Minor Dalit girl gangraped: Kidnapped and raped in Kanpur, brutally beaten for protesting, one accused arrested
A sensational case of gangrape of a minor has come to light in Kaushambi district of UP. Police has registered a case under serious sections of gangrape, POCSO, SC-ST on the complaint of the father of the victim girl in this case. Kaushambi (Kuldeep Dwivedi): A sensational case of gangrape of a minor has come to light in Kaushambi district of UP. Police has registered a case under serious sections of gangrape, POCSO, SC-ST on the complaint of the father of the victim girl in this case. The main accused of the incident has been arrested by the police team. The remaining two persons are being searched. If he is guilty, he will also be sent to jail. Police had registered a case on the complaint of the victim’s father The incident is from Kokhraj police station area. According to the complaint given by the victim’s father in the police station, his minor daughter was lured and kidnapped by a neighbour Shailendra alias Zahid. When his daughter returned, she told that the accused took her to Kanpur and along with two other people raped her in a mango orchard one after the other. The police have arrested the main accused by registering a case on the complaint of the father. Statement of Additional SP In this case, Additional SP Rajesh Kumar Singh said that a person from Kokhraj police station area had brought his daughter. He told that our girl had gone somewhere. She has returned, we do not want any action on this. On which a case of trafficking was registered in Kokhraj police station area on 24 April 2025. After this, he came again on the 27th and told that there were three people with our girl. Who raped her one after the other. On which an FIR was immediately registered. The investigation proceedings were taken forward. Also, the main accused of the incident has been arrested. The remaining two persons, if found guilty, will also be sent to jail. Courtesy : Purnima Singh,, Hindi News
The hand pump became impure… Muslims stopped a Dalit from drinking water, then beat him up after making him fall! Police started investigation
Hamirpur News: Drinking water from a government hand pump proved costly for a Dalit youth who came from a neighboring district in Hamirpur district. When he touched the hand pump to quench his thirst, the village bullies pushed him to the ground. He was also humiliated by beating him in public. On the basis of the complaint of the incident, the police has started investigating the whole matter today. Case of beating a Dalit for touching a government hand pump The village bullies humiliated the youth by calling him untouchable The police has now started investigating the whole matter Pankaj Mishra, Hamirpur: In Hamirpur district of Uttar Pradesh, a thirsty Dalit was beaten up badly for touching a government hand pump. He was also humiliated by calling him untouchable. On the basis of the complaint of the incident, the police has started investigating the whole matter. Police has started investigating the matter. Amit son of Chhotelal Anurag, a resident of Subhash Nagar of Kabrai town of neighbouring Mahoba district, has his maternal home in Chhani village of Binwar police station area of Hamirpur district. He was going to his maternal uncle’s house in Chhani by motorcycle. Then he felt thirsty due to heat. To quench his thirst, he stopped the motorcycle on the way outside Bibhuni village. He started operating the government hand pump to drink water. Meanwhile, Jal Muhammad son of Sayyadin, Saddam, Aziz Hasan son of Hussain Muhammad and Mushtaq son of Basir Muhammad of the same village abused him and forbade him from drinking water from the hand pump. Ignoring the bullies, he started drinking water from the hand pump and the bullies got angry. The bullies said that this hand pump has now become impure. The bullies pushed him off the hand pump and beat him up. The villagers present there were also terrified when he was beaten mercilessly after being thrown on the ground. After this incident, the humiliated Amit reached Binwar police station and gave a written complaint about the matter. He told the police that he was beaten up for drinking water from a government handpump. He was insulted by calling him untouchable. Police investigating the incident Binwar police station in-charge Dharmendra Kumar told on Wednesday that Amit Kumar, a resident of Kabrai Mahoba, has filed a complaint in the police station and accused four people of village Vibhuni of treating him as untouchable and pushing him and beating him while drinking water from a government handpump. On the basis of the complaint, the incident is being investigated. He told that action will be taken in this matter after investigation. About the author Aishwarya Kumar Rai Aishwarya Kumar Rai works as Principal Digital Content Producer in Navbharat Times Online. Hometown Gorakhpur of eastern Uttar Pradesh, where he received education from birth to school. After graduation from Delhi University, he did PG-Diploma in Journalism from Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC). Professional journey started with the country’s only trilingual agency UNI-Varta. Then further journey with NBT. Delhi and Lucknow are our workplaces. Courtesy: Aishwarya Kumar Rai, NBT, Hindi News
Bakhraur murder case: BSP enraged over Dalit girl’s murder, warns of agitation if justice is not given
Bihar BSP: Bahujan Samaj Party’s central state in-charge Anil Kumar said, Gopalganj has become a stronghold of crime. Serious questions are being raised on the administration and the government. If justice is not given, the Bahujan Samaj Party will launch a big agitation. After the brutal murder of a Dalit girl in Bakhraur village under Barauli block of Gopalganj district, Bahujan Samaj Party’s central state in-charge Anil Kumar met the victim’s family late on Tuesday night. Party’s central in-charge Umashankar Gautam, central state in-charge Advocate Suresh Rao, state president Shankar Mahato were also present with him. Anil Kumar expressed deep concern over this inhuman incident and called it an administrative failure and a deliberate conspiracy. Addressing a press conference organized at the Circuit House, Anil Kumar said that in the last few days, dozens of such incidents have happened with the Dalit, exploited and deprived class which show that Gopalganj is now becoming a district of murder and rape. Anil Kumar said that questions arise on the working style of the police captain here. The FIR not being registered for five days shows that the administration in Bihar has become inactive and anti-Dalit. He asked in a sharp tone, “Is dictatorship or Talibani rule prevailing in Bihar?” He also accused Chief Minister Nitish Kumar of mental instability and said that now his remaining in the post is a betrayal to the people of the state. The BSP leader said that atrocities on Dalits in Uttar Pradesh had completely stopped during the rule of sister Mayawati. He clarified that if law and order can improve with leadership like Behenji, then it is possible in Bihar too. Provided the government’s intention is right. Anil Kumar also took a dig at three ministers of the Bihar government that they did not even come to meet the victim’s family. He warned that if the victim’s family does not get immediate justice and action is not taken against the culprits, then the Bahujan Samaj Party will launch a massive movement within the ambit of the Constitution and will work to oust the double engine government from power. He also demanded the suspension of the guilty officers on the inaction of the police administration. On this occasion, State Vice President Kishore Kunal Vivek, State General Secretary Abhimanyu Kushwaha, Sachin Singh, Sajid Hussain, Buxar District President Subhash Gautam, Janardan Ram, Mithlesh Kumar, Shiv Bahadur Patel, Anil Kumar etc. were present. Courtesy : Arvind Kumar, Hindi News
Caste census will uplift Dalit, backward and Pasmanda classes: Danish Azad Ansari
Lucknow, 30 April. A meeting of the Union Cabinet was held in Delhi on Wednesday under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Many important decisions were taken in the meeting. The Modi government at the Center has also decided to conduct caste census in this meeting. Yogi government minister Danish Azad Ansari expressed happiness over this decision of the government. Danish Azad Ansari, while talking to the news agency, said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s decision to conduct caste census is historic. This decision will prove to be very meaningful in the reconstruction of the nation. This census will open new paths for the upliftment of backward society, Dalit society and Pasmanda class and new schemes will be made. Prime Minister Modi has always kept the development and upliftment of the country paramount. This historic decision has been taken with the spirit of serving the country, which the whole country welcomes. He further said that we have full faith that after this census, our resolve for a developed India 2047 will not only get further strengthened, but our country will move forward rapidly on the path of this resolve. Let us tell you that the Modi cabinet approved the caste census on Wednesday. Giving information about the government’s decision, Ashwini Vaishnav said that the Congress governments opposed the caste census. There has been no caste census since 1947. Instead of caste census, Congress conducted caste survey, many states in the UPA government have conducted caste survey from political point of view. He further said that in 2010, the then Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh had assured in the Lok Sabha that the caste census would be considered in the cabinet. Thereafter, a cabinet group was also formed, in which most of the political parties recommended caste based census. Despite this, the Congress government considered it appropriate to conduct a survey instead of caste census, which is known as CECC. Despite all this, the parties of the Congress and Indy alliance used the subject of caste census only for their political benefit. Vaishnav further said that this type of survey has spread confusion in the society. Keeping all these situations in mind and ensuring that our social fabric does not come under the pressure of politics, the caste census should be included in the original census instead of a survey. This will strengthen the society economically and socially and the country will also progress uninterrupted. The Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs led by PM Modi has decided that caste census will be included in the upcoming census. Courtesy: Hindi News
MP: 17-year-old Dalit girl in Bhopal alleges that Zoya Bhabhi got me raped by Shahrukh
Bhopal. After the disclosure of the ‘Farhan Gang’ in Bhopal, the capital of Madhya Pradesh, which traps Hindu girls and makes them victims of lust, now another similar case has come to light. A 17-year-old Dalit girl has filed a complaint against some people including a woman and alleged that all of them together got her raped repeatedly by a boy named Shahrukh. Police have registered a case under various sections of BNS, SC-ST Act and POCSO Act at Kolar Road Police Station. The victim told the police that she is 17 years old. She lives near Bhopal. Being from a poor family, she could study only till 8th class. She has four siblings. The victim is the youngest in the house. She has three elder brothers elder to her. A young man named Javed had been living in the neighbourhood of the victim’s house for many years. They used to talk as neighbours. She used to call him Bhaiya and trusted him. The victim told that a day before Valentine’s Day this year, Javed took her to his house to meet a woman named Zoya. The victim reached Zoya’s house where her husband Faizan was also present. Zoya and her husband asked the victim about her name, address etc. and after some time a boy named Shahrukh reached there. Zoya told the victim that he is her brother and lives in Jahangirabad. Shahrukh took the mobile number from the victim here. The conversation continued for a few days. Shahrukh started wooing her. The victim objected to this and told this to Javed. Javed took Shahrukh’s side and encouraged the victim to maintain the friendship. Shahrukh started pressuring the victim for a meeting. On 16 February 2025, at around 4 pm, Javed took the victim to Zoya’s house. Shahrukh was already present there. Leaving the victim there, everyone went out of the house. Shahrukh said that he loves her and wants to marry her. For this, first a relationship has to be made. The victim said that despite her repeated refusals, Shahrukh raped her. When Zoya, her husband Faiza and Javed returned after about an hour, the victim told them the whole thing. But they said that marrying Shahrukh would lead to a good life for her. So she should not tell this to anyone. After this, Shahrukh started making her a victim of lust again and again by threatening to defame her. He used to call her to Zoya’s house. As soon as he left, Zoya and her husband would leave the house and Shahrukh would rape her. He did bad things to her 4-5 times. Fed up, the victim told the whole thing to her family members. After which they reached the police station. Courtesy : Hindi News
Dalit History Month | From Philosophy to Praxis—Tracing Kanshi Ram’s Journey
Kanshi Ram played a key role in institutionalising the Phule-Ambedkarite epistemic movement Baba saheb ka dusra naam, Kanshi Ram-Kanshi Ram—this slogan is widely recognised in the Dalit-Bahujan movement. Kanshi Ram’s followers affectionately refer to him as Bahujan Nayak, Manyavar and Saheb. In the post-Ambedkar era, he created political consciousness among the Dalit-Bahujans. His movement was not only socio-political but also epistemic in nature, focusing on epistemic justice to promote social justice in India. According to him, social justice cannot be realised without epistemic justice. Miranda Fricker, a famous British philosopher, coined the term epistemic injustice to get epistemic justice knowledge resources distributed and fairly. Kanshi Ram institutionalised the epistemic movement of Ambedkar through various institutions and organisations. His Bahujan movement, based on the ideas of social equality of Phule and Ambedkar, is not only a socio-political movement but also represents a new and profound epistemological intervention in Indian politics, through challenging the caste system and by establishing counter-knowledge systems from the Dalit-Bahujan perspective. It also restores the value, validity, and dignity of Dalit-Bahujan epistemology. Kanshi Ram critically analyses that the caste system is not only maintained through socio-political and economic domination, but also epistemological injustice, and can only be dismantled by establishing a counter-epistemology. By founding various organisations, he built democratic and inclusive knowledge systems, representing a unique attempt in Indian politics to institutionalise direct knowledge justice. His movement established the voices of Dalit-Bahujans in Indian politics by creating alternative ways of knowing through various institutions and challenging the systems that suppress the voices of these communities, thereby establishing a Dalit-Bahujan epistemology that has proven to be very important in Indian politics today. An Epistemic Movement that led to Social Transformation Following the Bahujan epistemic revolution of Kanshi Ram, Dalit-Bahujans gained the tools, mechanisms, language, organisations and institutions to represent and govern themselves. They have historically been victims of epistemic injustice due to the entrenched caste system for hundreds of years, which is the reason their voices, experiences, and knowledge are still excluded from the mainstream of society due to systematic exclusion. Kanshi Ram wanted political power through epistemic justice, which is why he established different organisations to create awareness among the Dalit-Bahujans, and that laid the foundation stone for alternative knowledge systems to combat caste-based discrimination and hierarchy, aiming to create a just and equitable society through political power. He often stated that political power is ‘Guru Killi’—a Punjabi term, reflecting his roots in Punjab. Through this Guru Killi, he believed, all social and economic liberation could be achieved. Kanshi Ram emphasised that the politics of a society with weak social roots could never succeed. He urged Dalit-Bahujans to focus on strengthening their social roots for successful political endeavours. Epistemic Justice through Organisations and Institutions Kanshi Ram founded several institutions and organisations to create alternative knowledge systems for knowledge justice. He established the Backwards and Minority Communities Employees Federation (BAMCEF) in 1978 and Dalit Shoshit Samaj Sangharsh Samiti (DS4) in 1981 to raise awareness among the Bahujan community and prepare them for politics. He also founded the Buddhist Research Centre (BRC) to explore the cultural heritage and history of the Bahujan communities. These organisations worked to decolonise knowledge and ensure that Dalit-Bahujan history and culture were recognised and institutionalised by mainstreaming them. These institutions published several books, pamphlets, and journals that critiqued caste oppression and educated Dalit-Bahujans about their historical, social, and political rights. BAMCEF was a non-religious and non-political organisation comprising of government employees. He regularly reminded them that government officials should work for the betterment of society through T3—time, talent, and treasure. His core belief was that, for epistemic justice, Bahujan officials should not only live for themselves but also work collectively as knowledge producers for marginalised communities. He advocated that educated Bahujans should serve their society alongside their work through the ‘Pay Back to Society’ concept. He encouraged government employees to act as epistemic agents, and for them, he created a platform like BAMCEF that became a focal stage for the epistemic movement. By establishing DS4, he aimed to politically and ideologically awaken the general masses of Dalit-Bahujan and also organise them to ensure they became active agents in knowledge production and political representation rather than passive subjects of history. It served as a bridge between BAMCEF and the later formation of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). After BAMCEF and DS4, he established the BSP not only for political change but also for ideological reform in Indian politics, aiming to implement these changes through law when the government gained power. The BSP was founded with the intent to express Bahujan subjectivity through the government. Kanshi Ram founded the BSP on April 14, 1984, coinciding with Ambedkar Jayanti, and sought to transform knowledge justice into social justice through electoral politics. Through these organisations, Kanshi Ram rewrote and revived the erased history of Dalit-Bahujans and expanded and established narratives within the Bahujan community that were suppressed by the caste system. He redefined Dalit-Bahujan ideology, identity, and culture, establishing it as an agency of resistance instead of victimhood. He mobilised Dalit-Bahujan through the literature, media, and anti-caste cinema further to redefine their ideology, identity, and culture. These tools emerged as alternatives for Dalit-Bahujan knowledge production. Through this platform, Dalit-Bahujans began to lead themselves rather than being directed by upper-caste privileged individuals. His movement also started Bahujan festivals, programs and cultural traditions to counter-hegemonic discourse. As a result, Bahujans began to express their issues and counter the upper-caste narrative in the political system. He launched magazines and newspapers in several languages, such as Oppressed India and Bahujan Sangathak. Through these magazines, he totally transformed the political grammar of Dalit-Bahujan. By creating a new political vocabulary (e.g., “Bahujan,” “Chamcha Yug”) he empowered and made enable Dalit-Bahujan to create bahuajn discourse. their experiences and political demands. The most significant aspect of Kanshi Ram’s movement was his epistemic contributions, which led to the emergence of Dalit-Bahujan literature in the post-Ambedkar era. This literature helped as a counter-narrative discourse by establishing the Dalit-Bahujan perspective and
Meet Justice Bhushan R Gavai: India’s next chief justice and 2nd Dalit to hold the post.
Meet Justice Bhushan R. Gavai: President Droupadi Murmu has officially appointed Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai as the 52nd Chief Justice of India (CJI). He will assume office on May 14, 2025, following the retirement of the current CJI, Justice Sanjiv Khanna, whose tenure ends on May 13. Justice Gavai, the most senior judge in the Supreme Court after Justice Khanna, will have a six-month tenure, retiring on November 23, 2025, upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 65. Justice Khanna had recommended Justice Gavai’s name to the Union Law Ministry, in keeping with the convention of seniority in the appointment of CJIs. A legal journey rooted in Maharashtra Born on November 24, 1960, in Amravati, Maharashtra, Justice Gavai began his legal career in 1985. He trained under Bar. Raja S. Bhonsale, a respected former Advocate General and High Court judge, before starting independent practice in 1987. Initially practicing at the Bombay High Court, he later shifted focus to the Nagpur Bench, specializing in Constitutional and Administrative Law. He also served as standing counsel for major public institutions like the Nagpur and Amravati Municipal Corporations and Amravati University. Climbing the judicial ladder Justice Gavai’s judicial career began in 2003 when he was appointed as an Additional Judge of the Bombay High Court, and he was confirmed as a Permanent Judge in 2005. In May 2019, he was elevated to the Supreme Court of India. Over the years, he has been part of several Constitution Benches that have delivered significant judgments. Key judgments and constitutional bench involvement Justice Gavai was a member of the five-judge bench that unanimously upheld the abrogation of Article 370, which revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir. This ruling was one of the most critical constitutional decisions in recent Indian legal history. He also played a pivotal role in the bench that struck down the Electoral Bonds Scheme, a controversial method of political funding. Additionally, he was part of the bench that, by a 4:1 majority, upheld the 2016 demonetization move by the central government involving the withdrawal of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes. A historic appointment Justice Gavai’s appointment is also historically significant. He will be only the second Dalit to hold the position of Chief Justice of India after Justice K.G. Balakrishnan. His elevation is seen as a moment of representation in the higher judiciary, reaffirming India’s commitment to diversity and inclusion. Courtesy: MSN Note: This news is originally published on https://www.msn.com/ and is for use by the non-military/non-commercial community, especially those in the human rights sector.
BJP always anti-Dalit its supporters threatening SP leaders Akhilesh Yadav
Ballia (UP), Apr 30 (PTI) Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday alleged that the BJP has always been anti-Dalit and accused the ruling party’s supporters of threatening SP leaders, including MP Ramji Lal Suman and himself. “Crimes against Dalits are at their peak in Uttar Pradesh. Supporters of the ruling dispensation have been threatening us with death and throwing tyres on the roads to intimidate us. But we are not afraid,” Yadav was quoted as saying in a statement issued in Lucknow. He addressed the media in Ballia after attending a wedding ceremony at the residence of party MP Sanatan Pandey. Yadav asserted that the attacks were not just on individuals but on the Constitution of Dr B R Ambedkar and the state’s law and order. “Those threatening us are, in fact, challenging Baba Saheb’s Constitution,” he said. He further alleged that elements creating unrest and lawlessness were receiving protection from the state under BJP rule. “There is open anarchy. Members of the PDA (Pichhda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak) community are being attacked. Swords are being waved on the streets, and the PDA community is witnessing this lawlessness,” Yadav said. On the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 tourists, Yadav demanded strict action by the Centre. “The government must take the toughest possible action and adopt concrete measures. The Samajwadi Party stands with the Centre on this issue,” he said. Offering condolences, Yadav urged the government to extend financial and institutional support to the victims’ families. “We demand that the families of the victims be provided with Rs 10 crore each, government jobs and that those killed be declared martyrs,” he added. Calling the attack a major security failure, Yadav questioned how terrorists could strike there. “The Pahalgam attack is unimaginable. There was a complete intelligence failure. While the government talks about ‘Amrit Kaal’, the injured were left without medical care for nearly 90 minutes,” he said. He also referred to the statements made by the victims’ families from Kanpur and Gujarat, saying the entire country has seen their pain and heard their concerns. (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://www.theweek.in and is for use by the non-military/non-commercial community, especially those in the human rights sector.
Dalits Facing Boycott in Andhra Village Get a ‘Peace Committee’ but No FIR
Members, allegedly from the upper caste Kapu community, imposed a social boycott against the entire Dalit community in the SC Colony of the village following the death of a Dalit youth whose family demanded justice. Visakhapatnam: Dalit residents faced a social boycott last week in a village in Andhra Pradesh, in deputy chief minister Pawan Kalyan’s Pithapuram constituency, following the accidental death of an electrical worker. Human rights groups have sharply criticised officials for allegedly prioritising a hastily formed ‘peace committee’ over registering a legally mandated case under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act against those who enforced the boycott. The incident occurred in Mallam village, Kakinada district. Pallapu Suresh Babu (38), a Dalit electrical worker from the village’s SC Colony, was electrocuted and died on April 16 while working at the home of Elisetti Jellababu, who belongs to the dominant Kapu caste from Mallam Pedda Veedhi (Main Street). Suresh Babu is survived by his wife and two school-age children. Following the death, Suresh Babu’s community members demanded compensation from the house owner, Jellababu. An agreement was privately reached the next day for Rs 2.70 lakh. However, tensions rose when only Rs 70,000 was allegedly paid, because Jellababu, despite belonging to the politically and numerically dominant Kapu community, was not wealthy. “When only Rs 70,000 was paid as compensation, the issue flared up. The victim’s family and members of the Dalit community immediately protested near the village’s Ambedkar statue, demanding justice,” Namadi Sridhar, General Secretary of the Human Rights Forum (HRF), told The Wire. “We believe it was precisely this act of Dalits daring to demand justice publicly that led to the social boycott,” he said. On April 18 and 19, members allegedly from the Kapu community imposed a social boycott against the entire Dalit community in the SC Colony. An HRF fact-finding team visiting on April 22 reported that traders were pressured not to sell essentials to Dalits, and transport was denied. “We go to work to make paper plates daily. Ever since the youth from our colony died, they told us not to come to work. Our people demanded justice, so they are punishing us like this,” one Dalit woman told a news channel. Another elderly Dalit man, Chandra Rao, recounted to a news channel, “We belong to the Dalit caste. As usual, we went to have tea at 5 in the morning at a Kapu hotel… They told us, ‘Chandrarao, our elders told us not to give you people tea or tiffins, so you can leave.’ When they said that, I left.” Official response draws flak Local officials formed a ‘peace committee’ with members from both communities, ostensibly to prevent clashes. Many condemned this, arguing it prioritised a superficial truce over legal accountability. “In such situations, it is indeed necessary for officials to maintain law and order. Forming a peace committee as a precaution is also appropriate,” Sridhar said. “However, the first step should have been to register a case under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act against those who instigated and carried out the social boycott… Instead, to cover up the crime committed out of dominant caste arrogance, they hastily formed a peace committee.” Sridhar suggested the boycott was punitive. “The victim’s family protested for justice near the Ambedkar statue, which angered the Kapu community. Fearing that allowing Dalits to seek justice through public protest might set a precedent, the Kapus decided to ‘teach them a lesson,’ resulting in a social boycott,” he told The Wire. Social activist Thota Rambabu, also part of the fact-finding team, told The Wire that officials “deliberately bypassed the crucial, unavoidable, and legal step of registering a case.” He questioned using peace committees to resolve a crime. “Doesn’t ‘imposing an economic or social boycott or threatening to boycott a person, family, or group belonging to Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes’ fall under the purview of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act?” he asked. “Does reaching a compromise, announcing compensation, arranging apologies, and forming a peace committee negate the crime? Does it make the crime unpunishable? Does it erase the humiliation suffered by the Dalits?” Rambabu added, warning that this approach appeared “solely aimed at protecting the accused” and could make Mallam a “model” for circumventing justice. Pattern of discrimination Sridhar said Dalit residents reported longstanding discrimination. “Even now, Dalits cannot get a haircut or shave in the village. They must travel to Pithapuram town or Kakinada,” he told The Wire. “When young people mentioned this… even the elderly residents with white hair confirmed they faced the same discrimination since their youth.” A fact-finding team of the Human Rights Forum at Mallam village. This boycott follows previous violence. Activist Raajamani, who conducted a fact-finding in Mallam after a 2022 incident, shared details with The Wire. “Attacking, beating, and abusing SCs/STs is nothing new in Mallam,” Raajamani said, recounting events from April 14, 2022, when Dalits celebrating Ambedkar Jayanti were hurled abuses at. “When a Dalit youth posted photos of the celebration on Instagram, Karedla Tarun, a Kapu youth, responded with abusive comments,” she said. According to Raajamani, elders intervened, and Tarun performed a ‘Palabhishekam’ (milk ablution) on the Ambedkar statue on April 18, 2022. This act allegedly bred resentment. Weeks later, on April 29, 2022, during the Onumulamma Jatara (festival) in the village, violence erupted. “Five SC youths went to watch the Jatara. When they arrived, Kapu youths shouted, ‘Why did you come here?’, and beat an SC youth named Datla Arjun until he bled,” Raajamani recounted. She alleged that later that night, a Kapu mob attacked the Dalit colony (Mala Peta). “While they were hurling obscenities at women and tearing Dalit women’s blouses, a Dalit teacher named Kaditi Krishnarao objected. They dragged Krishnarao away and grievously injured him. He collapsed from severe bleeding. They also brutally beat Randa Ramasathyanarayana, his wife, and Datla Arjun’s mother.” Raajamani stated that while the injured were hospitalised, police under the then-YSR Congress Party government filed only a “nominal FIR.” “While that case remains pending,
Dalit woman raped in front of 4-year-old child in UP
The woman and her child were returning home when the men approached her and offered Rs 20,000 as financial help. A 40-year-old Dalit woman was allegedly raped by two upper caste men in front of her four-year-old son in Uttar Pradesh’s Mainpuri district. The Dalit family was suffering from financial hardship. According to her complaint, the crime took place on April 17. She and her son were returning home when the two accused approached her and offered Rs 20,000 as financial help. They convinced her to ride with them on the bike to receive the loan amount, and she agreed. However, the two men took her to an isolated place. She alleges in her police complaint that one of them held a gun to her son’s forehead and threatened to blow his head off if she resisted. Her horror did not end here. After raping her, they started harassing her with frequent phone calls. She finally gathered the courage to tell her husband, who filed a complaint. Speaking to the Times of India, Mainpuri SHO Anuj Kumar confirmed an FIR has been registered. “One of the accused has been identified as Ramji Yadav. He belongs to the same village. We have initiated an FIR under the SC/ST Act. The Dalit woman has been sent for medical tests. Investigations are on,” the police officer was quoted by TOI. Courtesy: Siasat Note: This news is originally published on https://www.siasat.com/ and is for use by the non-military/non-commercial community, especially those in the human rights sector.