
After an inter-caste marriage in Muktsar’s Eena Kheda village, a Dalit family had to leave the village, house vandalised and looted. Police arrested three people. Bathinda: A Dalit family of Eena Kheda village in Muktsar district of Punjab has been living outside the village for the past one month after their son’s inter-caste marriage. The family alleges that the house was vandalised and looted in their absence, which is being done by the girl’s relatives. 22-year-old Surinder Singh, who belongs to the Dalit community, married an 18-year-old Jat Sikh girl from his own village on July 7. The marriage took place at a gurdwara in Sri Ganganagar (Rajasthan) and both of them also received a legal marriage certificate. But this marriage spread tension in the village, as earlier the Panchayat had passed a resolution opposing ‘marriages within the same village’. Surinder’s father Malkit Singh, an Amritdhari Granthi, and his uncle Gurmeet Singh, a painter by profession, said they had to leave the village and take shelter with relatives after their son and daughter-in-law eloped and got married. They allege that a few days later, a group led by the girl’s family broke into their house, broke things and stole things. When they returned home, they were abused with casteist slurs. The family has filed a police complaint and demanded justice. “The village panchayat may oppose our son’s return, but that does not mean we have to suffer humiliation and violence,” Malkit Singh said. Police action Malout DSP Iqbal Singh Sandhu said action was taken after receiving a complaint on Friday. Police arrested three people, including the girl’s father and brother, under Section 126/170 of the BNSS as a precautionary measure. “We are taking steps to prevent the situation from worsening and turning into a full-blown caste conflict,” he said. This incident has come to light after the case when on July 29, the mother of a youth was also attacked in Ghal Kalan village of Moga district because her son had married a girl from the same village. In that case, the Punjab State Women Commission had taken cognizance and an FIR was registered against many accused including the village sarpanch. Opposition to marriages in the same village increased Panchayats of many villages in Punjab have passed resolutions in recent months opposing marriages taking place in the same village. Panchayats justify this by citing social tradition and pressure on the community. However, rights activists and legal experts are calling these resolutions unconstitutional and discriminatory. Rajan Chaudhary Courtesy : Hindi News
Give affidavit within 7 days or apologise: CEC to Rahul
NEW DELHI: Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on Sunday set a seven-day deadline for leader of opposition in LS Rahul Gandhi to either submit a declaration under oath along with proof of electoral roll irregularities alleged by him, or apologise to the nation as his ‘vote theft’ claims are rendered baseless and invalid. “There is no third option,” said a combative Kumar while addressing his first press conference as CEC. He was flanked by election commissioners S S Sandhu and Vivek Joshi. “If one does not point out errors within these timelines and also fails to file an election petition within 45 days to challenge the result, but still tries to mislead the voters with false allegations of ‘vote chori’, is this not a subversion of the Constitution?” asked Kumar. “A lie, if repeated several times, does not become a truth.” “The voter knows the motive behind such baseless allegations,” the CEC said while accusing parties of firing from the Election Commission’s shoulder. Explaining the procedure for pointing out errors in electoral rolls, Chief election commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar said an elector of an assembly constituency (AC) or booth level agents (BLAs) appointed by parties can file claims and objections on the draft voter list with the sub-divisional magistrate (SDM), a state govt employee who is also the electoral registration officer (ERO), or use the two-point appellate process to get corrections made after the final electoral roll is published. ‘We don’t discriminate between parties’: CEC “EC does not discriminate between parties. It simply discharges its duties as enshrined in the Constitution,” he added. Kumar reiterated that EC, as required by Article 326 of the Constitution, is committed to enrolling every Indian citizen who is 18 years and above, as voters. “The commission stands fearlessly like a rock with every voter, be he/she poor or rich, elderly or young, or from any caste or religion,” said Kumar. Elaborating on the poll body’s insistence on a signed declaration from Rahul, but not using the same yardstick with BJP MP Anurag Thakur after he made similar allegations, the CEC said EC believes in graded response. He further explained that any elector from an AC has the right to complain about exclusion; similarly, BLA can also complain under oath. “But if the complainant is not a voter in that AC, and is making serious allegations about exclusion of 1.5 lakh voters while calling EC a ‘chor’, it warrants an escalated response as per Rule 20(3) (b), which requires ERO to administer an oath to the complainant as a witness,” he said. “EC cannot act based on a PPT presentation with wrong facts,” added Kumar. Though Thakur had alleged fake voters in constituencies, including Rae Bareli and Wayanad, during 2024 LS polls, he did not cast any aspersions on EC. Drawing a distinction between voter list errors and actual voting, Kumar said while there may be electors in the voters’ list who are dead, permanently shifted or enrolled at multiple places, the commission chose not to delete them by simply using technology and instead required statutory forms to be filled. With SIR, starting with Bihar, such entries can be identified and weeded out after due house-to-house verification. “But when it comes to voting, one person can only cast one vote,” he stressed. On demand for machinereadable rolls, the CEC said a machine-readable voter list is different from a searchable voter list. The latter, he said, can be searched with EPIC number. As regards machinereadable roll, Supreme Court had in 2019 prohibited it from being shared, citing voters’ privacy concerns. 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.
Oppn show of strength in Bihar as allies join Rahul yatra
SASARAM: INDIA bloc members on Sunday joined Rahul Gandhi at the launch of ‘Voter Adhikar Yatra’ here against SIR of electoral rolls and “vote theft” in Bihar, with the occasion also becoming a show of strength for the “mahagathbandhan” in the state that is set to go to polls later this year, reports Ambika Pandit. RJD, CPM, CPI(M-L) Liberation, CPI and Vikassheel Insaan Party chiefs along with those from Congress came together setting off the 16-day yatra from Sasaram. The ground, brimming with a large crowd of euphoric supporters and party workers, was dotted by RJD and Congress flags. CPI(ML) Liberation general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya, CPM’s Subashini Ali, CPI’s P Sandosh Kumar, and VIP’s Mukesh Sahani spoke vociferously against SIR and its impact on marginalised voters. Lalu Prasad stole the show with his trademark style. Despite his frail health, he launched blistering attacks on his rivals, leaving the audience in fits of laughter. “Lagal, lagal jhulaniya ke dhakka, balam Kalkata chala (We will push the opponent so hard that they will go far away),” he said. Tejashwi issued a warning to PM Modi and home minister Amit Shah, saying, “We will not let anyone snatch democracy from Bihar.” 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’s yatra launch becomes INDIA bloc’s show of strength in Bihar
Sasaram: INDIA bloc leaders on Sunday joined Rahul Gandhi at the launch of the ‘Voter Adhikar Yatra’ here against the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and “vote theft” in Bihar, with the occasion also becoming a show of strength for the “mahagathbandhan” in the state that is set to go to polls later this year. RJD, CPM, CPI(M-L) Liberation, CPI and Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) leaders along with those from Congress came together setting off the 16-day yatra from the BIADA ground in Sasaram. The horizon of the ground, brimming with a large crowd of euphoric supporters and party workers, was dotted by RJD and Congress flags. Amid loud sloganeering against “vote chori” and in the presence of RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav and leader of opposition in the Bihar assembly Tejashwi Yadav, Rahul asked the crowd “apka mood kaisa hai” and after the audience settled to listen, he launched a scathing attack on BJP and RSS, accusing them of trying to “wipe-out” the Constitution by stealing elections. He said the campaign against vote theft and SIR was “a fight to save the Constitution”. CPI(ML) Liberation general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya, CPI(M)’s Subashini Ali and CPI’s P Sandosh Kumar and VIP’s Mukesh Sahani spoke vociferously against SIR and its impact on marignalised voters. Referring to SIR, Rahul alleged it was the latest conspiracy to “steal” the Bihar elections by deleting and adding voters but people and INDIA bloc will not let the Modi govt do that. He said the country now knows what EC is doing and Congress showed how it is carrying out this “theft”, as he highlighted alleged irregularities the Maharashtra polls and referred to Congress’s study of the Mahadevapura assembly segment in Karnataka’s Bengaluru Central LS constituency. Lalu Prasad stole the show with his earthy humour and trademark style during the launch of the yatra. The 77-year-old, despite frail health, launched blistering attacks on his rivals, leaving the audience in fits of laughter. “Lagal, lagal jhulaniya ke dhakka, balam Kalkata chala (We will push the opponent so hard that they will go far away),” he said, drawing loud cheers from the crowd. The line, a regular feature of his campaign speeches, once again brought his supporters to life. Accusing the BJP of being involved in “vote thefts,” Lalu urged the masses not to let BJP to power. “Throw out the vote thieves from power and help us win elections in the state,” he said, calling upon people to remain united. He added that uprooting the NDA govt was essential to “strengthen democracy.” Tejashwi issued a warning to PM Narendra Modi and home minister Amit Shah, saying, “We will not let anyone snatch democracy from Bihar — referred to as land that is seen to be the mother of democracy”. He described SIR as not “vote chori” but “vote dacoity”. 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.
Blocked Drains, Denied Dignity: Dalit Family in UP Faces Caste-Based Discrimination
The root of the problem lies in a discriminatory practice: while drainage water from upper-caste households flows freely into the village pond, the drain serving the Dalit community is deliberately blocked, forcing the filth to accumulate near their homes. Firozabad- Despite constitutional safeguards and stringent laws like the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, caste-based discrimination continues to manifest in insidious ways. For Dr. Pardeep Kumar, a PhD holder in Mathematics from Dayalbagh University, Agra, the battle is not just against systemic neglect but also against the silent atrocities inflicted by caste prejudice in his own village. A resident of Gadora village in Firozabad district, Dr. Kumar, who is specially abled, lives with his family in conditions worse than urban slums, surrounded by stagnant, sewage-filled water that floods their home during rains. The root of the problem lies in a discriminatory practice: while drainage water from upper-caste households flows freely into the village pond, the drain serving the Dalit community is deliberately blocked, forcing the filth to accumulate near their homes. In Gadora village, Firozabad district, drainage water from upper-caste households flows freely into the village pond. However, the drain serving the Dalit community is intentionally blocked, forcing sewage to accumulate near Dr. Kumar’s home. During monsoons, the stagnant water floods his house, mixing with waste and buffalo dung dumped by an upper-caste neighbor. The filth has turned the area into a breeding ground for mosquitoes, leading to severe health consequences. Dr. Kumar’s mother and niece recently suffered from dengue, a direct result of the unhygienic conditions. Despite multiple complaints to local authorities and the Uttar Pradesh government, no action has been taken. “This is not just about dirty water, it’s about dignity,” says Dr. Kumar. “Even with education and awareness, we are denied basic rights because of our caste.” Academicians and activists highlight that while violent caste crimes grab headlines, systemic neglect—such as denying proper drainage—is an equally brutal form of oppression. “These silent atrocities reinforce untouchability,” says Dr. Krishan Kumar, a scholar on Dalit issues. “Authorities must recognize such discrimination and act under the SC/ST Act.” The case also exposes the failure of schemes like Swachh Bharat Mission, which promise sanitation for all but remain inaccessible to marginalized communities. Local officials claim the matter is “under review,” but villagers allege caste bias is delaying justice. Legal experts stress that such cases warrant immediate intervention under anti-atrocity laws. As Dr. Kumar’s family waits for justice, their plight indicates a harsh truth: caste still dictates who gets dignity, and who is denied even the most basic rights. — ✍️ Dr. Krishan Kumar Courtesy : The Mooknayak Note: This news is originally published on https:/themooknayak.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights.
Clean City, Dirty Truth: The Invisible Suffering of Bhopal’s Sanitation Workers Behind the 7-Star Swachh Bharat Glory
Sanitation workers employed under the Bhopal Municipal Corporation, who risk their lives and health in one of the most physically demanding public roles, are being paid on minimum wages and on temporary basis. Bhopal- On 17th July 2025, Bhopal , the capital of Madhya Pradesh was declared the second cleanest city in India in the Swachh Survekshan 2024-25 rankings, in the category of municipalities with populations above 10 lakhs. The city also achieved the status of a 7-Star Garbage Free City and was certified as a Water Plus City under the Swachh Bharat Mission. But while the city celebrates these achievements, the lives of those who made this success possible remain trapped in neglect, poverty, and exploitation. Behind every clean street and every garbage-free locality are thousands of sanitation workers, most of whom belong to historically oppressed castes, working in dangerous, dehumanising conditions. Despite being essential to the city’s public health and image, their rights are being exploited by the very Municipal corporation and are treated as disposable. The wife of the sanitation worker doing kitchen chores. The wife of the sanitation worker doing kitchen chores. Pragya Sharma/The Mooknayak “We are human too, but nobody seems to care about our condition.” This was the quiet pain in the voice of a sanitation worker I met in Sargam Basti, a slum in Bhopal that many safai workers, call home. He did not want to be named, but his words carried the weight of generations of injustice. “The Bhopal Municipal Corporation pays me ₹8,200 per month. I have three small children who go to school. My wife manages the household. We need milk, sometimes medicine, school fees . How are we supposed to manage everything with this amount?” There was no anger in his voice. Just exhaustion. The exhaustion of someone who rises at 4 a.m. every day to clean the city yet cannot afford to fix the leaking roof of his jhuggi. He added, “Sometimes I wonder , even if my children study hard and get educated, will their life be any different from mine? But then I think, maybe their fate can change. That hope is what gets me out of bed every morning.” Sanitation workers, many of whom are hired on contract, are denied basic facilities , no health insurance, no safety gear, no permanent employment status, and no social security. In another home nearby, a woman shared her family’s daily struggles: “My husband works in the municipal corporation as a sanitation worker. He earns approx. ₹10,000 a month, but that’s not enough to run the house. I have to go to two or three houses every day to wash dishes and clean floors. We both work from morning to evening, yet we still can’t make ends meet.” “We’re always in debt. Sometimes it’s school fees, sometimes medicine, sometimes basic groceries. There’s always something.” These are not isolated stories. There are hundreds of families like theirs, living in slum areas (jhuggi-bastis)around Bhopal. Ironically, they clean the city every day but live in places with no proper sanitation, surrounded by garbage, open drains, and the very unhygienic conditions they are hired to remove from public view. Their suffering is undocumented and unacknowledged. The house of a sanitation worker from inside. The house of a sanitation worker from inside.Pragya Sharma/The Mooknayak Workers Who Clean the City but Are Denied a Life of Dignity The Swachh Bharat Mission, despite its visible outcomes in city like Bhopal, has failed to protect the rights and welfare of the very people implementing it on the ground. Sanitation workers, many of whom are hired on contract, are denied basic facilities , no health insurance, no safety gear, no permanent employment status, and no social security. The BMC continues to employ them at minimum wages, sometimes through third-party contractors. These are not just labour issues , they are structural caste injustices. The fact that the majority of these workers come from Dalit communities is not a coincidence. It reflects a deeply rooted caste division of labour, where certain communities are still forced into degrading work with no safety net, no voice, and no visibility. The roof of the workers house they called home. The roof of the workers house they called home. Pragya Sharma/The Mooknayak Wages Below Legal Minimums The injustice becomes even more stark when we compare their earnings to the Collector Rate, the minimum wage set by the District Collector for daily wage laborers in Madhya Pradesh. These rates, revised in April 2025, are meant to act as a benchmark for fair wages. According to the revised rates: Skilled workers: ₹570.93 per day or ₹12,294/month Highly skilled workers: ₹633.43 per day or ₹13,919/month Despite this, sanitation workers employed under the Bhopal Municipal Corporation, who risk their lives and health in one of the most physically demanding public roles, are being paid on minimum wages and on temporary basis. According to the Urban Administration and Development Department and the provisions under the Municipal Corporation and Municipal Council Acts, there is a clear mention of providing special financial allowances to sanitation workers. However, in practice, no such special allowance is given by the municipal corporations. This is despite the fact that sanitation workers carry out the most hazardous and lowest-paid work, putting their health and future at risk to fulfill the responsibility of keeping cities clean. This isn’t just a legal failure. It’s a moral one. Many of these workers are kept on temporary contracts without any form of health insurance, paid leave, or job security. Several suffer from occupational illnesses like skin diseases, respiratory issues, tuberculosis, and injuries from unsafe waste-handling practices. But because they remain undocumented or informal workers, no health surveys or welfare policies reach them. Ironically, while the Swachh Bharat Mission mandates regular audits and rankings of cleanliness infrastructure, there is no nationwide mechanism to track the conditions or health of sanitation workers. Their labour remains essential, but invisible. The fact that the majority of these workers come from Dalit communities is
Over 30 Organisations Condemn Arrest of Dalit Activist Advocate Rajat Kalsan
Over 30 organisations and prominent individuals denounce the arrest of Dalit lawyer Rajat Kalsan, allege unlawful detention, torture, and fabricated charges. New Delhi – More than 30 student groups, civil society organisations, and prominent individuals have issued a joint statement condemning the arrest of Dalit activist and lawyer Adv. Rajat Kalsan, who was allegedly abducted by men in plain clothes from the Auto Market in Hisar on July 30 without being shown an arrest warrant or legal documents. According to the statement, the arrest was linked to a case concerning the murder of a woman in Budana village, Hisar. Rajat Kalsan, who had been representing a survivor of caste atrocity and sexual assault, was accused of circulating a video alleging corruption in the investigation. Although he secured interim bail in the matter, he was subsequently booked in another case for allegedly obstructing police officials. The statement alleges that while in custody, Kalsan was denied access to his lawyers and family, subjected to torture, and faced casteist abuse. It also claims that his house had been raided multiple times in the past month, his movements kept under surveillance for a year, and his social media account blocked by the Haryana police. Kalsan has been booked under several provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including Sections 121(1), 132, 196, 62, 49, 115, 126, 353(1), 353(2), 356(2), 352, 351(3), and 3.5. The signatories note that some of these offences are non-bailable and carry punishments ranging from two to ten years of imprisonment, fines, or both. They allege that these charges have been “strategically framed” to ensure his prolonged incarceration. Long-standing Activism The statement highlights Kalsan’s role in pursuing cases of caste atrocities in Haryana, including the Mirchpur violence, Hisar gang rape, Daulatpur assault, and Bhatla social boycott incidents. He also took part in mobilisations against the 2018 dilution of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, which, the groups argue, made Dalits and marginalised communities more vulnerable to caste violence. According to the signatories, his consistent work for Dalit rights has made him a target of state repression. Broader Context of Repression Drawing parallels with the Bhima Koregaon arrests and detentions during anti-CAA protests, the statement alleges that Kalsan’s arrest reflects a broader pattern of silencing voices that challenge caste domination, communalism, and authoritarianism. “This is not an isolated instance, but part of a growing trend of state repression against those who challenge communal hatred, caste oppression, and fascist rule,” the statement reads. Demand for Immediate Release The joint statement calls for the withdrawal of all charges against Adv. Rajat Kalsan and urges solidarity with others incarcerated for “resisting injustice.” Signatories Among the 35 organisations endorsing the statement are the All India Students Association (AISA), JNU Students’ Union, Students Federation of India (SFI), Birsa Ambedkar Phule Students’ Association (BAPSA), and Fraternity Movement. Notable individual signatories include Prof. Achin Vanaik, Adv. Sudha Bharadwaj, Dr. Anand Teltumbde, and Women’s rights activist Kalyani Menon Sen. Courtesy : Tne Mooknayak Note: This news is originally published on https:/themooknayak.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights.