Dalit woman gang-raped in Baheri, video captured and blackmailed: Victim went to village headman’s house, case filed against 3 under SC-ST Act, 2 detained
A Scheduled Caste woman in Gursauli village, under the Baheri Kotwali area, has accused three young men of gang-raping her, blackmailing her with a video, and threatening to kill her. Based on the victim’s complaint, police have registered a case under serious sections and the SC-ST Act. Two accused have been detained in the case. According to the police report, the victim’s 30-year-old husband is disabled and was away working. On the afternoon of July 6th, the woman went to the village headman’s house to inquire about a gas connection. The village headman’s son and several other young men were present. She was told the headman was not home and was asked to return later. The victim alleges that while returning, the three accused stopped her, forcibly took her inside a house, and raped her one by one at gunpoint. The accused also filmed the incident. The woman said that when she protested, the accused used casteist slurs. They also threatened to make the video viral on social media and kill her and her family if she complained. Police have registered a case against Ajay, son of Dayashankar, Guddu alias Tejpal, son of Nathu, and Shivam, son of Niranjan Lal. This action has been taken under relevant sections of the BNS and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Baheri Inspector Dinesh Kumar said that after preliminary investigations revealed Ajay and Shivam’s role, both have been taken into custody. Police are investigating the case based on the video and other evidence. Mumtaz Ali | Baheri Courtesy: Hindi News
From ‘Untouchable’ to India’s Spin Bowling Legend: How Palwankar Baloo Became an Inspiration for Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and Thousands of Dalits
Palwankar Baloo was not only an inspiration for aspiring cricketers but also for young B.R. Ambedkar, who is known as the architect of the Indian constitution. CRICKET IN THE SUBCONTINENT is marked by spin tracks and a few masters of the art. Bishan Singh Bedi, Bhagwat Chandrashekhar, S. Venkataraghavan are some of the legends that come to mind when we speak of Indian spinners. However, Palwankar Baloo was a name that laid the foundation on which this fortress was built. He was not only an inspiration for aspiring cricketers but also for young B.R. Ambedkar, who is known as the architect of the Indian constitution. Despite his achievements on the field, Palwankar Baloo was never treated as an equal off it. At tea breaks, while his upper-caste teammates sat inside the pavilion drinking from porcelain cups, Baloo, a Dalit, was made to stand outside and drink from a separate clay cup. His story is not just about a legend of the sport, but an example of an era where caste discrimination persisted even in a sport often called the “gentleman’s game.” Palwankar Baloo: From Groundsman to India’s Greatest Spin Bowler Palwankar Baloo was born on March 19, 1876 in Dharwad to a family belonging to the Chamar community. According to historian and cricket enthusiast Ramachandra Guha’s book A Corner of a Foreign Field: The Indian History of a British Sport, Baloo’s father worked with the British Army in Poona, where Baloo and his younger brothers first learnt cricket using equipment discarded by British officers. Like many children in poor families, he began working at a young age. His introduction to the game was not as player but as a groundsman. “Baloo’s own first job was at a cricket club run by Parsis. Here he swept and rolled the pitch, and occasionally bowled to the members at the nets. For this work he took home Rs 3 a month,” Guha writes. Later, he joined the prestigious Poona Club, where he prepared pitches, set up nets and bowled to British club members. One of those members was English cricketer Captain J.G. Greig, who quickly realised Baloo’s spin bowling talent. According to Guha, Hindu cricket administrators were divided over selecting Baloo in the team because he belonged to a Dalit community. It was Greig who convinced them that leaving out such a talented bowler because of his caste would be foolish. Guha notes that Greig’s attempt shouldn’t necessarily be seen as him trying to reform society, but simply wanting to test himself against a talented net bowler in competitive matches. Once selected, Baloo soon became the biggest weapon of the Poona Hindus team. His left-arm spin troubled even the strongest European sides. His performances also earned him a place in the historic 1911 All-India team that toured England—the first Indian cricket team to play on British soil. Historian Prashant Kidambi writes in Cricket Country that it took “12 years and three failed attempts” before an Indian team could finally make “its debut on the playing fields of imperial Britain.” When the team returned to Bombay on September 15, 1911, thousands gathered at the harbour to welcome them. Baloo had finished the tour as India’s leading wicket-taker and returned home as one of the country’s biggest sporting heroes. The Spin Legend Who Was Still Treated as an ‘Untouchable’ The Indian society’s taboo was hard to forego especially in the early 20th century. Success on field did not change how Baloo was treated by his own teammates. According to Guha, caste discrimination continued even inside the cricket ground. “At the tea interval… Baloo was served the liquid outside the pavilion, and in a disposable clay matka, while his colleagues drank in white porcelain cups inside,” Guha writes. He faced similar treatment during lunch. “Baloo also ate his lunch off a separate plate, and on a separate table. But he took plenty of wickets all the same. Due chiefly to Baloo’s bowling the Poona Hindus defeated the Poona Europeans and other local sides as well,” Guha writes. Even then, Baloo’s performances were impossible to ignore. Social reformer Mahadev Govind Ranade publicly honoured him after one of his major victories, while Indian freedom fighter Bal Gangadhar Tilak also praised his achievements. Slowly, Baloo’s cricket started challenging many caste prejudices, even if they did not disappear. It was also reinforced in his own family as the Palwankar family became one of Indian cricket’s first great sporting families. His brothers Shivram, Vithal, and Ganpat all went on to play at a high level. In 1923, Baloo’s younger brother Vithal Palwankar became the first Dalit captain of the Hindu team in the Bombay Quadrangular and led the side to several famous victories. The Cricketer Who Inspired Ambedkar, But Later Became His Adversary Dr. B.R. Ambedkar sitting on desk signing documents Being a Dalit, Baloo’s influence reached far beyond cricket. After the 1911 England tour, Bombay’s Depressed Classes organised a public felicitation for him. According to Guha, the welcome address was delivered by a young college student who was then unknown—Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar. Quoting historian Eleanor Zelliot, Guha writes that this was “the first public appearance” of the man who would later become the architect of the Indian Constitution. “By virtue solely of his deeds on the cricket field, Baloo had become a hero and inspiration to countless Untouchables. And the young B.R. Ambedkar was one of them,” Guha writes. However, when both of them became influential figures for their community, they later disagreed on the future of Dalits in India. Guha writes that Baloo strongly believed in Mahatma Gandhi’s view that caste discrimination could be removed through reform within Hindu society. Ambedkar, on the other hand, believed the Depressed Classes would get justice only through independent political rights and by moving beyond the Hindu social order. During Gandhi’s fast against the Communal Award in 1932—a proposal by the British government to allow ‘untouchables’ to become an electorate separate from the main Hindu community, Baloo was among those who appealed
UP: Dalit priests may be appointed for the Sapta Mandapam, a decision on the recruitment of new priests is likely on July 22nd.
A decision on the recruitment of new priests for the Ram Temple complex is likely to be made at the meeting on July 22nd. According to sources, for the first time, qualified Veda-reading priests from the Dalit community may be offered the opportunity to serve in the Sapta Mandapam temples. This initiative is being taken keeping in mind the increasing number of devotees and social harmony. The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust is preparing to appoint new priests for the Ram Temple complex. According to sources, the new recruitment process for priests may begin after the proposed trust meeting on July 22nd. For the first time, priests from the Dalit community are also likely to be included in this recruitment. If this happens, it will be considered an important step towards further strengthening the message of social harmony in the Ram Temple complex. According to sources, the proposed appointments may include priests from the Dalit community, who may be responsible for performing pujas in the Sapta Mandapam temples located in the Ram Temple complex. The Sapta Mandapam houses temples dedicated to Maharishi Valmiki, Maharishi Vashistha, Maharishi Agastya, Maharishi Vishwamitra, Nishadraj, Mata Shabari, and Mata Ahalya. All these figures and sages are considered symbols of social harmony and inclusion in Indian tradition. Opportunities for priests being considered Sources indicate that given the growing number of devotees and the expansion of the temple complex, there is a need for new priests. Keeping this need in mind, along with social representation, opportunities are being considered for qualified priests from the Dalit community. Recently, the Trust appointed Dr. Krishna Mohan, a Dalit, as interim General Secretary. Consequently, the proposed priest appointments are being seen as aligned with the Trust’s vision of harmony and inclusion. However, no official announcement has been made by the Trust in this regard. A final decision is expected to be made at the July 22nd meeting Currently, 35 priests are serving at the Ram Temple. Currently, a total of 35 priests are serving at the Ram Temple complex. Of these, 20 perform puja at Ram Lalla and Ram Darbar. Ten priests are deployed in two shifts, morning and evening, each with 10 priests. In each shift, five priests perform puja at Ram Lalla and five at Ram Darbar, while the responsibility of aarti is assigned to all priests in turn. The remaining 15 priests perform puja at the fort and Sapta Mandapam temples. Nitin Mishra, Amar Ujala Network, Ayodhya Published by: Akash Dwivedi Courtesy: Hindi News
Immerse in this new book that dives into the life of a Dalit boy in Gujarat
This is most prominently witnessed in the chapter exploring his relationship to Mahatma Gandhi and his ideas Title: Homes Without WindowsAuthor: Chandu MaheriaGenre: MemoirPublisher: JuggernautCost: Rs 699 Gujarati writer Chandu Maheria’s new book Homes Without Windows (Juggernaut), translated into English by Hemant Ashwinkumar, is an honest account of what it meant to grow up as a Dalit boy in the working-class suburb of Rajpur in Gujarat. We learn how several Dalit families left their villages after independence to settle in parts of Ahmedabad. Through 11 essays, Maheria helps readers draw a brief history of caste politics in Gujarat: from aggression in schools of the Khadol village in the 1960s, to the anti-reservation riots and the growing consciousness of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar’s ideology across the state in the 1980s. Through it all, Maheria’s tone is understated and nuanced. This is most prominently witnessed in the chapter exploring his relationship to Mahatma Gandhi and his ideas. He excavates the reasons why a majority of the Dalit community resents Gandhi and prefers to advocate Dr Ambedkar’s views. Without disagreeing with the concerns of the community on the Gandhi-Ambedkar debate, he argues that one cannot disregard Gandhi’s role in bringing the subject of caste to the forefront of public discussion and politics. Maheria’s most distinctive quality is how he examines everyday objects and gives evidence from his personal experience to portray how deeply entrenched the caste system is in India. Chapters like ‘Your Chappals, Our Skulls’, which highlights footwear, or ‘The Mayor’s Bungalow’, which looks at public toilets, become significant in this regard. For instance, he recollects being turned away at the school gate as a kid, on the first day of school, because he couldn’t afford footwear and reached barefoot. The final chapter on fighting rumours and sicknesses with multiple hospitalisations offers a poignant closing to a sensitive and necessary book Nandini Varma Courtesy : Mid-Day Note: This news is originally published on https:/mid-day.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
The road to the Dalit settlement in Gorakhpur is dilapidated and muddy: Villagers face difficulties commuting, demanding repairs from the administration.
The road leading to the Dalit settlement in Mainabhagar Gram Panchayat, in the Jungle Kaudiya development block of Gorakhpur, is extremely dilapidated and muddy. Local villagers allege that the condition of this road has been poor for a long time, causing significant difficulties in commuting. According to villagers, children, women, elderly people, and other villagers travel this route daily. The situation becomes even worse during the rainy season, as the entire route is waterlogged and muddy. Local residents reported that while other roads in the village are in good condition, the road to the Dalit settlement has not been repaired. Consequently, schoolchildren face particular difficulties commuting to and from school. Villagers say they have lodged complaints several times in this regard, but no action has been taken yet. They have demanded that the administration and public representatives resolve the transportation problem by constructing the road as soon as possible. Sugreev Kumar Yadav | Bhauramal (Gorakhpur Sadar), Gorakhpur Courtesy: Hindi News
Dalit woman sarpanch alleges harassment, seeks arrest of accused
Rohtak: A woman sarpanch of Mokhra Khas village on Monday gave a representation to the Rohtak superintendent of police (SP), seeking the immediate arrest of two accused named in a case under the Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. She also sought permission to hold a peaceful dharna if no action is taken. In her representation dated July 13, sarpanch Manjubala stated that she belongs to the SC community, and became a permanent resident of Mokhra Khas after her marriage. She stated that she was elected as the village sarpanch in the 2022 panchayat elections from a general seat reserved for women, defeating her nearest rival by 32 votes. She added that all other candidates in the election belonged to the general category. The representation alleges that two villagers, identified as Rajnesh alias Dola and Manoj alias Bandu, have been hostile towards her and her family. Referring to an FIR registered in May 2026 under the SC/ST Act at Bahuakbarpur police station, Manjubala alleged that despite registration of the case, the accused have not been arrested so far. She claimed that the delay in arrest has created fear for the safety of her family. In the representation, she stated that if timely action is not taken, the accused may pose a threat to their lives, forcing them to leave the village. She also said she already met senior police officials twice regarding the matter, but no effective action has been taken. Speaking to TOI, Manjubala said she enjoys support from people of all communities in the village, but alleged that the two accused made caste-based and defamatory remarks against her. Meham DSP Tanuj Sharma confirmed that the representation has been received. 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
Tehri Dalit Teen Murder Case: Case Registered Based on a Complaint from the Girl’s Mother
New information has emerged in the Tehri Dalit teen murder case. A case has been filed based on the girl’s mother’s complaint. Tehri: A new twist has emerged in the recent murder of a Dalit teen in Tehri district, Uttarakhand. According to the police, after the minor girl’s medical examination, a case has been registered at Lambgaon police station based on the girl’s mother’s complaint. A case has been filed under various sections, including the POCSO Act. The investigation will be conducted by female SI Hemlata. In fact, around 11 pm on the night of June 7-8, a minor teen from a village in the Lambgaon police station area went with his friend to a nearby village to meet his friend (a love affair case). The girl’s family members apprehended the two boys. It is alleged that the girl’s family members assaulted the two boys, leaving them seriously injured. Both were subsequently admitted to the hospital, where the minor girl’s friend (boyfriend) died. Based on a complaint filed by the deceased boy’s family, the police arrested four people, including the girl’s father and grandfather. The deceased minor boy’s friend is an eyewitness to the incident, and the police have now filed a case under the POCSO Act. The minor girl’s mother also filed a complaint with the police station, but the police did not register a case. However, the High Court later ordered the police to hear the minor girl’s side of the story. Following this, on July 11, the Lambgaon police station filed a case under the POCSO Act against the deceased’s friend, who was also an eyewitness to the incident. Investigating officer and CO Chandramohan stated that female SI Hemlata has been authorized for this purpose. Led by the former village head of the minor girl, people also met with Tehri SSP Shweta Choubey, demanding harsh punishment for the culprits and a change in the investigating officer. Courtesy: Hindi News
Congress to Protest at Jantar Mantar on July 27 over Dalit Student’s Murder: Party’s UP in-charge
NEW DELHI — Uttar Pradesh Congress in-charge Rajendra Pal Gautam on Monday said that the party delegation was stopped mid-day and denied a chance to meet the family of Meerut victim Lalita Gautam. Speaking to IANS, Rajendra Pal Gautam said that the party workers will assemble at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on July 27 to raise their voice against the Dalit student’s murder and also demand justice for her. He also said that the Congress delegation led by him, which included many senior leaders and MPs like Imran Masood, was stopped by the police at the Kashi toll plaza and refused permission to meet the family of the missing Meerut victim. “Police kept us waiting for hours, giving assurances that they would allow us to meet the victim’s family but then denied permission for the same, citing law and order conditions,” he remarked. He also demanded Rs 1 crore as financial compensation to the affected family, along with a government job for one member of the victim’s family and also sought a speedy investigation to bring the perpetrators to book. The UP Congress in-charge also lashed out at the SSP’s conduct and demanded his suspension over alleged excesses on demonstrators. “Action should be taken against the SSP, who openly took the law into his own hands. Why has no case been registered against him? Why has he not been suspended?” he asked. According to police, the 20-year-old Lalita Gautam had gone missing from the TP Nagar area on May 15 and two days later, her dead body was found in the Rohta area. Ankush Kumar (23), identified as the main accused, was arrested on May 18, while another was held for allegedly destroying evidence. The incident prompted protests by her family and community members. The Congress delegation that headed to Meerut included Lok Sabha MPs Imran Masood and Tanuj Punia, Rajya Sabha MP Karamveer Singh Bauddh and AICC OBC Department chairman Anil Jaihind, among others. Earlier, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge had accused the BJP dispensation of turning a blind eye to the family woes, stating that it exposes the double engine government’s “anti-Dalit” face. Courtesy : Clarion Note: This news is originally published on https:/clarion.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Rape case filed against ‘murdered’ Dalit youth after HC prod
Dehradun: In a fresh turn of events in the Tehri Garhwal suspected “honour killing” case, Uttarakhand police have registered a case of gang-rape against the deceased 16-year-old Dalit youth and his friend. The action follows a directive from the high court after the parents of the minor upper-caste girl presented a medical examination report suggesting sexual assault. The FIR was registered on Sunday after the direction of the court following a formal complaint by the girl’s mother. Tehri Garhwal SSP Shweta Chaubey confirmed to TOI that a case of gang-rape has been filed under BNS Section 70 alongside relevant sections of the Pocso Act. “On the basis of the complaint, the minor deceased youth and his friend were named in the case. However, as the minor is no more, we have taken appropriate legal action under relevant provisions while considering the medical examination report. A probe is ongoing,” said SSP Chaubey. The case dates to June 7, when the 16-year-old Dalit boy was allegedly beaten to death by the minor girl’s family members. According to the initial police investigation, the boy and his friend had gone to the girl’s house late at night after receiving a phone call from her. The girl’s family allegedly caught them, leading to the fatal physical assault. Following the teenager’s death, police had registered a case of murder and physical assault, subsequently arresting four accused individuals, including the girl’s father and grandfather. The investigations into both the murder and the subsequent sexual assault allegations are currently underway. 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
15yo Dalit rape survivor dies by suicide in Kheri
Pilibhit: A 15-year-old Dalit rape survivor was found hanging at her house in a village under Neemgaon police station limits in Kheri district on Monday, police said. Senior police officials, including SP Khyati Garg and the local CO, reached the spot as the deceased and the accused belonged to different communities. The body was sent for postmortem, and police force was deployed in the village to maintain law and order. An FIR in the alleged rape case was lodged on July 5 under BNS section 65, which deals with rape of a woman under 16 years of age, and relevant provisions of the Pocso Act, based on a complaint filed by the girl’s mother. As per the complaint, the 21-year-old accused, a resident of the same village, entered the girl’s house around 5pm on July 5 when her family members were away for agricultural work. He was arrested the same night after the FIR and sent to jail the next day. SP Garg told TOI, “Preliminary investigation by the CO has revealed that the girl and the accused were in a relationship for over two years. The victim had initially denied rape, but after the FIR was lodged, she confirmed the allegations in her statement recorded before court under BNSS section 183.” Police said they are probing the circumstances that led to the girl’s death and have not ruled out the possibility that she was under emotional distress after testifying against the accused. Further action will be taken after the postmortem report, officials added. 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