Tension in Reddigudem in NTR district as Dalit youth alleges police assault; Section 144 imposed
Vijayawada: Tension prevailed at Reddigudem police station in NTR district on Friday after members of the Dalit community staged a protest, alleging that sub-inspector B Mohan Rao assaulted a 23-year-old Dalit youth, Nimmakuri Ravindra. The protesters demanded action against the officer, forcing authorities to impose Section 144 in the area and deploy Rapid Intervention Vehicles to maintain order. According to police, the allegations are false. “Ravindra is one of the accused in a recent case in Paritala, nearly a month ago. He was brought to the station for questioning back then, when he complained of stomach pain, he was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital. Later, he, along with others, staged a protest and falsely alleged that I assaulted him. Following that, local community leaders gave a call for protest on Friday. The situation was immediately brought under control. Ravindra has two criminal cases pending against him,” SI Mohan Rao told TOI. The protests created unease among locals, though officials confirmed that the situation has since stabilized. Police said they are monitoring developments closely to prevent further unrest. 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
Chhattisgarh and Dalit empowerment: Attacks on Christians are not about conversions
The Sangh Parivar fears the empowerment of Dalits and the spread of education among tribal and poor communities. In September 2019, Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor made a rare blooper. In response to the much-hyped ‘Howdy Modi’ event in Texas, US, the suave parliamentarian posted a “forwarded” photograph on his Twitter (now, X) handle, showing the rousing welcome Jawaharlal Nehru had received without any PR work on a foreign visit. “Nehru & India Gandhi [sic] in the US in 1954. Look at the hugely enthusiastic spontaneous turnout of the American public, without any special PR campaign, NRI crowd management, or hyped-up media publicity,” he tweeted, oblivious of the three apparent mistakes he was committing. Netizens and fact-checkers went on an overdrive on seeing Tharoor misspelling Indira. They went further and dug up more information, which forced the Lok Sabha member to tweet a clarification. Fact-checkers found that the photograph was taken during Nehru’s visit to the USSR, and not the US. They also claimed that the year was 1955. In 1955, a little boy from Kerala, unaware of Nehru’s visit to the USSR’s Magnitogorsk, a geographical anomaly that once consisted almost entirely of iron ore. The boy frolicked with friends on the banks of the River Pampa, now in Kerala’s Pathanamthitta district. Little did he then know that Nehru’s visit to the Soviet Union would soon take him to Durg, now in Chhattisgarh. Related: Religion, prejudice, politics and procedural lapses The migration On 2 March 1955, the USSR and India signed an agreement for an integrated iron and steel works in Bhilai, the twin city of Durg, then in Madhya Pradesh. Three years later, the first furnace roared into life. The Bhilai Steel Plant (BSP) opened up employment opportunities to several skilled and unskilled workers in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. The boy’s father was among those who grabbed the opportunity, and his family shifted from the banks of Pampa to the shores of the Shivnath River, now called a jewel of Chhattisgarh. From Kerala, it was mostly people from central Travancore who went to Bhilai. Having gained the gift of education through the Church Mission Society missionaries, they were prepared for such new opportunities, even when Kerala itself had no industries to speak of. For decades, they lived in the twin cities of Bhilai and Durg, proud contributors to India’s growth story. Their generations grew up there, chose to stay, and built peaceful lives. Today, that peace is frayed. The boy — now all grown up — whose father was an engineer at BSP, now lives in fear because of his Christian identity. They cannot even whisper ‘Hallelujah’ within their four walls. Yes, the Malayali Christian community in Durg, once so rooted and secure, now lives under the shadow of Sangh Parivar forces, especially the Bajrang Dal. Related: Missionaries serving marginalised face criminalisation Bajrang Dal vs house churches In Raipur, Durg, and the surrounding areas of Chhattisgarh, an unofficial directive to close house-churches is reportedly being enforced. These house-churches, mainly run by Pentecostal pastors, are small congregations that meet in private homes rather than formal church buildings. According to a June 2025 ruling by the Madras High Court, private homes in India can generally be used for religious prayer. However, converting a house into a permanent place of worship requires permission from local authorities. ”In Durg, there are fewer than 10 Malayali pastors, but the Christian community is strong, comprising nearly 5,000 families—from Orthodox, Latin Catholic, and Pentecostal denominations such as IPC and Church of God, etc.,” a church council leader from Durg with roots in Kottarakkara, Kollam, told South First. “Most Malayali pastors have registered churches, but some face financial constraints that prevent them from building formal church buildings. So they conduct prayers in their homes,” he said on condition of anonymity. In Bhilai, the plant authorities had allocated acres of land for Christians on lease to build churches. With nearly 30,000 permanent workers in BSP, people from South India, Bengal, and elsewhere were free to live here and practice their faith. Alongside schools and hospitals, religious institutions like churches, mosques, and temples were established. The Orthodox Diocese later built numerous schools, colleges, and professional institutions, while Catholics set up hospitals and schools in Durg. Now, after Vishnu Deo Sai became the Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, Bajrang Dal members are being forced to stop house prayer meetings. “They come to our prayer centres with police, attack us, and shut down our churches. Police then file cases against pastors for ‘shanti bhang‘ (disturbing peace) and Section 295 (hurting religious sentiments) at the request of Bajrang Dal members. After the arrest of two Malayali nuns, the confidence of Bajrang Dal activists has increased, as the police have not taken action against them,” the church leader said. HC asks Durg to review church rules; no action yet After Bajrang Dal allegedly began shutting down house congregations and prayer meetings through threats and violence, church authorities approached the High Court. Copy of Court Order Copy of the High Court order. The Chhattisgarh High Court has directed the Durg District administration to consider representations from the United Christian Council regarding restrictions on prayer meetings in churches and halls. The petition, filed by the council’s Secretary Obed Das, sought relief against several restrictions, including barring non-Christians, banning prayers in residential or rented halls, limiting prayer duration, and recording attendees. “The administration has been issuing oral instructions restricting who can attend prayer meetings and where they can be held, despite churches being on private land,” a lawyer, who also sought anonymity, told South First. The court ordered the District Magistrate to decide the representations submitted on 6 April and 31 July 2024, after a fair hearing within four weeks. The petition was disposed of with directions to pass an appropriate order. However, the local administration has yet to act. ”Till now, no action has been taken even after the High Court’s direction. So where will we go for justice?” the church leader asked. Rising attacks Article
Dalits were prevented from entering the Durga Puja pandal, and the dominant people brandished sticks and declared they could not worship there.
Seoni Durga Puja Pandal: Dalits were prevented from entering the Durga Puja pandal in Seoni. This allegation is being leveled against village strongmen. The victims also filmed the incident. Police have filed a case against three individuals and begun investigating the matter. In Vindhya, dominant individuals prevented Dalits from entering the Durga Puja pandal. Seoni: In Sadak Seoni village, under the Chhapara police station in Seoni district, Madhya Pradesh, members of the Dalit community were prevented from entering the Durga Puja pandal by dominant individuals. The family had come for worship and darshan. Those attempting to visit were abused. Police have filed a case against three individuals in this matter. Case filed against three individuals In fact, this entire incident took place in Sadak Seoni village, under the Chhapara police station. Dalits had come to worship at the Durga Puja pandal. People who had come to visit were abused by the bullies sitting there. A video of this incident has surfaced, showing an elderly man standing with a stick and threatening them. Following the video, a case has been filed against three people. Prevented from Worship According to Chhapara police, Shyamlal Ahirwar stated in his complaint that on Wednesday, he had gone to the public Durga pandal at Durga Chowk with his wife and son to worship. The bullies stopped him from performing the puja, saying, “You cannot perform puja there.” Family works as laborers According to the victim, he earns his living by working as a laborer. While returning from the fields, the accused, Mehrban Singh Thakur, stopped him on the way and said, “I have received numerous complaints against you.” He then objected to his entry into the pandal and threatened to kill him if he spoke too loudly. Shortly after, when he went alone to the pandal to donate, Naresh Thakur and Narayan Yadav insulted him with casteist slurs and refused to accept the donation. After this, when my nephew arrived at the pandal to donate, he was also taken down from the stage. The victim also filmed the incident on his mobile phone. SP Sunil Mehta informed that a case has been registered and arrests will be made soon. Currently, the viral video on social media highlights the caste-based discrimination still evident in society. Edited by: Muneshwar Kumar • Reported by: Jitendra Bhardwaj About the Author Muneshwar Kumar is the Principal Correspondent at Navbharat Times Online. He has 14 years of experience in journalism. He has a special interest in Madhya Pradesh politics, crime, current affairs, and off-beat news. He also has experience in ground reporting for several elections. He has been with Navbharat Times Online since 2020. Courtesy: Hindi News
The plight of a Dalit family in Prayagraj: Two families forced to live under tarpaulin, without housing or toilets
In Kolsara village, Koraon block, Prayagraj, two Dalit families are deprived of basic amenities. The families of Sonia Chauhan and Preeti Chauhan are forced to live under tarpaulin shelters. Both families earn their living through manual labor. The benefits of government schemes have not reached these families. They have neither received housing, a toilet, nor a ration card. The village head and the Panchayat secretary are paying no attention to the plight of these families. Being illiterate, these families are unable to communicate their problems to anyone. Village residents like Rajesh, Urmila, Yogesh, Rajkumar, and Ramashankar say that the government should immediately address the plight of these poor families. Despite government orders, these families are not being provided with basic amenities. Brijlal Courtesy: Hindi News
Dalit men harassed for entering temple during procession in Rajasthan
A group of Dalit men were assaulted in Rajasthan’s Churu district when they tried to enter a temple during a religious procession. The incident occurred in a village named Sadasar village. The harassment sparked protests from locals who demanded action against the accused. An FIR was lodged by Kanaram Meghwal, one of the victims, at the police station. The complaint states that a recital was arranged during a ‘shobhayatra’. He alleged that he along with other men tried to enter a temple seeking blessings. However, they were stopped by villagers who prevented them from entering and started to assault them physically. The FIR names the accused — Surdas Swami, Shankarlal, Himmat Kumar, and Anil. All four are on the run and police are trying to trace them. Reportedly, the group was assaulted during a rush hour at the temple. However, DSP Satyanarayan Godara stated differently, “They were told to wait but an altercation broke out between the groups at the temple entrance.” Courtesy : MM Note: This news is originally published on https:/muslimmirror.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
20 years jail to man for raping Dalit minor, woman accomplice gets 10 yrs in prison
Pilibhit: A special Pocso court has sentenced a 25-year-old farmer to 20 years in jail for raping a minor Dalit girl in 2018. His 35-year-old female accomplice, a family friend of the girl, was handed a 10-year term under IPC section 120B (criminal conspiracy) for luring her to the spot. The judgment was delivered on Tuesday evening by special judge (Pocso) Geeta Singh, who also imposed fines of Rs 1 lakh on convict Vipin and Rs 50,000 on Kaushalya Devi. Prosecution said that around 2 pm on May 18, 2018, Kaushalya Devi took the 15-year-old out of her house at a village in Pilibhit district on the pretext of answering nature’s call and asked her to stand guard. Vipin, then 18, was already waiting in a sugarcane field. “He dragged the girl deep inside the field and raped her,” the court was told. The matter came to light when the girl later confided in her mother. Based on a written complaint filed by her father, police initially registered an FIR under IPC section 354 (assault or criminal force to outrage a woman’s modesty), along with relevant provisions of the Pocso and SC/ST Acts. Public prosecutor Anil Kumar Sharma told TOI, “The girl did not disclose the rape at the time of filing the written complaint for the sake of protecting her dignity. However, after her medical examination confirmed the crime, police added section 376 (rape) to the FIR, and she also asserted it during her court statement under CrPC section 164.” Police filed a chargesheet on April 3, 2021, after collecting evidence and witness statements. Both Vipin and Kaushalya Devi were arrested the day after the incident but were later released on bail. The judge further ruled that if the convicts failed to pay the fines, Vipin’s sentence will be extended by six months and Devi’s by three months. The court also ordered that the fine amount be given to the girl, and directed the district legal services authority to provide her additional financial assistance under Rule 7 of the Pocso Act, Sharma said. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Dalit Men ‘Beaten’ Over Temple Entry In Rajasthan’s Churu
The incident, which occurred at Sadasar village on Sunday, led to protests outside the local police station. Jaipur : A group of Dalit men was allegedly assaulted for attempting to enter a temple during a religious procession at a village in Rajasthan’s Churu district, police said on Monday. The incident, which occurred at Sadasar village on Sunday, led to protests outside the local police station on Monday. According to an FIR lodged by Kanaram Meghwal, the incident took place on Sunday evening during a religious procession held after the conclusion of a ‘Bhagwat Katha’. The ‘shobhayatra’ (procession) was taken out from the recital venue to a nearby temple, and when Meghwal and a few others were entering the shrine for ‘darshan’, they were stopped by some villages, including Surdas Swami, Shankarlal, Himmat Kumar and Anil, the FIR said. The complainant alleged that the accused prevented them from entering the temple for being Dalits, and assaulted them. DSP Satyanarayan Godara said there was a rush at the entrance of the temple and Meghwal and others were asked to wait when an argument broke out between the two groups. “A case has been registered against four persons who are absconding. A search is on to trace them,” the DSP said. Courtesy : NDTV Note: This news is originally published on https:/ndtv.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Dalit families in Erode stage protest seeking patta
Urging the District Administration to allot 250 acres of land to Dalit families in Mathur village, Anthiyur taluk, as promised three decades ago, residents staged a protest at the Collectorate here on Wednesday (September 24, 2025). Led by S. Karuppaiah, State president of the Dalit Liberation Movement – Tamil Nadu, the families said the State government, in 1956, had earmarked over 1,000 acres for Dalit families in the western districts. However, they claimed that many of the beneficiaries were later evicted, and the land was encroached upon by other communities. According to them, large portions of land that were originally meant for Arunthathiyar and Paraiyar families in Gobichettipalayam and Anthiyur taluks have been occupied by individuals from other communities. They pointed out that the land in Mathur village remains under government control and is classified as forest land. Hence, they demanded to allot it to Dalit families in the village. Later, officials held talks with the protesters. The Hindu Bureau Courtesy : The Hindu Note: This news is originally published on https:/thehindu.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Govt plans scheme for free entrance exam coaching for Dalit students
New Delhi: Delhi govt is planning to launch a welfare scheme to provide IAS, JEE, medical and other competitive examination coaching for free to Dalit students. The scheme is expected to be similar to the previous AAP govt’s Dalit scholarship initiative, which has become non-operational due to allegations of irregularities. Two officials familiar with the development said BJP govt wanted to provide structured academic support to Dalit students, many of whom couldn’t afford crucial private coaching. “The educational support for Dalit students has been a longstanding demand of Dalit organisations and student groups. They have been urging authorities to ensure that talented students are not denied opportunities due to a lack of financial resources,” said one of them. “Minister Ravinder Indraj has asked the department to prepare a comprehensive scheme and submit it for consideration. The work will begin shortly,” he added. In 2017, AAP govt launched Jai Bhim Mukhyamantri Pratibha Vikas Yojana to provide free coaching to economically disadvantaged SC students for various competitive and entrance exams. It subsequently became non-functional due to alleged financial irregularities and non-payment to coaching institutes. The anti-corruption branch is investigating the allegations. The SC/ST/OBC/minorities welfare department will prepare the scheme, which is likely to cover tuition fees at empanelled coaching institutes and may also include stipends to help students sustain themselves during the preparation. Officials said all details were still at the planning stage. The department will seek inputs from the finance and law departments. “The scheme is expected to include stricter monitoring mechanisms to make it foolproof and ensure that it serves its intended purpose with higher transparency and accountability. A formal announcement is likely soon,” the official 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
SP Chief Akhilesh Yadav calls for nationwide PDA unity to empower the marginalized
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday emphasized that unity among backward classes, Dalits, and minorities is crucial to gain political power and protect the Constitution. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday emphasized that unity among backward classes, Dalits, and minorities is crucial to gain political power and protect the Constitution. In a statement shared on his WhatsApp channel, Yadav, underlined that the Pichhda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak (PDA) movement is about empowering those who have historically faced exploitation and oppression. Yadav described PDA as a unity born out of a shared consciousness and collective feeling against the exploitation and oppression of marginalized communities. “PDA is basically the name of that unity born out of consciousness and common feeling against the exploitation, oppression, and neglect of ‘backward, Dalit, and minority’,” he said. The PDA movement aims to bring together people from every class who stand for humanity and are against injustice. The PDA movement, born in Uttar Pradesh, has now become a beacon of hope for the oppressed and marginalized communities nationwide. The movement’s slogan, “Jo Peeedit Woh PDA” (Those who are oppressed are PDA), resonates with people from all walks of life who have faced historical neglect and exploitation. The PDA movement seeks to promote inclusive governance, ensuring equal opportunities for all citizens to thrive.The movement champions the causes of social justice and equitable development, aiming to counter attempts to undermine reservation policies. Yadav also advocates for a caste census to ensure fair representation and allocation of resources based on demographic realities. The PDA movement is not just about politics; it’s about empowering the marginalized communities to stand up against injustice. As Yadav said, “Let’s unite to save the Constitution, protect reservations, and build a new, prosperous tomorrow for all.” The movement’s slogan, “PDA ka parcham poore desh mein lahraayenge, hum apni PDA sarkar banayenge” (We will hoist the PDA flag across the country and form a PDA government), reflects its determination to bring about change. 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