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The teacher took a Dalit girl with him by promising her a job, gangraped her with his friends for seven days; the victim died.

POSTED ON JULY 19, 2024



In Unnao, once again the sacred relationship between Guru and disciple has been disgraced. The girl whom the teacher showed the dream of becoming self-reliant from class 1 to 5, he himself took advantage of her poverty and killed her brutally with his 4 friends.
The family is in deep shock due to the incident, while the society is talking about hanging the teacher. At the same time, the police registered an FIR against the teacher and his friends under gangrape, SC-ST and POCSO Act and arrested the main accused teacher. The team that conducted the postmortem of the body in Lucknow’s KGMU hospital has made slides and sent them to the lab, while the viscera has been preserved. After the case came to light, BSA Unnao suspended the teacher and formed a two-member team and ordered a departmental inquiry. Assistant teacher Saurabh Singh posted in Primary School Saraiya of Auras block of Unnao taught a daughter from class 1 to 5 and showed her the dream of becoming self-reliant along with bookish knowledge. This daughter went to Chandigarh with her uncle after completing class 5 in 2021. She had just come to her home on 22 June. During this time, she met teacher Saurabh Singh. On July 8, the teacher took her to his house in Uphaar Upvan Udyan-2 Eldeco Colony Lucknow on the pretext of getting her a job at Rs 6,000 per month. On Wednesday, the blood-stained body of the teenager was found at the house of teacher Saurabh Singh. The teacher called the girl’s brother to Lokbandhu Hospital in Lucknow, informing him about the deteriorating health and fled from there. When the brother reached the hospital, he screamed after seeing the injury on his sister’s head and blood stains on her body. The victim’s brother has lodged an FIR against teacher Saurabh Singh and his 4 unknown companions under sections of gang rape at PGI police station in Lucknow. There is an atmosphere of mourning in the village. On Thursday, the family performed the last rites of the daughter. Anger is being seen everywhere from the village to the teacher’s act. Lucknow police has arrested the teacher and sent him to jail. At the same time, efforts have been claimed to be made to arrest others. At the same time, BSA Unnao Sangeeta Singh has suspended the teacher Saurabh Singh, accused of gang rape, and ordered a departmental inquiry by forming a two-member team.

Courtesy: Right News India

This news was originally published in rightnewsindia.com and was used solely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially for human rights.





NATIONAL

Ground report: 2 crores offered for settlement in Dalit murder case: Mother said – video made by daughter became the reason for death; former minister rejected the allegations

POSTED ON JULY 19, 2024


0
SHARES

The death of Anjana, the most important witness of the Dalit murder case of Barodia Naungir in Sagar district, after falling from the ambulance has become a mystery. Neither the police is saying anything, nor the villagers. The Ahirwar family, which has suffered the pain of the death of their son and daughter within a year, is scared.
The Ahirwar family alleges that former minister Bhupendra Singh is helping the accused. He sent a jeep to call Anjana, Vishnu (brother) and Rajendra (uncle) to his bungalow in Khurai for a compromise. Bhupendra Singh offered 2 crores in exchange for a settlement. Anjana secretly made a video on her mobile. Anjana’s brother Vishnu alleges that the police have seized that mobile.
However, Bhupendra Singh rejected these allegations in response to questions from Dainik Bhaskar. On the question of compromise, he said, if the family has any complaint, then tell the police and the court. On the question of helping the accused, he said, what help am I giving, all of them are in jail.

Anjana’s mother accuses the police of threatening her and says that the policemen were saying – your one more son Vishnu will also be killed. Recently, the Civil Rights Group of social organizations, which came to investigate this murder, has also raised questions on the police investigation in its report.

After the report of the Civil Rights Forum came out, Dainik Bhaskar went to meet the victim’s family.

According to the police FIR.

Why is the family rejecting the police claim?

After Anjana’s suspicious death, the police had claimed that she had jumped from the ambulance. Whereas the family says that Anjana has been murdered. To understand the police claim, Bhaskar contacted Bhagmati, the mother of Rajendra Ahirwar, who was in the hearse that day.

Bhagmati cannot speak and hear properly. With the help of her younger son, we explained the question. So she told in a stuttering voice that that day in Sagar, the police gave a bottle of water before sitting in the ambulance. They told us to drink water. Me and my husband Ramsevak drank the water. After this we fell asleep.

The police woke us up by shaking us at Khurai intersection. When we looked, Anjana was lying some distance away from the vehicle. Blood was oozing out of her head. My husband Ramsevak took Rajendra’s body to the village. I took Anjana to Sagar hospital in another vehicle. Here the doctors declared Anjana dead. We don’t know how Anjana fell.

Based on this, Anjana’s parents say that their daughter cannot jump from the ambulance. She has been murdered.

Family and civil rights group raised these questions
Bhaskar asked Anjana’s mother, the elder daughter-in-law, why she feels that she has been murdered. To this, she said- how did the door of the van in which the daughter was sitting suddenly open? The speed of the car must have been low at the crossroad where the daughter was lying in an injured condition, then how did she fall?
The elder daughter-in-law says that it is surprising that neither the police nor Rajendra’s parents saw Anjana falling. How did both of them fall into a deep sleep after drinking the water given by the police to Rajendra’s parents?
Madhuri of the civil rights group said, she wanted to get information from Shashi Vishwakarma, the officer investigating Anjana’s death. On this, she said that the matter is under investigation and refused to give any information.
Mother’s allegation – 2 crores were offered for compromise
The elder daughter-in-law said, after the murder of son Nitin, there was pressure on us to compromise. Twice a jeep was sent from Khurai to call us. Vishnu, Anjana, Naresh, brother-in-law Mohan and Rajendra Ahirwar went by jeep.
They were taken to Bhupendra Singh’s bungalow. After returning, daughter Anjana had told that in the bungalow, former minister Bhupendra said – We are the leader, we are the minister, this is our government. Resign, we will give 2 crore rupees. Anjana had made a video of it.

Former minister said – I am not helping anyone

Allegations of political interference have been made in the case from the beginning. After Nitin’s murder, former Chief Minister Digvijay Singh had alleged that the police did not include the name of Ankit Singh of BJP Yuva Morcha in the FIR. Anjana had also complained about adding the name in the FIR.

BJP leaders including Khurai MLA and former minister Bhupendra Singh have said that the reason behind these murders was mutual dispute. It is also not hidden from anyone that the three main accused in Nitin’s murder have been associated with the ruling party.

Komal Singh Thakur was appointed as Mandi representative by Bhupendra Singh in 2020. When Dainik Bhaskar contacted former minister Bhupendra Singh regarding these allegations of the family, he rejected all the allegations and said that the whole matter is being investigated. The matter is in court.
Know in detail where the whole controversy started

In 2019, Anjana Ahirwar’s brother Vishnu was beaten up. A few days later, Anjana was beaten up and molested. Anjana filed an FIR against the Lambardars. After this, the accused started pressuring for a compromise. When the Ahirwar family did not agree, in 2023, 4 years after the incident, Anjana’s brother Nitin was murdered in broad daylight. The mother was also stripped naked in the middle of the market.
This case was going on when 9 months later in May, Rajendra Ahirwar, a close associate of the Ahirwar family, was murdered. Rajendra was an important witness in Nitin’s murder. Anjana was an important witness in the murders of both Nitin and Rajendra.
Understand another angle of the dispute between Dalits and Thakurs…
Most of the Dalits in the village work as laborers in the fields of Thakurs
This village with a population of 3500 has 23 percent Dalits. Among them, Ahirwars are the most. 11 percent are tribals. These people do farming and labor. There are also Kori, Patel, Muslim and Thakur in the village. There are 25 Thakur houses, but they have the most agricultural land in the village. Thakurs also rent the land of small farmers. Most of the people of the village work as labourers in Thakurs’ fields. It is alleged that those who do not go to Thakurs’ fields to work are their target.

Anjana’s father Raghuvir Ahirwar used to work as a guard in Indore. Anjana, his only daughter among his 4 children, was studying graduation in Sagar. Rohit, the eldest of the three sons, used to work in a village shop. Vishnu, the second one, works in a hotel in Bhopal. The younger one, Nitin, used to look after the booking of horses. This family did not go to Thakurs’ fields to work as labourers.

Anjana’s brother Rohit says that I used to work in a tent house earlier. We bought a horse for 50 thousand rupees from the nearby Binayaki village. We used to take bookings for horse-carriage in weddings. On free days, we used to roam around the village on horse. Many times we used to ride horses in front of the village’s lumberdars’ houses. They did not like this.

‘Police did not pay attention to CCTV footage of the murder’

On 23 August 2023, Nitin was beaten to death, the entire incident was captured in the CCTV installed there. Police arrested 13 people, but the family alleged that some influential people were let off. These accused are also seen in the CCTV footage.

Anjana’s mother said, that day Komal Azad, Vikram and Ajay Thakur had come to compromise in the molestation case. Then Nitin had gone to the market. They were looking for Nitin. The accused went towards the market, I also followed them. I had just reached the son when the accused attacked. When I tried to save him, they stripped me naked. After beating the son, they came home and vandalized. Killed the horse. After this, they also went to the house of middle brother-in-law Mohan and Rajendra.

Anjana’s mother said, the incident happened at 7 pm. Police came around 9 pm. Son was referred to Sagar in injured condition. He died on the way. After this, we were given police protection. CCTVs were also installed.

On May 6, 2024, a day before the Lok Sabha elections, the police engaged in security left without informing. The cameras had stopped working in March itself. A complaint was also made about this. After the police guard was removed, the bullies became more fearless. A few days later, on May 25, Rajendra was also murdered.

This is the CCTV footage, which the Ahirwar family had given to the police. It is alleged that the police did not pay attention to it.

All the cases against Nitin and Vishnu were registered after 2019

In 2019, Anjana had registered a case of assault, threat and SC-ST against Komal Singh Thakur, Vikram Singh Thakur, Chhotu Raikwar, Azad Thakur, Pushpendra Thakur and Ankit Thakur of the village. Anjana had also alleged molestation in the complaint, but the police did not include it in the FIR.

After this, the problems of this family started. Mother and elder daughter-in-law say that false cases started being registered against sons Nitin and Vishnu at the behest of the bullies. The criminal record of both the sons which the police refer to, all those cases were registered only after Anjana filed an FIR. The bullies were pressurizing them to compromise by taking such action.

Woman jumps from moving ambulance, dies: wanted to block the road by placing uncle’s body on the road

On May 26, a 23-year-old girl jumped from a moving ambulance in Khurai of Sagar district. She died on the spot due to severe injuries. She was coming to her village with her uncle’s body in the ambulance along with her family. According to the family, the girl’s uncle Rajendra Ahirwar was attacked by some people of the village in an old dispute. He died during treatment in Bundelkhand Medical College of Sagar. The girl wanted to block the road by placing uncle’s body on the road. Read the full news…

Case of uncle’s murder and niece’s death in Sagar: PCC chief made the victim’s family talk to Rahul Gandhi

After Anjana’s death in Barodia Naunagir of Sagar, State Congress Committee President Jitu Patwari had come to meet Anjana Ahirwar’s family. The family showed him the videos and documents of the time of the incident. Along with this, there was a demand to add Ankit Thakur’s name in the FIR and get the case investigated by CBI. Read the full news…
The murderers of son and daughter are threatening the parents: Mother said – Police officers say that the second son will also be killed

Whenever we go anywhere, when we apply, the murderers of our son and daughter threaten us. Police officers also threaten. That day, an officer lower than the SP was saying that your second son Vishnu will also be killed.’In August 2023, 10 months after the shameful incident of the murder of the 18-year-old son Nitin of this family in broad daylight and stripping the mother, the Dalit massacre of Barodia Naunagir is once again in the news.

Courtesy: Dainik Bhaskar
This news was originally published in bhaskar.com and was used completely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes especially for human rights.



Land eviction proceedings stopped in Lucknow, Yogi government bows down to protesters- Bulldozer will not run now!

POSTED ON JULY 19, 2024


The eviction proceedings going on for the last one week in areas like Pantnagar, Abrar Nagar, Khurram Nagar, Indraprastha Colony, Rahim Nagar and Scorpio Club have been stopped. There is a wave of happiness among the local residents after the government accepted the questions like ban on eviction and making river front in 35 meter Kukrail drain itself…

Lucknow. In Yogiraj, the eviction proceedings going on for the last one week in areas like Pantnagar, Abrar Nagar, Khurram Nagar, Indraprastha Colony, Rahim Nagar and Scorpio Club located in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh have been stopped. There is a wave of happiness among the local residents after the government accepted the questions like ban on eviction and making river front in 35 meter Kukrail drain itself.

Lucknow Bachao Sangharsh Samiti has called it a victory of the power of the people and the public movement. Today, on the morning of 16th July, a delegation of local residents led by Trans Gomti Residents’ Sangharsh Samiti’s president Mohammad Salim and convener Rakesh Mani Pandey met the Vice President, Lucknow Development Authority. After the talks held here, the 14-member delegation went to the Chief Minister’s residence and discussed their problems with CM Yogi Adityanath.

In this discussion, the Chief Minister assured that no house will be demolished and the river front will be built on the drain that is in the map. The delegation of Lucknow Bachao Sangharsh Samiti also met Commissioner Dr. Roshan Jacob. This delegation included former mayor candidate from SP Vandana Mishra, senior social worker Dr. Ramesh Dixit, All India People’s Front state general secretary Dinkar Kapoor, Akbarnagar’s Imran Raja and former SP secretary Sharmila Maharaj. In the talks with the delegation, it was agreed that no land will be taken more than the 35 meter Kukrail drain. Also, action will be taken as soon as the list is received to provide housing to those residents of Akbarnagar who have not yet got housing and a letter will also be sent to the Uttar Pradesh government citing this letter to withdraw the Nazul Property Ordinance. The delegation that met the CM included Nisha Jha, MP Mishra, Ashutosh Pathak, Sunita Devi, Aman Pandey, Santosh Shukla, Arvind Pathak, Babu.

Courtesy: Jan Jwar
This news was originally published in janjwar.com and was used solely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes especially for human rights




FIR lodged against VHP leader for Dalit harassment Bettiah

POSTED ON JULY 19, 2024



Bettiah. An FIR has been lodged against Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader and deputy mayor’s son Raman Gupta and his brothers and some others under the Dalit Atrocities Act. Brijesh Kumar Baitha, a resident of Chaube Tola in Kumarbagh police station area, has lodged a complaint in the SC-ST police station.
The VHP leader has been accused of using casteist abuses, assaulting and demanding extortion money worth Rs 2 lakh. SHO Rana Prasad said that the FIR has been lodged and the matter is being investigated. Brijesh Kumar Baitha has said in the FIR that he has been authorized to assist junior engineer Sujay Suman as per the orders of the Municipal Corporation.
On July 15, he was getting the drain construction work done under his supervision near Indira Chowk in Ward-13. At the same time, Raman Gupta, resident of Kotwali Chowk Sonarpatti Ward-13, his brother Rohit Kumar Gupta, Rahul Kumar Gupta came in a car with four-five unknown people and stopped the work. Asked to uproot the net. When I asked to call the JE, they started abusing me using casteist slurs and started beating me. They demanded a ransom of Rs. 2 lakhs for allowing the work to be done. Meanwhile, VHP leader Raman Gupta said that large scale irregularities were being done in the construction of the drain. The local ward councillor is my relative. There is a previous family dispute. They are trapping me in a false case in connivance with my opponents. Deputy Mayor Gayatri Devi said that on receiving a complaint of irregularities in the construction of the drain, I myself went there to see it. Some people tried to misbehave there. Hearing this, my sons reached there. Then some people started creating a ruckus. My sons have been implicated in a false case so that voice is not raised against the irregularities.



UTTAR PRADESH

Kushinagar News: Dalit gets Taliban punishment for going to public toilet, one eye ruptured

POSTED ON JULY 19, 2024



In Kushinagar, a Dalit was not only beaten up badly for defecating in a public toilet, but he was also locked in the toilet and fined Rs 5,000.

A heart-wrenching incident has come to light in Kushinagar district. Here a Dalit youth was given Taliban punishment for using a public toilet. Young man’s eye ruptured in beating

According to sources, the Dalit youth was first brutally beaten up and then his father and son were made to clean the toilet. After this inhumane treatment, the victim was locked in the toilet and fined Rs 5,000. During the beating, one eye of the youth also ruptured. This incident was carried out by the village head and his henchmen. The victim and his family had to endure physical and mental torture. The local administration has started investigating the matter and has assured strict action against the culprits.

Seriousness of caste discrimination exposed
This incident has once again exposed the seriousness of caste discrimination and atrocities prevalent in the society. Human rights organizations and local people have strongly condemned this inhuman incident and demanded justice.
Courtesy: Zee News.


 UTTAR PRADESH

Ambedkar Nagar News: Gang rape of Dalit woman, case against three

POSTED ON JULY 19, 2024


Ambedkar Nagar. In the case of gang rape of a Dalit woman, on the complaint of the victim, a case has been registered against three people under SC-ST, gang rape and other sections and investigation has been started.

Let us tell you that according to the woman living in Jalalpur town, Pawan Yadav of Wajidpur Dadwa, Sonu Sonkar of Shivam Colony and Vipul Yadav of Satti Wajidpur came to her on the evening of July 15 at around five o’clock. The accused had two bikes. They took the woman on a bike to Badepur Melhiya Bagh in Sammanpur police station area. There the three youths raped her and at eight o’clock in the night left her near the cold store in Peeparpur village on Jalalpur Road and fled.

According to the allegation, before leaving, the three youths threatened the woman that if she told anyone about the rape, they would kill her. Late at night, the victim somehow reached her home and told her family about her ordeal. A complaint was lodged in Jalalpur police station on Wednesday. The case has been registered on Thursday. Kotwal Santosh Kumar Singh said that on the basis of the victim’s complaint, a case has been registered against Pawan Yadav, Vipul Yadav, Sonu Sonkar under SC-ST, gang rape and other sections and investigation has been started. The accused will be caught soon. (Dialogue)



 UTTARAKHAND

Case filed against 28 for ‘boycotting’ Dalits in Chamoli village

POSTED ON JULY 19, 2024



Dehradun: There was a major row followed by tension in Subhai-Chanchdi village of Chamoli district after two instances of harassment of some SC community members were reported in three months. It led to the panchayat ordering a “boycott of the SCs”, along with a “ban on the use of jal, jangal, zameen (water, forest and land) by them”.

A cash fine had been also slapped against a man from the SC community and the entire community was asked not to use natural drinking water resources. After the matter was brought to the notice of Karnprayag police, a case under SC/ST Act was registered against “28 residents”.

Around six SC families reside in the village and as a part of traditional rituals they play ‘dhol’ (drum) in religious, social and cultural events in the village and nearby areas. In May, one Pushkar Lal could not play ‘dhol’ at an event as he was “unwell”. Later, a panchayat was called and a cash penalty of Rs 5,000 was slapped on him. Though Lal paid the penalty, the matter continued to simmer. The second such incident was reported during a religious event on July 13.

CO Pramod Shah, the investigating officer in the case, told TOI: “They played ‘dhol’ for some time but as per belief, the deity did not descend upon earth. Following which the SC members played the dhol for a longer duration but nothing changed. Thereafter, they got tired and refused to play ‘dhol’. According to initial reports, a panchayat was called on July 14 and the restrictions were imposed on the SC families. On July 16, a case was registered against 28 accused.”

Shah said, “All actions taken were mentioned in the panchayat register. Hence, as per the initial probe, the allegations seem to be true.”

Meanwhile, members of the SC community met at Joshimath on Thursday. According to sources, upper caste members went to the protest site for a compromise on the matter.

The complaint under the SC/ST Act stated: “First decision taken in the meeting…was to chase away those people who refused to play drums. Second decision was that each SC individual would have to pay Rs 5,000 in three days and also clear all the debts of shops in the area…” According to the complaint, the third decision of the meeting was to ban

SCs from entering temple, using water of natural resources, farming, use of vehicles for movement and other social works.

Courtesy : TOI.



Temple mandagapadi: HC grants time to appellants to respond

Published - July 18, 2024 08:30 pm IST - MADURAI

After a suggestion was made to permit Scheduled Caste people to perform mandagapadi on the ninth day of Kamatchi Amman Temple festival in Aranthangi in Pudukkottai district, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court granted time to the appellants to respond to the suggestion.

A Division Bench of Justices R. Suresh Kumar and G. Arul Murugan took note of the report submitted by the authorities stating that the issue could not be resolved in the peace committee meeting held earlier, and posted the matter for hearing to July 22.



  • BSP Tamil Nadu Chief K. Armstrong's Murder Raises Many Questions

    authorSravasti Dasgupta
    Jul 18, 2024
      
    The State government’s denial of permission to the BSP's leader's wife to bury his mortal remains at his office is one of many reasons why observers are pointing out to deeper contradictions in the state’s political and social life when Dalits are involved.
    K. Armstrong. Photo: X.

    New Delhi: The events that have followed the brutal murder of Bahujan Samaj Party’s Tamil Nadu president K. Armstrong have raised questions about the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam party’s response to discrimination faced by those belonging to Dalit communities in the southern state.

    The DMK government denied permission to bury Armstrong’s mortal remains at his office, and refused to order an investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation into his death – something that was demanded by his family, the BSP and other opposition parties in the state.

    Armstrong was hacked to death by six bike-borne men near his house in Chennai’s Perambur on July 5. The men attacked Armstrong when he was speaking to a few party members near his house and then fled. He was rushed to a hospital by his family, where he was declared brought dead. 

    Following Armstrong’s murder, the police arrested eight people in connection with the incident and said, according to Indian Express, that preliminary investigation pointed to the fact that the murder was in retaliation for the killing of gangster Arcot Suresh.

    On July 14, one of the accused, Thiruvengadam was killed in an encounter near Madhavram in Chennai. While another functionary of the Naam Thamizhar Katchi party (NTK) was hacked to death in Madurai on July 16.

    National Crime Records Bureau data shows that between 2019 and 2021, the increase in crime against those from Dalit communities at the all-India level was 9.7%, but it was 16.92% in Tamil Nadu.

    Also read: Caste and Social Mobility: Karunanidhi’s Dravidian Century

    Who was K. Armstrong?

    Armstrong, born and brought up in Chennai’s Perambur studied law at Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati. He practised in the Chennai courts. In 2006 he contested as an independent candidate and was elected from a ward in North Chennai as a councillor in the Chennai Municipal Corporation elections. Subsequently he joined the BSP and in 2007 was made the state unit president. In 2011, he contested unsuccessfully against then deputy chief minister M.K Stalin in the assembly elections from Kolathur. 

    Activists and party members say Armstrong was known more as a Dalit leader and a grassroots worker than a politician. His reputation preceded the BSP’s, which has minimal presence in Tamil Nadu.

    “The difference between any Dalit leader in Tamil Nadu and Armstrong was that he was a stubborn follower of [Dr B.R.] Ambedkar. He was not just a BSP leader. He opened a Buddhist monastery in Perambur, conducted Buddhist marriages on a large scale. He is being called a gangster – it is not at all true. See how many people gathered for his funeral to pay tributes? He has been a strong influence in the area of Babasaheb’s ideology,” said Siva, state secretary of the Tamil Nadu BSP.

    Writer and activist Shalin Maria Lawrence says that if there was one fierce opponent of the DMK in Tamil Nadu from the Dalit community it was Armstrong.

    Also read: Caste and Social Mobility: Karunanidhi’s Dravidian Century

    “He was known for taking care of people, someone who would fight for human rights. He belonged to Chennai and had a great legacy here. He was a rationalist, he would do inter caste marriages and encourage youth to get into sports and education. He propagated Buddhism and counter culture activities and yet he was killed in a brutal way in that very area where he would talk about Buddha and dhamma,” said Lawrence.

    “He was one who would talk about atrocities against Dalits, and emancipation through facts and figures, and was against the Dravidian ecosystem of caste,” Lawrence added.

    ‘Message to Dalit people’

    With Armstrong’s murder, the Tamil Nadu government under the DMK and its attitude towards Dalit people has come under sharp focus despite Dravidian parties reputation for fighting against caste.

    The Stalin government’s move to oppose Armstrong’s wife’s K Porkodi’s petition to bury his mortal remains at his BSP office in Perambur in the Madras high court is being cited as an example of this attitude. 

    In her petition, Porkodi pleaded that his burial be allowed at the site and a memorial be allowed to be constructed to mark the lifelong work done by Armstrong for the Dalit community in the area. The state government however opposed the plea and said that the area is residential and “is meant for passage.” Ultimately, Armstrong was buried on on July 8, in land owned by his family over 30 kms away in Tiruvallur. A huge procession of thousands walked with Armstrong’s mortal remains for over eight hours.

    Along with BSP chief Mayawati, other leaders including Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi’s Thirumavalavan and Tamil Nadu Congress president K. Selvaperunthagai also paid their respects. DMK leaders were not seen, though Stalin had met Armstrong’s family separately the next day.

    Just months earlier, DMDK leader and actor-turned politician Vijayakanth was allowed to be buried in Chennai. 

    “The Dravidian model does not apply to Dalits. Any improvement that has happened is because of Ambedkar. Dalits have been suffering and more than north Indian Dalits. It is easy for Vijaykant to get a place in his own land. But not for Armstrong where he has lived for more than 50 years. In the judgement only the [state] government is objecting. Vijayakanth, Jayalalitha, Karunanidhi – all can get space in the middle of the city. They have no problem. But only for Armstrong they have a problem. This shows their anti-Dalit mindset,” said BSP’s Siva.

    According to Lawrence, too, the decision to not allow Armstrong to be buried where the family wanted – in the area where he lived and worked through his life – was a message to the Dalit community.

    Armstrong’s politics in recent years made those in power uncomfortable, she said.

    “He had land. Why was he sent 30 kms away? It was a message. You don’t have right to this place. Marina Beach, an eco protected place, has place for leaders like Jayalalitha and Karunanidhi who came from outside Chennai but there is no place for Armstrong. That is why people walked 30 kms and buried him in his own land,” she said. 

    Lawrence also highlighted the murder and how it was treated.

    “Even the murder was dealt with in a gruesome manner. So many photos and videos showing the body…it means your body has no dignity. This is a result of your assertion. State is saying you cannot own Chennai. It is our land. You cannot do liberation and counter-culture here because it is affecting our politics. Even the Dravidian parties are happy that Amrstrong is not there. if he is not there the BSP will not be there this movement will not be there,” he said.

    The Madras high court on July 15 expressed shock over how the CCTV visuals of the murder was publicised and noted how “unfortunately” every inch of the murder was played on television channels.

    Chorus for a CBI probe

    Meanwhile the chorus for a CBI probe into Armstrong’s murder has grown. BSP chief Mayawati on July 7, who in a rare move visited Chennai to pay homage to her slain party leader said that the state government should hand over the probe to the CBI. The demand has also been reiterated by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the state, with state president Annamalai also raising questions about the encounter killing of accused Thiruvengadam.

    The DMK’s ally in the state VCK leader Thol Thirumavalavan said at Armstrong’s funeral that Mayawati’s request for a CBI probe needs to be considered by the Tamil Nadu government. On July 12 however he said that the party suspects a “political agenda” behind the murder.

    “We realise that the BJP in particular has this action plan. Therefore, VCK is suspecting the possibility of a political agenda behind Armstrong’s murder,” he said to reporters after meeting chief minister M.K. Stalin, adding that the BJP had demanded a CBI enquiry even before the police started investigating the case or the BSP had made its demand.

    Meanwhile, the DMK’s other ally in the state, the Congress, too has said that the police should not restrict itself to the accused who have surrendered.

    INDIA bloc

    Just months ago, during the 2024 Lok Sabha election campaign, the Congress and other members of the INDIA alliance has highlighted social justice and oppression of the backward castes in their election speeches. Apart from a post on X from now Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, the INDIA bloc’s silence on the death of an assertive Dalit leader has been loud.

    “The INDIA alliance has been historically tokenistic when it comes to Dalit issues. For them Dalits have been an electoral adjective. Tamil Nadu has been a heartland for anti-Dalit activities and caste based oppression. It is a state which is largely ruled by non-BJP parties. It is the land of Periyar where the Dravidian parties said they would be working towards eradicating caste,” said Subhajit Naskar, assistant professor at Jadavpur University, Kolkata.

    “I am outraged and disturbed by the silence of INDIA convenor Mallikarjun Kharge. He has tweeted on Jagjivan Ram, Jagannath Dham yatra but did not utter a word on Armstrong. Akhilesh Yadav, used to be in alliance with BSP but he has been silent. Even the communist parties including CPI secretary D. Raja did not utter a word. Armstrong’s murder should disturb every politician across the political spectrum,” Naskar added.

    “INDIA looks at Dalits as a mere vote bank. In addition, Dalit leaders in upper caste dominant parties like Congress, communist parties cannot take a call on their own community where Armstrong comes from.”

    ‘Playing identity politics’

    Under fire for failing law and order in the state and its lack of commitment to atrocities against Dalits, chief minister M.K Stalin has met Armstrong’s family and assured a thorough probe. In the aftermath of the murder, the state police has also seen recent shuffles including the Chennai city police commissioner Sandeep Rai Rathore who has been replaced by A. Arun. The Tamil Nadu home secretary P Amudha has also been transferred.  

    But with questions being raised about discrimination against Dalits in its handling of the murder, the DMK has pointed fingers at the BJP.

    “DMK is very committed to the lives of the downtrodden. Tamil Nadu is the only state where subsidies and grants are provided for Dalit entrepreneurs. As a part of the Dravidian model, the DMK has ensured that no one is left behind. In comparison to the previous regime, law and order has also improved. However there have been aberrations like every other party of the world but it is something we want to avoid. You cannot give an identity to such events. It is an unfortunate event that has happened. Some of the culprits have been nabbed and investigation is underway, BJP is trying to play identity politics with every incident,” said a DMK leader who did not wish to be named.

    “CBI in itself is not sacrosanct. It was a caged parrot and now it has become an arm of the BJP. The Tamil Nadu state CB-CID is completely non-partisan and they will do justice which is what they are doing. We have complete faith in the CB-CID.”

    Despite the DMK’s claims, not everyone is convinced.

    “Social justice politics has remained a mere rhetoric till now. Parties with upper caste leadership should nurture assertive Dalit leadership and give them a free hand…Social justice has become a buzzword for INDIA. At elections, social justice has given them so much leverage, but now you have to be socially committed to justice, including taking a call against the structural social system dominated by caste hierarchies. INDIA parties have not been able to formulate a programme on how a socially just polity should look like whether it is just an ideological counter to BJP or to change the social political system of Indian polity-that question is still lingering,” said Naskar.

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