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In MP, Three Dalit Youths of a Single Family Were ‘Killed’. What Role Did Police Play?
A fact-finding report has pointed out the implicit bias that had characterised police action since the family’s very ?rst complaint in 2019 against assault, threats and torture by dominant caste groups.
Nitin Varghese
On May 25, 2024, Anjana Ahirwar, a 20-year-old Dalit woman, mysteriously “fell” to her death as she was returning with the body of her 26-year-old uncle Rajendra Ahirwar – murdered in a brutal attack orchestrated by the dominant “lambardars” of Baraudiya Naunagir. This was the third death in the same family of Dalit labourers within 10 months. Anjana was at the forefront of the family’s struggle for justice in the murder of her younger brother Nitin and her uncle, Rajendra Ahirwar.
A fact-?nding report released by a citizens group of Madhya Pradesh in July 2024 – to which this author belongs – highlighted how the police and Madhya Pradesh government continuously deprived this family of Dalit labourers their right to justice, how Sagar police hurriedly closed the investigation into Anjana’s death, and concluded that Anjana purportedly jumped to her death. The police’s conclusion has been indignantly rejected by Anjana’s family. Anjana’s mother asks, “Why would Anjana, who was fearlessly ?ghting for justice for her murdered brother all the way to the Supreme Court, give up her own life?”
Sagar (MP): Baraudiya Naunagir village of Sagar district of Madhya Pradesh is part of Bundelkhand – a region of Madhya Pradesh with a long history of feudal oppression, one which continues to be in the news for atrocities against Dalits in recent years as well. Sagar, is an important centre of political power in the state; and is home to three prominent ruling Bharatiya Janata Party leaders and former ministers, like Gopal Bhargava, Bhupendra Singh, and Govind Singh Rajput.
The “lambardars” (a term dating from colonial times to denote village elites) of Baraudiya Naunagir – the Thakurs – reportedly own 1000 bighas of land (~630 acres), and most labourers must work on their ?elds when called for. They dominate village proceedings and decision-making, their in?uence strengthened by their close familial ties to Khurai MLA, Bhupendra Singh. Bhupendra Singh is an in?uential BJP leader who has earlier been a cabinet minister in the Shivraj Singh government.
In contrast, Anjana’s family own about 3.5 acres of land. Her father, Raghuvir Ahirwar worked as a security guard in Pithampur, Dhar. Her brothers Vishnu and Nitin Ahirwar often migrated to ?nd better work in cities, unlike others in the village who worked for the Thakurs as and when the lambardars demanded. Anjana was a bright second-year undergraduate student. At the time of her death she was 20 years old. She was leading her family’s struggle against the gruesome murders of her brother in 2023 and her uncle this year – but her struggle against the sti?ing dominance of the lambardars began back when she was just 15 years old.
What happened in Baraudiya Naunagir?
In January 2019, Vishnu had returned to the village after working in Bhopal for two years.
“After working outside, I managed to earn much more than I could have in the village. I was wearing new clothes and new shoes that I had bought from the city, and they (the Thakurs) did not like it. They took me to the village market, slapped me in public and made me touch their feet,” he says.
Vishnu Ahirwar was slapped and made to touch the feet of Azad Thakur, Vishal Thakur, and others in the village market.
Days after this, Anjana was allegedly assaulted and molested by Azad Thakur, Pushpendra Thakur, Chotu Raikwar, and Vishal Thakur. Anjana managed to get an FIR registered against the lambardars – however, sections of the Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences Act were not added, despite the oral complaint of molestation by the 15-year-old. A minor case related to assault and intimidation was registered, but no arrests were made.
However, there were material repercussions for Anjana’s family. “Since then, whenever a theft or crime happened in the village they would accuse us of it, in retaliation,” says Badi Bahu, Anjana’s mother.
She narrated an incident where Anjana’s younger brother Nitin, was illegally detained in police custody and beaten up.
Nitin’s mother, Badi Bahu was injured while trying to protect her son – she suflered injuries on both arms, while her right arm was broken. Photo: Screengrab from a Dainik Bhaskar video.
“Lalu (Nitin) was working in Indore had returned to celebrate Holi. One evening, the police suddenly came to our house and took Lalu away, without telling us anything. He was kept at the police station for two-three days. When I tried to see him, the police would abuse me and send me away. When they released him, they threatened us, saying that if we tried to complain, Nitin would rot in jail for the rest of his life.”
Nitin was just 16 years old then, and had bruises on his feet when he was released. Badi Bahu submitted complaints to the Superintendent of Police, Sagar, and Inspector General of Police, Sagar, but no action was taken.
In August 2023, in another display of the lambardars’ hegemony, the family said that 18-year-old Nitin was brutally assaulted by the Thakurs and their men in the village market. Badi Bahu tried to protect him, but was attacked too – “When I arrived on the spot, lambardars and their men had surrounded Nitin, and were continuously beating him. I took him away from them, but they surrounded us again…When I tried to protect him, they beat me and disrobed me, and my arm was broken. Still, I tried to shield him, but they shoved me away, dragged him onto the road and mercilessly beat him with lathis.”
Komal Singh Thakur, Vikram Thakur, Azad Thakur, Ankit Singh Thakur, and other men who work for the Thakurs, beat him to death, the family said. Upon Anjana’s complaint, an FIR was registered against Vikram Thakur, Vijay Thakur, Azad Thakur, Komal Thakur, Lalu Khan, Islam Khan, Golu Soni, Nafees Khan, Wahid Khan and three or fourth other accused.
Despite multiple complaints made by Anjana, – the most important of which was submitted on August 25, 2023, the day after Nitin’s murder – naming Ankit Singh Thakur, a prominent local BJP leader as one of the main assailants, his name was not added in the FIR, the family said.
According to Nitin Ahirwar’s post-mortem report, the cause of Nitin’s death was “multiple injuries sustained over body”. Nitin had 29 serious injuries on his head and body.
The said complaint also asked that police safeguard the CCTV footage obtained from the spot where Nitin was murdered – however, according to the police chargesheet, the DVR housing with the footage had been destroyed by the mob during the attack. The family did manage to obtain the footage – which shows the beginning of the assault, along with a number of people not named in the police chargesheet – however, the police have not taken cognisance of it.
While the police did arrest a number of people after Nitin’s death, one of the most prominent men in the village – Komal Singh Thakur – was arrested right before the chargesheet was presented in court.
Still from the CCTV footage of Nitin being attacked by village lambardars – the Thakurs and their men. Badi Bahu can be seen shielding Nitin.
On the day of the attack on Nitin, lambardars and their men attacked the homes of Nitin and Rajendra Ahirwar. Anjana and Nitin’s family had all of their belongings completely destroyed – their pet parrot was killed and a horse which they owned was injured, and ultimately died. None of these incidents made their way into the chargesheet. When questioned about the exclusion of these facts, including the incident of Badi Bahu being disrobed, the police denied that any such complaint was made.
Komal Singh Thakur, maintains close ties with Khurai MLA Bhupendra Singh, and was appointed the mantri pratindhi – representative of the minister at the Khurai Krishi Mandi.
Ramsevak Ahirwar, Rajendra’s father, was present when the mob forcibly entered his home. “Lambardars and their men entered our house, searching for Rajendra. When I told them he was not home, they beat me and injured my leg – I couldn’t walk for two months. They trashed our belongings too. I am telling you this – if they had found Rajendra that day, he would have been murdered too,” he said.
Rajendra was not afraid of anyone, his grandmother recalled. He was a key witness in Nitin’s murder case and was poised to depose against the Thakurs when the matter came up this year. Rajendra received constant threats from the Thakurs and their family members to turn hostile, and depose in favour of the Thakurs, but he always refused.
Rajendra Ahirwar’s home was also trashed, and his father was assaulted – the family did not make a complaint out of fear for their lives.
Weeks before he was to testify in Nitin’s murder trial, Rajendra was attacked with axes and lathis in the home of Pappu Rajak – an aide of the Thakurs. Critically injured, he was referred from the local Khurai hospital to Sagar district hospital and then to Bhopal, but he died on the way. The family also believes his treatment was delayed deliberately: he was sent from Khurai to Sagar – 52 kilometres away – at around 9 pm, but was only referred from Sagar to Bhopal (170 kms) by 2-3 am.
It was clear to Anjana and her family that Rajendra had been killed because of his refusal to testify in their favour; in one of her last statements to the media, she said, originally in Hindi:
“Uncle Rajendra was a witness in the 302-murder case. Israel Khan, whose sons Golu and Lalu Khan, who are in jail, threatened him (Rajendra) to turn hostile and testify in their favour in Nitin’s murder case, and threatened to kill him if he did not do so. Around 8:45 at night, I phoned my uncle, and heard a lot of commotion at the other end. Uncle said, ‘Anju, these people are beating me,’ he mentioned some names and said that a ?ght has broken out. Then they broke his mobile. I then called my uncle Mohan Ahirwar, his son Vikas Ahirwar and Machla, and they went to where Rajendra was. They said that Israel Khan, Ashiq Qureshi, Tantu Qureshi, Faheem Khan, and Bablu Khan were attacking Rajendra. We informed the police.
“We had reported threats against us, the police had registered an FIR, I don’t know what action they took. Ashiq Qureshi said that we will kill you, we will chop you to pieces, we will slit your throat to pieces for reporting against us, and that is what they did.If the government had demolished the houses of the accused in my brother’s murder, if proper action had been taken against them, Rajendra chacha would have been alive today, he would still be with us…”
After Rajendra’s post-mortem, Anjana, along with Rajendra’s parents – Ramsevak and Bhagwati Bai – were returning to their village with Rajendra’s body, accompanied by a policeman. However, Anjana mysteriously fell out of the ambulance, eventually succumbing to the injuries from the fall.
Anjana’s death, the very next day after the brutal murder of Rajendra – along with the fact that she was the complainant in Nitin’s murder and a key witness in the murder of Nitin and Rajendra created waves across the state.
Congress leader Digivijaya Singh, claimed that Rajendra and Anjana were witnesses to Nitin’s murder and did not succumb to the pressure of the lambardars, which is why they were killed. State Congress chief Jitu Patwari claimed that they would approach the high court to get a CBI enquiry initiated in the matter.
Meanwhile, MLA Bhupendra Singh tried to downplay and trivialise the matter of Rajendra’s murder as a mere con?ict between two parties, going as far as to accuse Anjana’s family of criminal tendencies, he said: “Anjana Ahirwar’s deceased relative had a criminal background…According to police records, Rajendra Ahirwar terrorised the village and was involved in criminal activities at the behest of Imran Khan.”
He said, “Congress politicises deaths. The mastermind of the Baraudiya Naunagir case is Imran Khan. Imran was the one who made the deceased’s family commit all these crimes. Imran has murder cases against him. People here are troubled by his terror. Imran has used the deceased’s family.”
He said that the entire CDR of this case should be extracted. “Those who have instigated that girl should be charged”.
It must be noted here that Imran had earlier been associated with the BJP as well. In fact, Bhupendra Singh himself has sent a letter to Imran in 2017, congratulating him on being chosen as the BJP Khurai Grameen Alpsankhyak Mandal chief. But a few years ago, there was a rift.
Bhupendra Singh had previously met the family after Nitin’s murder too. When Anjana asked him bulldoze the homes of the accused, the then Minister of Urban Housing and Development said, “What is the basis for demolishing houses? Fights, disputes and murders happen every day…which law allows us to demolish houses? In case of a crime like rape, or if it is the house of some ma?a, meaning if a heinous crime has been committed, only then we demolish houses. Legally we cannot demolish houses. Now the high court has put a stay on it as well…Consider that 10 people live in a house. If one of them is an accused, then what is the crime of the other nine? The house belongs to the 10 does it not? Legally we cannot demolish houses.”
Afterwards, the family was told to stop pursuing the matter of Nitin’s murder and was handed a typed “press statement” to be made to the press, stating that “the family was satis?ed with administration’s actions.” However, Anjana refused to make such a statement. The family was repeatedly pressurised to compromise, but Anjana continued her pursuit of justice, going as far as the high court to oppose the bail of the accused in Nitin’s murder. The family has also accused Bhupendra Singh of offering them Rs two crore to stop their pursuit of the matter.
Police investigation: Guided by political interests?
MLA Bhupendra Singh’s words were echoed by the police when the fact-?nding team met them. Police were eager to state that Rajendra and Nitin were of “aapraadhik pravritti” (criminal tendencies). The fact that Nitin, a child of a Dalit family of labourers, who was barely 18 at the time of his death was already termed as a habitual offender speaks volumes about Sagar police.
In July, the fact-?nding team released its report, which reiterated the need for a CBI enquiry in the matter, as demanded by the family. It also pointed out the implicit bias that had characterised police action since Anjana’s very ?rst complaint in 2019, and questioned its ability to conduct an impartial investigation in the matter, when it was clearly unable to fend off political intrusion into the investigation. Renewed public interest in the matter was quickly ‘dealt with’, as the police hurriedly completed its’ investigation into Anjana’s death by concluding that she jumped out of the ambulance of her own accord.
The family have ?atly refused to accept police’s conclusion. Anjana’s mother, Badi Bahu has repeatedly asserted, “My daughter was bravely ?ghting for justice for Lalu (Nitin). She was prepared to ?ght all the way to the Supreme Court, how can she have given up her own life?”
Ramsevak Ahirwar, who was in the vehicle with Anjana when she allegedly fell, has repeatedly told the media that both he and his wife, Bhagwati bai were not conscious when Anjana’s fall took place – in direct contrast with the statement in police investigation, where he is said to have “seen Anjana open the gate and jump out of the vehicle.”
Members of the team sought to con?rm Ramsevak’s version on three separate visits, which remained unchanged; neither he nor his wife were conscious to see what happened with Anjana – “If she was to jump in front of me, wouldn’t I have stopped her? I would have caught her…She was our daughter too! She was ?ghting for justice for all of us!” He then goes on to say, “When they were taking Anjana to the hospital, they took my wife, who is unable to hear or speak properly. They did not allow me to accompany her, otherwise I would have talked to her myself.”
All other statements of independent witnesses the police rely on have no mention of Anjana jumping out of the vehicle on her own accord. Whereas all family members unequivocally state that it was the Thakurs who had her killed.
In her last complaint, made exactly three months before her death, Anjana spoke against the constant threats she and her family were receiving from the relatives of the lambardars in prison. Anjana complained that they threatened to frame Vishnu in false charges and make him leave Sagar. Two months later, on May 3, 2024, the District Collector passed an order, externing Vishnu from Sagar district.
She also complained that the lambardars had threatened to kill more of their family members too. Two of the chief witnesses in Nitin’s murder are now dead – Rajendra was murdered, and Anjana died the very next day.
On the recommendation of Sagar Police the investigation into Anjana’s death has been closed by the SDM at Khurai. For the families of the youths who have lost their lives, there is no closure. However, Anjana’s mother remains steadfast, “We will continue to seek justice for Nitin and Anjana till our last breaths.”
Nitin Varghese works with Jagrit Adivasi Dalit Sangathan, a community-led people’s organisation in south-west Madhya Pradesh.
Courtesy : The Wire
Bareilly: Minor Dalit girl molested in broad daylight, fired from a gun when she protested
UP News: In Bareilly, four Muslim youths molested a minor Dalit high school student and fired at her when she protested. One accused has been arrested, while three are absconding.
By: Anoop Mishra
Bareilly Crime News: In Bareilly, UP, four Muslim youths stopped a minor Dalit high school student in the middle of the road and molested her and fired at her with a gun when she protested. Due to which she narrowly escaped. During this, the local people caught one youth while three accused managed to escape. The police reached the spot and caught the accused. And illegal pistol and cartridges have also been recovered from him. The police have registered a case and started searching for the other three accused.
This is the same beast in police custody who stopped a minor Dalit girl in the market in broad daylight and molested her, when the girl protested, he took out a pistol and fired at her, due to which she narrowly escaped. The student saved her life by running and entering the shop but the accused were very domineering and were carrying weapons in their hands due to which the shopkeeper threw the student out of the shop. Meanwhile, the police reached the spot and caught the accused.
The student made several serious allegations against the accused
The student alleged that she had gone to the Jan Seva Kendra and was returning, during which Aamir son Asif, Faizan son Alam, Anta alias Arman son Babu and Salim son Wasim surrounded the student. These people hit her on the chest, molested her, told her that I will convert her religion and make her a Muslim, and will create conditions like Bangladesh. When the student protested, the accused tried to kill her and fired at her, due to which she narrowly escaped.
A case was registered against the accused
As soon as the incident with the student was known, people of Hindu organization and Bhim Army reached Aonla police station and demanded strict action by registering a case against the accused. After which the police have registered a named case against the four accused in this case. SP South Manush Parik said that today a case has been registered at Aonla police station in connection with the incident of indecent behaviour and molestation of a girl by 4 accused in the Aonla police station area. 4 accused are named in the said case, against whom strict action will be taken.
Courtesy : Hindi News
Bharat bandh today: Dalit, adivasi groups call for nationwide strike. What are the demands? | 10 points
Demands include ensuring protection of reservation rights among others. Emergency services and government offices expected to remain functional.
Dalit and Adivasi organisations have called for a ‘Bharat Bandh’, a peaceful strike, on Wednesday, to stress their demand for wider representation of marginalised communities in jobs and education and also to ensure the protection of their constitutional rights.
The Bharat bandh call comes on the backdrop of the recent Supreme Court verdict on the sub-categorisation of quotas for Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs) groups, and the controversy over lateral entry for central civil services.
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On August 1, a seven-judge bench of Chief Justice of India, DY Chandrachud, ruled by a 6:1 majority that further sub-classification of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes by states can be permitted to ensure quota for more backward castes within these groups
On August 20, minister for the department of personnel and training (DoPT) Jitendra Singh wrote to the UPSC chairman asking for the advertisements for lateral entry for 45 posts of joint secretary, director, and deputy secretary levels to be withdrawn. Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi alleged that the move was an attack on the reservation rights of the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and SC/ST communities.
Also read | SC/ST quota: No plan for creamy layer, say govt
Bharat bandh today Here's all you need to know
- The Bharat bandh has been called by the National Confederation of Dalit and Adivasi Organisations (NACDAOR). It has opposed the Supreme Court verdict claiming that it undermines the court's earlier ruling in the landmark Indira Sawhney case, which established the framework for reservations.
- The NACDAOR has released a list of demands that ask the government to ensure social justice and equitable representation of these communities in jobs and education.
- Urging the government to reject the SC judgment, it called for a new central act, protected from judicial review by the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution. In the past, the SC has held that placing a law under the Ninth Schedule does not protect it from judicial review.
- NACDAOR has also demanded the immediate release of caste-based data on SC/ST/OBC employees in government services to ensure their accurate representation.
- The body has urged the government to release data on caste-wise representation of these groups in public services.
- The group has called for the filling up of all backlog vacancies in central and state government departments, as well as public sector undertakings. In the private sector, the body said companies benefiting from government subsidies or investments must enact affirmative action policies in their firms.
- Political parties like the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), Congress, and the Rashtriya Janata Dal have extended support to Bharat Bandh today. Left parties have also backed the call for a strike.
- Despite the lack of an official announcement, public services are expected to be hit in states ruled by these parties.
- Emergency services such as hospitals, ambulances, and medical facilities, will remain functional. There is no official announcement on the closure of banks, government offices, and educational institutions.
- NACDAOR has urged all OBC and SC/ST groups to participate peacefully in large numbers.
(With inputs from agencies)
Daring Dalit Journalist Who Exposed Manipur Ground Reality, Branded 'Fake' by Amar Ujala!
prakash Bharti, a former reporter of The Mooknayak, who was preparing an investigative report for the media group Newslaundry, recounted how on the night of Sunday, police officers allegedly assaulted him. The incident has now sparked widespread controversy. The situation took a new turn when, on Monday, Amar Ujala's Lucknow edition labeled Satyaprakash as a "fake journalist."
Bharti told The Mooknayak, "Amar Ujala has called me a 'fake journalist' in their newspaper. How can they decide who is fake and who is genuine? They published the news without taking my side of the story."
Satyaprakash further stated, "I will send them the paper clipping via email and ask how they concluded that I am a fake journalist. Why shouldn't a defamation case be filed against you, or you should publish a retraction of the news?"
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Notably, Satyaprakash Bharti has covered numerous reports while working with The Mooknayak that have had far-reaching impacts. From reporting on poor children in Ayodhya collecting oil from lamps during Diwali to stories about a Muslim woman delivering home goods on foot, the Dom community forced to cook on leftover firewood from funeral pyres, and the dire situation of those displaced after bulldozer actions in Akbarnagar, Lucknow—Bharti has reported on dozens of stories that have deeply affected society and communities.
In August 2023, Bharti covered the Manipur violence for The Mooknayak, where he was issued a pass by the Manipur state information office to report from curfew areas. Bharti covered more than half a dozen ground reports from Manipur.
Not just this, the renowned French magazine Le Figaro also appreciated Satyaprakash Bharti's journalism, dedicating two pages to his work. This feature appeared after Bharti covered the plight of the Dom community in Banaras for The Mooknayak.
Before joining The Mooknayak, Bharti worked for the well-known Lucknow-based newspaper 4 PM, where his investigative journalism on the Lucknow Municipal Corporation and the Lucknow Development Authority made waves. His fearless reporting on the Lucknow Commissionerate earned him a reputation that further advanced his journalistic career.
Allegations of Police Beating and Threats of Encounter
Recounting the incident from Sunday night, Satyaprakash Bharti posted on social media that several young men claimed that the police had falsely implicated them in a harassment case that occurred on July 31 in Gomti Nagar. One of the accused, Pawan Yadav, asserted his innocence. Bharti, investigating this claim, gathered evidence by interviewing other young men involved. He then went to the DCP office to get the police's perspective, as some of the accused were scheduled for a court appearance that day.
"I mentioned the names of Pawan Yadav and Arbaz, which angered the police officer. He said, 'Why are you dissecting our actions? Why are you questioning the police's actions? You are running an agenda as a journalist, working for the Samajwadi Party. I'll send you to jail,'" Bharti recounted.
According to the journalist, the DCP seized his phone, asked the PRO to format it, confiscated his glasses, and ordered him to be beaten. "But there were elderly people present, so they didn't hit me there. Instead, they called the crime team, and when they didn't arrive, they summoned police from Gomti Nagar police station. Station officer Rajesh Tripathi kicked me out of the DCP office, put me in a vehicle, and punched me in the stomach, mouth, and jaw. They kept beating me on the way to the police station," Bharti stated.
"Behind the inspector's room, there is a small room where they beat me. They forced me to write a statement saying, 'I was secretly recording.' I was too scared and hence forced to comply to their demands. After the beating, they made me sit on the floor for 6-7 hours," Bharti said.
A Harrowing Ordeal
"For two days, I hadn't eaten anything; I was solely focused on the story. I was hungry and thirsty, sitting on the ground. The lower part of my body went numb due to the blood clotting. My stomach hurt terribly. My body stiffened. I lost consciousness, and seeing this, the police panicked. They dragged me outside, and my body was turning cold. The other accused brought to the station were asked by the police to rub my hands and feet. They lifted me into a car. The police took me to Nova Hospital in Patrakarpuram, but there was no doctor present. The assistant doctor gave me some medicine, but my condition was deteriorating," Bharti narrated.
"The doctors advised the police to take me to Lohia Hospital, but fearing they would be caught, the police did not take me to a government facility. Instead, they took me to Metro and Trauma Center near Mithaiwala Chauraha. I was admitted to the ICU," the journalist explained.
Investigating Police Actions
On July 31, in Gomti Nagar, Lucknow, several boys were causing a commotion in waterlogged streets due to rain, splashing water on passersby and causing trouble. During this, a young man and woman were passing by on a motorcycle when the crowd reportedly harassed them. The incident was caught on video and went viral, causing an uproar over CM Yogi Adityanath's claims of controlling crime. In haste, the police arrested several young men in connection with the incident. Satyaprakash Bharti was preparing an investigative report to determine whether the accused were actually involved in the incident.
Meanwhile, there is widespread criticism on social media of the way the Lucknow police treated Bharti. Additionally, the misleading report by Amar Ujala has further angered the public.
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In Rajasthan, Bihar, and Madhya Pradesh, the bandh saw sporadic disruptions. In Bihar, protests led by various Dalit and Adivasi groups, including the Reservation Bachao Sangharsh Samiti, disrupted train services and blocked major roads, particularly in Patna and Madhubani. Protests in Uttar Pradesh were mostly concentrated in urban areas, where demonstrators staged sit-ins and blocked highways. Madhya Pradesh also witnessed protests, particularly in cities like Bhopal and Gwalior, where supporters of the bandh took to the streets in large numbers.
Rajasthan saw a significant impact, especially in Jaipur and other major cities. Public transportation was heavily affected, with roadways and low-floor buses staying off the roads. Several shops and businesses remained closed in response to the bandh call, though the protests remained largely peaceful.
Major Impact in Rajasthan
In Rajasthan, the bandh has had a widespread effect, particularly in the capital, Jaipur. Roadways buses have come to a halt, leaving passengers stranded and frustrated. Despite orders from the Roadways administration to maintain regular bus operations, many depots chose not to run their buses due to safety concerns. The usually bustling Sindhi Camp Bus Stand in Jaipur was eerily quiet, with most buses standing still and passengers forced to turn back. Wide impact was seen in Sikar where most of the markets remained closed for the day.
Alwar and Bhilwara districts were similarly affected, with no bus services operating. The bus stands remain deserted, adding to the inconvenience faced by the public. Additionally, the low-floor buses operated by JCTSL in Jaipur have also been pulled off the roads, and several buses have been moved to nearby police stations as a precautionary measure.
In Rajsamand, all shops, except those providing essential services, have been closed. Local SC and ST leaders took to the streets, appealing to shopkeepers to support the bandh. However, the bandh in Rajsamand has been peaceful, with no reports of any untoward incidents. Police presence has been bolstered to maintain order.
Bihar Sees Protests and Disruptions
Bihar witnessed significant disruption due to the bandh. In Madhubani, several Dalit organizations staged protests, blocking train services at various stations. The situation escalated as protestors halted trains at Madhubani Junction, including the Sampark Kranti Express in Darbhanga. Several roads across the state, including major routes in Patna, have been blocked by protestors. In some areas, protestors resorted to burning tires and creating roadblocks, further hindering movement.
The police in Patna faced challenges in controlling the situation. At Dak Bungalow Square, protestors attempted to breach police barricades, leading to clashes. The police were forced to resort to lathi-charge and water cannons to disperse the crowd. Key areas in the city, such as Mahendru and Sultanpur, have been affected by the protests, causing traffic jams and inconveniences.
The situation remains tense, with the police working to restore normalcy. Patna has seen a heavy deployment of security forces in sensitive areas, and several locations, including JP Golambar and Dak Bungalow, have been transformed into virtual police camps.
The impact of the Bharat Bandh was also seen on the police recruitment exam as well. Since morning, many candidates in various districts faced significant difficulties. Due to the disruption in transportation, many were unable to reach their examination centers on time. Meanwhile, in the Sadullapur area under the Ganga Bridge police station in Vaishali district, bandh supporters stopped a magistrate who was carrying the question papers. Despite the magistrate's efforts to explain the situation, the bandh supporters did not allow him to take the papers to the exam center.
Minimal Impact in Southern States
In contrast, the southern states, including Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh, saw minimal disruption due to the bandh. Normal life continued largely unaffected, with public transportation, businesses, and educational institutions operating as usual. The bandh failed to gather much support in these regions, as local political and social groups did not actively participate in the protests.
In other parts of the country, the bandh passed without major incidents. States like West Bengal, Punjab, and Maharashtra saw small-scale protests but no significant disruption to daily life. Protestors in these regions focused on raising awareness about their demands without resorting to large-scale blockades or strikes.
Support from Political Parties
The bandh received backing from several political parties, particularly in states like Bihar and Madhya Pradesh. Bihar's Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Madhya Pradesh's Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) lent their support to the protests, alongside Left parties and the Congress, which heads the INDIA alliance.
In Jharkhand, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) also extended its support to the bandh, although the state remained largely peaceful with no major incidents reported.
Notably, Union Minister Chirag Paswan, whose Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) is an ally of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), offered "moral support" to the protesters, highlighting the growing political divide over the Supreme Court's decision.
Daring Dalit Journalist Who Exposed Manipur Ground Reality, Branded 'Fake' by Amar Ujala!
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Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh—Dalit journalist Satyaprakash Bharti, who was working on an investigative report regarding a suspicious action by Uttar Pradesh police, was recently held in custody for 6-7 hours and allegedly beaten up by the police. Instead of highlighting this police brutality, the Lucknow edition of Amar Ujala branded him a "fake journalist" in a published news article.
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Satyaprakash Bharti, a former reporter of The Mooknayak, who was preparing an investigative report for the media group Newslaundry, recounted how on the night of Sunday, police officers allegedly assaulted him. The incident has now sparked widespread controversy. The situation took a new turn when, on Monday, Amar Ujala's Lucknow edition labeled Satyaprakash as a "fake journalist."
Bharti told The Mooknayak, "Amar Ujala has called me a 'fake journalist' in their newspaper. How can they decide who is fake and who is genuine? They published the news without taking my side of the story."
Satyaprakash further stated, "I will send them the paper clipping via email and ask how they concluded that I am a fake journalist. Why shouldn't a defamation case be filed against you, or you should publish a retraction of the news?"
Notably, Satyaprakash Bharti has covered numerous reports while working with The Mooknayak that have had far-reaching impacts. From reporting on poor children in Ayodhya collecting oil from lamps during Diwali to stories about a Muslim woman delivering home goods on foot, the Dom community forced to cook on leftover firewood from funeral pyres, and the dire situation of those displaced after bulldozer actions in Akbarnagar, Lucknow—Bharti has reported on dozens of stories that have deeply affected society and communities.
In August 2023, Bharti covered the Manipur violence for The Mooknayak, where he was issued a pass by the Manipur state information office to report from curfew areas. Bharti covered more than half a dozen ground reports from Manipur.
Not just this, the renowned French magazine Le Figaro also appreciated Satyaprakash Bharti's journalism, dedicating two pages to his work. This feature appeared after Bharti covered the plight of the Dom community in Banaras for The Mooknayak.
Before joining The Mooknayak, Bharti worked for the well-known Lucknow-based newspaper 4 PM, where his investigative journalism on the Lucknow Municipal Corporation and the Lucknow Development Authority made waves. His fearless reporting on the Lucknow Commissionerate earned him a reputation that further advanced his journalistic career.
Allegations of Police Beating and Threats of Encounter
Recounting the incident from Sunday night, Satyaprakash Bharti posted on social media that several young men claimed that the police had falsely implicated them in a harassment case that occurred on July 31 in Gomti Nagar. One of the accused, Pawan Yadav, asserted his innocence. Bharti, investigating this claim, gathered evidence by interviewing other young men involved. He then went to the DCP office to get the police's perspective, as some of the accused were scheduled for a court appearance that day.
"I mentioned the names of Pawan Yadav and Arbaz, which angered the police officer. He said, 'Why are you dissecting our actions? Why are you questioning the police's actions? You are running an agenda as a journalist, working for the Samajwadi Party. I'll send you to jail,'" Bharti recounted.
According to the journalist, the DCP seized his phone, asked the PRO to format it, confiscated his glasses, and ordered him to be beaten. "But there were elderly people present, so they didn't hit me there. Instead, they called the crime team, and when they didn't arrive, they summoned police from Gomti Nagar police station. Station officer Rajesh Tripathi kicked me out of the DCP office, put me in a vehicle, and punched me in the stomach, mouth, and jaw. They kept beating me on the way to the police station," Bharti stated.
"Behind the inspector's room, there is a small room where they beat me. They forced me to write a statement saying, 'I was secretly recording.' I was too scared and hence forced to comply to their demands. After the beating, they made me sit on the floor for 6-7 hours," Bharti said.
A Harrowing Ordeal
"For two days, I hadn't eaten anything; I was solely focused on the story. I was hungry and thirsty, sitting on the ground. The lower part of my body went numb due to the blood clotting. My stomach hurt terribly. My body stiffened. I lost consciousness, and seeing this, the police panicked. They dragged me outside, and my body was turning cold. The other accused brought to the station were asked by the police to rub my hands and feet. They lifted me into a car. The police took me to Nova Hospital in Patrakarpuram, but there was no doctor present. The assistant doctor gave me some medicine, but my condition was deteriorating," Bharti narrated.
"The doctors advised the police to take me to Lohia Hospital, but fearing they would be caught, the police did not take me to a government facility. Instead, they took me to Metro and Trauma Center near Mithaiwala Chauraha. I was admitted to the ICU," the journalist explained.
Investigating Police Actions
On July 31, in Gomti Nagar, Lucknow, several boys were causing a commotion in waterlogged streets due to rain, splashing water on passersby and causing trouble. During this, a young man and woman were passing by on a motorcycle when the crowd reportedly harassed them. The incident was caught on video and went viral, causing an uproar over CM Yogi Adityanath's claims of controlling crime. In haste, the police arrested several young men in connection with the incident. Satyaprakash Bharti was preparing an investigative report to determine whether the accused were actually involved in the incident.
Meanwhile, there is widespread criticism on social media of the way the Lucknow police treated Bharti. Additionally, the misleading report by Amar Ujala has further angered the public.
A Bharat Bandh called by the Bhima Army and several Dalit organisations on Wednesday in protest against a Supreme Court decision led to significant disruptions in Patna.
During a protest march, police lathicharged demonstrators blocking traffic. A cop inadvertently hit the Sub-Divisional Magistrate who was one of the officials present at the spot.
The incident was caught on camera and the video soon went viral.
The police termed the incident a human error. The district administration later said that the incident was an honest mistake, adding no disciplinary action would be taken against the police officer.
#bharatbandh #supremecourt #indiatoday
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Government school kids in Tamil Nadu break piggy banks for Wayanad
Over the past six months, students of Classes 1 to 5 have been saving their pocket money in piggy banks provided by the school. When news of the devastating landslides in Kerala reached them, the children decided to pool their savings to help those in need.
With the support of their parents, the students marched to the local post office two days ago, accompanied by their headmaster AM Anburaj, to send the money to affected areas through post.
“My daughter always insisted on getting her pocket money daily, and now her savings are going to help those in need. I am proud that, through our children, we could contribute in some way to the relief efforts,” said J Christy Devayani, a parent.
“This act of generosity by our students is a testament to the values of empathy and kindness we strive to instil in them. Parents and teachers were also inspired to contribute additional funds,” said Anburaj.
Scores of Tamil Nadu sanitary staff in poverty; promised pension a mirage
CHENNAI: Despite suffering in poverty and neglect, not even one temporary cleanliness worker among the lakhs in Tamil Nadu has got the monthly Old Age Pension (OAP) since the Tamil Nadu Cleanliness Workers Welfare Board was constituted in 2007.
While officials said that they haven’t received any application for the Rs 1,000 monthly pension sanctioned by the board and blamed it on poor awareness, activists fault the civic bodies for not educating workers on the welfare measure.
According to senior officials of the Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Department, under which the board falls, all temporary staff can receive the pension in addition to other state government entitlements as long as they do not draw benefits from any other labour department welfare boards.
Majority of applications received from such workers are for accident insurance under which the family members will receive Rs 5 lakh in case of accident deaths and Rs 1 to Rs 5 lakh in case they suffer disability of hands, legs or eyes, officials said.
The lack of applications for pension, however, is in stark contrast to the number of sanitary workers who are in need of such post-retirement aid. The board itself has 74,000 registered temporary sanitary workers and none of them has applied for the pension.
Database on workers can improve uptake of pension, say officials
By the Chennai city corporation’s estimates, as of June this year, there are around 18,800 sanitary workers of which only 4,727 are permanent. Apart from those drawing salaries under the National Urban Livelihood Mission Scheme and the Corporation’s Non-Muster Rolls (NMR), there are an estimated 9,600 contract workers in Chennai city alone.
Most of these workers are in dire straits. For instance, Ayesha Biwi, a sanitary worker with the Chennai City Corporation, was asked not to come to work when she turned 60. She had swept the streets and collected waste for the city corporation for 18 years and is now the sole caretaker of two of her grandchildren, both under the age of 20, as her daughter had passed away.
“One day, I was suddenly told not to come to work. And, at the age of 60, I had to find work as a domestic help to meet our expenses. I work in three houses every day to make Rs 7,000 a month. An additional Rs 1,000 (from the OAP) would have been of great help. But I wasn’t aware of the scheme,” she said.
P Srinivasalu, general secretary of Red Flag Union for Greater Chennai Corporation Sanitary Workers told TNIE that he was not aware of such a scheme. “Now that the waste collection in most zones has been privatised, we have been attempting to understand what benefits are available to sanitary workers. We did not know the existence of the (cleanliness workers) welfare board, let alone the schemes under it,” he said.
Samuel Velanganni, organiser of Safai Karamchari Andolan said though there are several schemes targeted at conservancy of sanitary workers, not many benefit from them. “The onus should be on the corporation to advertise the schemes with wall posters or pamphlets. We are first-hand witness to how much a monthly pension will help sanitary workers,” Velanganni said.
Department officials, however, said that the situation will change once the database with details of temporary and freelance sanitary workers in the state is ready. They said for the last two years, they have been carrying out awareness campaigns about welfare schemes.
Mazhabi Sikhs/Balmikis to push for 12.5% quota in education too
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