Unchahar murder case of Dalit youth: Policeman suspended, but public anger over lack of action against Home Guard
After police negligence was exposed in the case of the murder of a youth in the Unchahar area of Rae Bareli district, Superintendent of Police Dr. Yashveer Singh took action, but it was incomplete. The in-charge of the Dial 112 team, which arrived at the scene and released the accused after questioning, was suspended, but no action was taken against the Home Guard. The incident occurred when the Dial 112 team, number 1770, arrived at a dhaba. Hariom Valmiki, the accused of murder, was present there. Police interrogated him and later released him. Villagers made a video of the incident and made it viral on social media. In-charge suspended, but Home Guard ‘favored’ After the video surfaced, the Superintendent of Police conducted an investigation and suspended the in-charge of Dial 112. However, no action was taken against the Home Guard present on the team. This is what has angered the villagers. He says, “When the in-charge was found guilty, why wasn’t action taken against the Home Guard? Is he being favored by the police?” Action will be taken if the investigation finds him guilty: Commandant When the Home Guard Commandant was contacted regarding this matter, he stated that the case is being investigated. If the investigation finds the Home Guard guilty, strict action will be taken against him. Ashish Kumar Srivastava Courtesy: Hindi News
Section 163 imposed in Gwalior after Ambedkar statue row:Ban on organising any event on Oct 15; notices served to 50, 260 social media posts removed
Tensions are rising in Gwalior after lawyer Anil Mishra made controversial remarks about Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar, following disputes over his statue at the MP High Court’s Gwalior bench. Dalit groups have threatened strong protests on October 15, while upper-caste organisations have also announced plans to gather on the same day. Gwalior police are monitoring social media, conducting mock drills, removing 260 inflammatory posts, issuing notices to over 50 people, and registering two FIRs against Mishra one in Gwalior and another in Maharashtra. What the dispute is Dispute over installing Dr. Ambedkar’s statue at MP High Court: Azad Samaj, Bhim Army, OBC Mahasabha, and some lawyers support it; another group of lawyers opposes it. Lawyer Anil Mishra allegedly called Dr. Ambedkar a “slave-agent of the British” and a liar in a social media video, leading to FIRs. Section 163 imposed The district administration has imposed Section 163, banning protests, processions, and public ceremonies without permission. The Collector and SP held meetings with traders and local leaders, appealing for peace. It was agreed that no programs will be held on October 15, while police have warned they will act strictly to maintain law and order. No events allowed on October 15; strict action in place Section 163 is in force; no programs or protests allowed without permission. Collector Ruchika Chauhan and SSP Dharmveer Singh confirmed no events are planned on October 15. Officials urged citizens to celebrate festivals and conduct business peacefully. Cyber team is monitoring social media for inflammatory posts. Committee members instructed to warn those posting provocative content to avoid legal action. Police directed to take strict action if any unauthorized events occur; villages will also be monitored. Public representatives contacted to maintain law and order. Police meetings held at station level; locals assured cooperation to preserve peace and harmony. Mock drill conducted to handle riots and disturbances Police conducted a riot-control mock drill on Saturday at Bahodapur Police Lines. Two separate teams took part, including forces from city police stations and police lines. ASPs Vidita Dagar, Suman Gurjar, and Jairaj Kuber led the exercise along with all CSP teams. During the drill, the mock protest group pelted stones at the police. Police responded using tear gas to disperse the crowd. Constable Santosh Singh was injured after a tear gas shell fragment hit his forehead. He was taken to hospital and received two stitches. Practice wearing riot gear, always keep kit in vehicle During the riot parade, SSP Dharmveer Singh instructed all officers and personnel to keep riot kits in their vehicles and regularly practice cleaning and wearing them. He said that under no circumstances should there be a situation where one has to rush to the police line or station for riot gear. In May, lawyers snatched pipes from female police officers during the HC statue dispute In May, lawyers snatched pipes from female police officers during the HC statue dispute Dispute over Dr. Ambedkar statue at High Court Tension over statue installation began in May 2025. Senior and junior advocates of Gwalior High Court Bar argued over the issue. On May 17, 2025, a clash occurred outside the High Court. Former Bhim Army member Rupesh Ken, supporting junior advocates, was beaten by lawyers. Several protests and clashes followed over the statue. Installation of the statue was halted due to rising tension. The statue was moved to sculptor Prabhat Rai’s workshop, 15 km from the city. Two police personnel have been deployed to guard the statue. On May 11, the Bar Association hoisted the tricolor at the proposed statue site. Pushing and shoving occurred when police tried to stop the flag hoisting. Bar Association President Pawan Pathak said the flag was hoisted in memory of ‘Operation Sindoor’. Courtesy : Bhaskar English Note: This news is originally published on https:/bhaskarenglish.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Dalit IPS officer shoots himself after writing, “There is no option now…”! IAS Sonal Goyal’s emotional post raises serious questions about the system.
Senior Dalit IPS officer Y. Puran Kumar’s suicide note contains serious allegations of “caste oppression.” Sonal Goyal, a 2008-batch IAS officer, asks, “How many more lives will our system lose?” New Delhi: The suicide of Y. Puran Kumar, a senior Dalit IPS officer of the Haryana cadre, has shocked the administrative and police departments. Four days after the tragic incident, Sonal Goyal, a 2008-batch IAS officer, wrote a poignant and poignant post on the social media platform “X,” highlighting the pain and pressure that often remains buried within the system. Her post has sparked a serious debate on the mental health of officers, institutional work culture, and alleged caste discrimination. What is the whole matter? On October 7, senior IPS officer Y. Puran Kumar took his own life by shooting himself with his service revolver at his official residence in Sector 11, Chandigarh. A suicide note found behind him leveled serious allegations against the entire system. According to a Dainik Jagran report, Kumar wrote in his note, “There is no option now, I have been… for the last five years.” He reportedly mentioned severe caste-based harassment and mental torture by senior officers, which forced him to take this drastic step. IAS Sonal Goyal’s post awakens conscience On Saturday, October 11, 2025, at 5:30 pm, IAS officer Sonal Goyal expressed her pain and outrage over the incident, a post that quickly went viral. She began her statement with a couplet by renowned poet Jaun Elia: “No one comes to this world to stay forever, no one goes the way you went.” Goyal wrote, “You shouldn’t have gone this way, sir. Not only you, but no one should have to go this way.” Describing Kumar as a “capable, talented, and committed senior IPS officer,” she questioned that the passing away of someone who had dedicated the most important years of his life to serving the nation poses a grave question for both our society and the system. She emphasized that this is not a time for mere formal sympathy, but for genuine introspection. A sharp attack on the ‘system’ In her post, Sonal Goyal directly pointed out the flaws in the system. She asked: “What kind of environment have we created within our institutions? What kind of system is this where a crucial part of that system… is so ignored and unheard that it breaks down from within and, in defeat, is forced to take such extreme steps.” She further wrote in English, “Frankly, no one should ever be pushed to that edge—to feel unseen, unheard, or broken inside a system they once believed in.” (Simply put, no one should ever be pushed to the point where they feel ignored, unheard, or broken within the system they once believed in.) Appealing to the Human Side of Officers Goyal reminded that a person serving the country as an officer is, after all, a living human being. He prayed to God for the peace of the departed soul and strength to the family. He also appealed to the officers’ fraternity to collectively show the courage to bring about the desperately needed changes in the system, so that no other colleague has to leave the world in this manner in the future. He concluded his post with a very relevant and cautionary couplet by poet Nawaz Deobandi, which highlights the dangers of silence: “O you who watch the burning house, the thatched roof is yours; there is a strong wind behind you; your destiny is ahead. I was silent on his murder; now my turn has come. You too are silent on my murder; your turn is next.” The tragic death of Puran Kumar and the response of a senior officer like Sonal Goyal has sparked an uncomfortable but necessary dialogue. This incident demands a serious investigation into whether the environment within India’s prestigious civil services has truly become so toxic that an officer is forced to embrace suffocation and ultimately death rather than justice and respect. Rajan Chaudhary Courtesy: Hindi News
Ajay Rai held on way to meet family of lynched Dalit man
Lucknow: A delegation led by state president Ajay Rai was detained on their way to Fatehpur on Saturday to meet the family of Hariom Valmiki, a Dalit man who was allegedly beaten to death last week. While the Congress termed the action an attempt by the Yogi Adityanath govt to “silence voices seeking justice”, govt officials said that Rai and other leaders were stopped to maintain law and order, as section 144 was in force in parts of the district. Rai, accompanied by senior leaders including former minister Nasimuddin Siddiqui, Sitapur MP Rakesh Rathore, and several Congress functionaries, was stopped on the Lucknow-Fatehpur route. Following an argument with the police, he sat on a dharna, demanding to be allowed to proceed. The leaders were later detained and taken to the police lines. Rai said: “We were going there to provide financial assistance to the aggrieved family and express condolences. But the police stopped us midway.” TNN 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 IPS officer’s death: Haryana transfers Rohtak SP, family refuses autopsy
The Punjab State Scheduled Castes Commission has taken suo motu congnisance and sought a report from Chandigarh DGP Sagar Preet Hooda. CHANDIGARH: The family members of Haryana IPS officer Y Puran Kumar has accused the Chandigarh Police of not consulting them before shifting his body to the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) for autospy. Amit Rattan, AAP MLA from Bathinda (Rural) and brother-in-law of the deceased officer, said, “The Chandigarh Police have shifted the body without asking us. Injustice is being done with the family.” Four days after Kumar’s death, the Haryana government on Saturday took first action in the case by transferring Rohtak SP Narendra Bijarniya and appointed Surinder Singh Bhoria in his place. Bijarniya, a 2015-batch IPS officer, was among the police officers named in the “final note” recovered from Kumar’s pocket. The Punjab State Scheduled Castes Commission has taken suo motu congnisance and sought a report from Chandigarh DGP Sagar Preet Hooda. Hooda on Saturday visited the residence of Amneet P Kumar, the IAS officer wife of the deseased, and said that the police requested the family to get the post-mortem done as early as possible. “The post-mortem will be conducted only after the family gives its consent,” Hooda said. Asked why the family is yet to give its consent for the autopsy, Hooda said they have some grievances. When questioned why the police have not added the names of the alleged suspects in the FIR, he said, “An SIT headed by an IG-rank officer has been formed. The autopsy will be conducted at the PGIMER, for which a board, comprising a magistrate, forensic experts, and doctors, has been set up.” After the registration of the FIR, Amneet on Friday had sought its amendment to “accurately reflect the names of all the accused.’’ In a letter to Chandigarh SSP Kanwardeep Kaur, Amneet also sought an amendment of the “diluted sections of the SC/ST Act”, which have been added to the FIR. In his eight-page “final note”, Kumar named eight senior IPS officers, including Haryana DGP Shatrujeet Kapur and Bijarniya, for allegedly harassing and maligning him. Harpreet Bajwa Courtesy : TNIE Note: This news is originally published on https:/thenewindianexpress.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
16-Year-Old Dalit Girl Gang-Raped In Lucknow’s Banthara Area, 4 Arrested
A shocking incident occurred in Lucknow on Saturday, October 11, as a 16-year-old Dalit girl was allegedly gang-raped by five unidentified men in the Banthara area. According to police, the Class 11 student left her home at noon to visit her elder sister. Accompanied by an acquaintance on a motorcycle, she stopped near a mango orchard close to a petrol pump. It was here that five men approached the pair. Three Arrested In Gang-Rape Case Of Medical Student In West Bengal’s Durgapur Police sources said that many people, including the survivor’s male friend, were being interrogated. Krishnanagar Assistant Commissioner of Police, Vikash Kumar Pandey, reported that the men beat up her companion, forcing him to flee, before subjecting the student to brutal sexual violence. The perpetrators then threatened her with death should she report the matter, and quickly fled the scene. Police investigation, arrest The survivor relayed the incident to her brother-in-law over the phone. He immediately contacted police, who responded by registering a case and assembling several teams to pursue the suspects. Within hours, two named suspects were apprehended. Later that night, police received information of two other suspects near Haroni railway station. When approached, the men attempted to escape, and one suspect allegedly fired upon police. In retaliation, one, identified as Lalit Kashyap, was shot in the leg and later hospitalised. Police also recovered an illegal pistol. The second man managed to escape, and search operations are ongoing. Meanwhile, another suspect, Meraj, was apprehended by a different team. At the time of reporting, four out of the five accused are in custody. Hunt for the last remaining accused continues. Banthara Station House Officer, Rana Rajesh Kumar, confirmed that the survivor has undergone a medical examination and further investigation is underway. The police assert that every resource is being mobilised to ensure that those responsible are brought to justice and that the survivor and her family receive full support. Author Shuddhanta Patra Courtesy : News18 Note: This news is originally published on https:/news18.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Mayawati’s show of strength: BSP fights for relevance in UP Dalit politics
Mayawati prepares a show of strength on Kanshi Ram’s Parinirvan Diwas, while Akhilesh Yadav expands Dalit outreach, setting the stage for 2027 The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) is set for a display of strength on Thursday on Kanshi Ram’s parinirvan diwas, even as the Samajwadi Party (SP) has announced its own plans to mark the day, as both parties battle it out to capture the Dalit and backward vote. The BSP has claimed that more than five lakh people will throng the capital on Thursday for the rally as the party considers this a statement of its unwillingness to fade out even after repeated poll debacles. Once considered the sole party that catered to Dalit interests, the BSP has been steadily losing ground since 2017. In the state, that is a space that the Samajwadi Party and caste-based outfits are seeking to capture. In the wider political arena, the Congress is projecting its commitment to the community. Mayawati, though, is calling out all these contenders. She has asserted that the movement for self-respect and dignity of Dalits, adivasis, and the backward Bahujans, started by Bhim Rao Ambedkar, was kept alive and given momentum by Kanshi Ram, who founded the BSP. “Opposing parties, especially the Congress and the Samajwadi Party, have always displayed casteist and malicious attitudes towards him. And now to celebrate him is nothing more than ‘blatant deception,” she said, while not mentioning the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in her tirade. As evidence of the Samajwadi Party’s ‘casteist’ mentality, she cited how the party changed the name of the district her government had christened Kanshiram Nagar to Kasganj. The colleges, universities, and hospitals that bore his name were also renamed. “The Samajawadi Party government did not even declare a day of mourning on his passing away. Neither did the Congress, which was in power in the centre then,” she said. This, Mayawati added, is a reflection of the parties’ ‘anti-Dalit character’. She has called upon people to remain vigilant and cautious towards parties that have displayed such ‘narrow-minded’ thinking. For the Samajwadi Party, this is an occasion to intensify its Dalit outreach. Past elections have taught it that it has to go beyond its traditional Yadav-Muslim vote base to grab power. The party is pressing ahead with this. The most powerful example being the setting up of its own Dalit-focused wing named the Baba Saheb Ambedkar Vahini. This wing is visibly reaching out to the community in cases of attacks. Its larger goal is to push for greater dialogue on issues of Dalit justice, reservation, and constitutional rights. It organises seminars centered around Ambedkarite thought and felicitation events for Dalit icons. It also marks days such as Valmiki Jayanti. And here is where Mayawati’s selective criticism comes into play. This year, the state government announced a holiday on Valmiki Jayanti. Mayawati did not question why the BJP had not thought of it earlier. The Samajwadi Party is also pushing similarities between the ideologies of Ram Manohar Lohia and Dalit icons. This shared symbolism is designed to send the message that the party is as serious about Dalit issues as it is about those of the Other Backward Castes (OBC). Another message draws from political history- the formation of the Samyukt Socialist Party, in which Lohia had called together for a tying together of the interests of the Dalits and the most backwards. Akhilesh Yadav is reframing this narrative to broaden his party’s vote bank. He is taking note of and making statements on Dalit atrocities within the state. Party delegations are also being sent to all such places. But today, Mayawati will seek to demonstrate that she is not a spent force and that the interests of Dalits are safest with her. That a dedicated cadre will never desert her. It will thus be of great interest to see what she says today. It is not just about a day or a rally, but a possible indication of what the party is doing for the 2027 Assembly polls. By Puja Awasthi Courtesy : The Week Note: This news is originally published on https:/theweek.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
2 more arrested for Dalit man’s lynching in UP’s Raebareli
Raebareli (UP), Two men were arrested in connection with the lynching of a 40-year-old Dalit man over suspicion of “drone theft”, police said on Thursday. With the latest arrests, 11 people are now behind the bars over the killing. Shivam Agrahari, a resident of Baniyan Majre Pachkhara, and Hemant Kumar of Jamunapar, were arrested on Wednesday night, police said in a statement. Five policemen, two of them sub-inspectors, have been suspended for dereliction of duty, they said. Hariom Valmiki was reportedly lynched by villagers who mistook him for a thief during a night vigil on October 2 in Jamunapur village. Valmiki was assaulted amid rumours that a gang was using drones for surveillance to mark houses for robberies. Earlier, police said the stringent Gangsters Act and the National Security Act (NSA) will be invoked against the accused, and warned against giving the incident a casteist slant. The NSA empowers states to detain individuals to prevent them from acting in a manner “prejudicial to the defence of India” with a maximum detention period of 12 months, which can be revoked earlier. The Uttar Pradesh Gangsters and Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act, 1986, is aimed at combating organised crime by making special provisions to deal with gangsters and anti-social activities. Five people, Vaibhav Singh, Vijay Kumar, Sahdev Pasi, Vijay Maurya, and Suresh Kumar Maurya, were arrested for the murder soon after the incident, while four more were arrested on Tuesday. The lynching, a video of which was shared widely on social media, sparked a furore, with the Congress terming it a “murder of humanity” and of the Constitution. The party said the incident posed a serious question on collective morality. In a joint statement, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and former party chief Rahul Gandhi alleged that mob lynching, bulldozer injustice, and mobocracy have become a horrifying hallmark of our times. Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi earlier spoke to the victim’s brother over the phone and assured him of his support. Hariom, a resident of Fatehpur, was attacked with sticks, rods, and belts. He appeared to be mentally unstable and was unable to express himself. Police were informed about the incident the next morning. (This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI) Courtesy : The Week Note: This news is originally published on https:/theweek.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
As PM Modi Backs Dalit-Buddhist CJI, Here’s Why BR Gavai’s Identity Matters Ahead Of Bihar Poll
By condemning the attack, PM Modi made it clear that it won’t be treated as a petty offence and the identities associated with the person occupying the Chair will be protected The Executive and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) intervened at its highest level on Tuesday when Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not just stop at a social media post condemning the act of shoe hurling at CJI BR Gavai, calling it “inconsistent with dignity”, but dialled the Chief Justice of India before the post and had a chat with him, enquiring about the incident. In his post, he praised Gavai’s composure during the attack. In doing so, the prime minister sent out two messages. One, the CJI may not have registered a complaint, but the government of India does not treat it as a petty offence as the attack was not just on a person but against an institution. Two, the government will not only protect the Chair, but the identities associated with the person occupying the chair—in this case, Gavai’s Dalit and Buddhist identity. Reported By : Anindya Banerjee Edited By : Apoorva Misra Courtesy : News18 Note: This news is originally published on https:/news18.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Dalit Murder Case: Rahul Gandhi lashed out at the murder of a Dalit in Rae Bareli, asking, “Will justice now be based on caste?”
Mobocracy is protected by power, bulldozers have replaced the Constitution: Rahul Gandhi Dalit Murder Case: Former Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday claimed that violence and mobocracy are protected by power, where bulldozers have replaced the Constitution and fear has replaced justice, in the wake of the murder of a Dalit man in his parliamentary constituency, Rae Bareli. In a joint statement with Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, he also termed the murder of Dalit man Hariom Valmiki a “grave crime against the Constitution.” He said that since 2014, “mob lynching,” “bulldozer injustice,” and mobocracy have become the horrific hallmarks of our times. Sharing this joint statement on X, Rahul Gandhi said, “The brutal murder of Dalit youth Hariom Valmiki in Rae Bareli is not just the murder of a human being, but the murder of humanity, the Constitution, and justice. Today in India, Dalits, Adivasis, Muslims, backward classes, and the poor—everyone whose voice is weakened, whose share is being snatched away, and whose life is considered cheap—is being targeted.” He claimed that hatred, violence, and mobocracy have the patronage of power in a country where bulldozers have replaced the Constitution, and fear has replaced justice. The former Congress president said, “I stand with Hariom’s family. They will definitely get justice. India’s future rests on equality and humanity, and this country will be governed by the Constitution, not the whims of the mob.” In a joint statement, the two top Congress leaders said, “Our country has a Constitution that recognizes every human being as equal. There is a law that gives equal status to every citizen’s security, rights, and expression. What happened in Rae Bareli is a grave offense against the Constitution of this country.” They say that crimes against the Dalit community are a stigma on this country and society. Kharge and Rahul Gandhi said, “The number of crimes against Dalits, minorities, and the poor in the country has increased beyond limits. This violence is most prevalent against those who are deprived, Bahujans, and those who have neither adequate participation nor representation. Whether it is the crimes against women in Hathras and Unnao, the murder of Hariom in Rae Bareli, or the institutional murder of Rohit Vemula some time ago, the inhuman incident of a leader urinating on a tribal youth in Madhya Pradesh, the brutal beating of Dalits in Odisha and Madhya Pradesh, or the murders of Pehlu Khan in Haryana and Akhlaq in Uttar Pradesh, each incident reflects the growing insensitivity of our society, administration, and ruling powers.” According to Congress leaders, since 2014, trends like “mob lynching,” bulldozer injustice, and mobocracy have become a horrific hallmark of our times. They said, “Violence cannot be a hallmark of any civilized society, therefore, what happened to Hariom poses a serious question mark on our collective morality.” Kharge and Rahul Gandhi said, “The India of Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar’s dreams and the India of Mahatma Gandhi’s ‘Vaishnav Jan…’ is an India of social justice, equality, and compassion, in which there is no place for such crimes. Humanity is the only way.” They stressed that the Congress Party is committed to the empowerment of the deprived and vulnerable sections of society. The Congress leaders said, “We call upon citizens to unite against this injustice. This fight must continue until the rights and dignity of life of every Indian are fully protected.” Courtesy: Hindi News