Dear Friends,
Greetings!
PMARC stands for sensitizing and informing the mainstream media, civil society and concerned individuals and organizations on issues related with Dalits, their growing marginalization, denial of justice and all forms of human rights, particularly the rights to life, dignity and equality.
In pursuit of these goals, PMARC is consistently monitoring the mainstream media – the coverage of Dalit-centered news and features/articles be since January, 2007.
We are hereby sending you a compendium of 212 cases, reported in the main stream English media during January, 2014 to December, 2014, of assault and atrocities, rape, murder, sexual crimes targeting poor Dalit women in the country.
We sincerely call upon you to take up the cases of your concern and try to ensure justice to the victims.
News Updates 03.01.14
Man held for raping, dumping woman in river- The Times Of India
The Times Of India
Man held for raping, dumping woman in river
KANPUR: A 25-year-old Dalit Asha worker was allegedly raped and dumped in Yamuna River at Lalauli village of Fatehpur district on Tuesday evening. The accused, Asif alias Kallu of Newatganj Zafarganj, Fatehpur is known to the victim and has been arrested.
As per the FIR, the victim, along with her children, had come to visit her parents in Ghatampur area a few days ago. "On Tuesday morning, Asif offered her a lift on his bike and took her to a secluded place in Lalauli village near river Yamuna and raped her. When she threatened to complain to the police, Asif pushed her into the river and fled," said station incharge SP Verma. She was later rescued by alert locals of Lalauli village. They approached the patrolling team at the highway and apprised them about the incident.
The woman recounted the horror to the police and also told them that he used to stalk her in the past.
Shortly after, Asif was arrested and he confessed to the crime. He was thereafter produced before a court and has been sent to jail on Wednesday. Medical examination of the woman has confirmed rape, said an official at Zafarganj police station. Investigating officer, said, "We arrested him from his hideouts in the village on Wednesday. He allegedly committed the crime on Tuesday and was on the run. He has been booked under sections 376, 307 and SC/ST Act."
News Updates 06.01.14
Dalit Girl Escapes Molestation Bid, 67-year-old Held- The New Indian Express
The New Indian Express
Dalit Girl Escapes Molestation Bid, 67-year-old Held
A 67-year-old sexagenarian caste Hindu man and his friend were arrested for allegedly trying to molest an 11-year-old dalit girl, at Uthappanaickanur near Usilampatti.
Sources said that Periyakaruppan (67), a resident of Sadaichipatti, had forcibly taken the victim to his house and tried to molest her.
However, he was forced to abandon the bid after the girl screamed for help. Hearing her cries, her father, Kumar, and mother, Roja, rushed to the spot and picked up a quarrel with Periyakaruppan. Meanwhile, Periyakaruppan was joined by his wife Papaathiammal (65) and friend Masu alias Maasanam (56). The trio abused the parents of the victim using their caste name and physically assaulted them.
Later, the parents of the victim lodged a complaint with Uthappanaickanur police. K Saravana Kumar, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Usilampatti range, said, "Investigations revealed that Periyakaruppan had indeed tried to molest the girl. Also, his wife, friend and he had abused the dalit family using its caste name."
The trio was booked under Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of atrocities) Act, 1989. Periyakaruppan and Maasu were arrested. As Papaathiammal was a leper, she was not taken into custody, sources said.
Youth Held for rape
An 18-year-old boy was arrested for raping a 15-year-old girl at Paramankurichi near Tiruchendur in Thoothukudi on Saturday.
Poovarasi (name changed), a resident of Paramankurichi, was a school dropout. Six months back she had developed an affair with one Amutharaj(18), studying first year Diploma at a Polytechnic College.
As both were from the same caste and village, Amutharaj promised to marry the girl and had been having physical relationship with her for the past six months. As a result she became pregnant and had frequent stomach pain. Parents of the girl became worried and took her to the Thoothukudi GH.
Doctor tested the girl and informed the parents that she was pregnant. Her parents confronted her to know who was responsible for her condition. After learing about the relationship with Amutharaj, they lodged a complaint with the Tiruchendur Police. Police who registered case under section 376 of IPC and section 4 of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act and arrested Amutharaj.
News Updates 09.01.14
Class 7 Dalit girl killed after being raped; body bearing bite marks found in a field- IBN Live
IBN Live
Class 7 Dalit girl killed after being raped; body bearing bite marks found in a field
A minor Dalit girl was allegedly raped and murdered in Haridwar district, a senior police official said on Wednesday. The body of the girl, bearing bite marks, was recovered from a field by villagers on Tuesday evening, SSP Haridwar Rajeev Swaroop said.
A student of Class VII in a government boarding school, the girl had come home to spend winter vacations with her parents. The girl had gone missing from Pathri police station area on Tuesday morning. When she did not return home till late, her parents got suspicious and started searching for her along with the villagers. After hours of search they found her body lying in a sugarcane field.
A case has been registered against unidentified perpetrators of the crime and a combing operation launched in the area to nab them, the SSP said. Though no arrest has so far been made in connection with the case, interrogation of the girl's relatives has thrown up some important leads which may help in arresting the culprits soon, he said.
News Updates 10.01.14
2006 dalit rape case: UP govt seeks withdrawal of case against minister- First Post
CM hands over compensation cheque to kin of rape victim - Zee News
Vasundhara Raje asks police to expedite cases of SC/ST, women - Niti Central
First Post
2006 dalit rape case: UP govt seeks withdrawal of case against minister
Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh government has recommended the withdrawal of a rape case against one of its ministers. The home department has written to the Bijnor district magistrate that after a careful study of the case, it found the charges levelled against Stamp and Registration Minister Manoj Kumar Paras to be untrue.
It also directed the district administration to ensure that Paras gets a legal defence in the court. In 2006, a Dalit woman alleged that the Samajwadi Party minister, a legislator from Nagina, and his accomplices raped her at his home when she went there in connection with a ration shop promised to her. Police lodged the case against the minister and others Jan 15, 2007 after the woman approached the chief judicial magistrate court. A Bijnor court ordered the attachment of the minister's property but he took a stay from the high court. The woman's lawyer said Thursday that he would oppose the state's application for withdrawal of the case when it comes up for hearing Jan 17. The minister is currently on a five-nation "study tour" with seven other state minister and 17 legislators.
Zee News
CM hands over compensation cheque to kin of rape victim
Dehradun: Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna on Thursday gave a cheque of Rs five lakh to the family of the minor Dalit girl who was raped and killed in Pathri village of Haridwar district recently.
Bahuguna met the relatives of the victim in Haridwar and handed them a cheque of Rs 5 lakh besides announcing a total compensation of Rs 10 lakh to them, officials said here.
The Chief Minister's visit to the holy city was planned hurriedly as people from different walks of life especially women and children held a candle light march on Wednesday evening demanding immediate arrest of the culprits.
The body of the girl bearing bite marks was recovered by her parents and villagers from a sugarcane field close to the village on Tuesday.
A student of Class VII in a government boarding school, the girl had come home to spend winter vacations with her parents.
No arrest has been made in connection with the case so far, police said.
Niti Central
Vasundhara Raje asks police to expedite cases of SC/ST, women
In an effort to control law and order in the State, Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje on Thursday directed the State police to expedite cases pertaining to SC/ST, women and children and register FIRs immediately.
She also asked them to address public grievances on the spot to avoid crime and said complainants should be given respect in police stations, besides investigation conducted in a cordial manner.
Speaking on the second-day of SP-Collectors' Conference here at the Secretariat, Raje said, "Crime cases pertaining to SC, ST, women and children should be taken very seriously. Their FIRs should be lodged immediately and expedited on priority by taking action against criminals."
The Chief Minister directed the police machinery to create a fearless atmosphere in the State and give top priority to containing crime. There should be an effective mechanism to control crime and maintain law and order in the State, she said.
For better liasoning between police and public, community policing and police reforms should be brought, Raje said, adding that better accountability, transparency, responsibility, competence and justice should be included in police working.
Economic crime, cyber crime, smuggling, fake currency rackets, terrorism and bank and chit-fund crimes should be on priority and tackled separately, she said.
News Updates 17.01.14
Dalit girl 'set on fire' in UP, names lover, his brother- The Indian Express
The Indian Express
Dalit girl 'set on fire' in UP, names lover, his brother
A 19-year old dalit girl found unconscious in a village under Baharia police station here has alleged she was set on fire on January 10 night by her lover and his brother who did not get her treated but waited for five days before dumping her near her father's house on Wednesday night.
Police arrested her lover with whom she had been staying in the same village, Mubarakpur. Her condition was stated to be critical.
Roshani Pasi told a magistrate that her lover Roshan Patel and his brother Kamlesh Patel had set her on fire on January 10 night, and when her condition became precarious, they dumped her. "Following a complaint filed by the girl's father, police have registered a case of attempt to murder. Roshan was arrested this evening," said SHO (Baharia) R S Rawat on Thursday.
Preliminary investigations revealed Roshani came to know Roshan when she was a student of an undergraduate college, Janata Inter-College, and he was associated with running it. In November 2012, a case was registered against Roshan for eloping with her. He was arrested and the girl was sent to Nari Niketan in Khuldabad here, from where she was transferred to Nari Niketan in Kanpur, police said. "In October 2013, when she turned major and had to be released from Nari Niketan, she expressed a desire to live with Roshan, who had got bail. Since then, she was living with him. Roshan's elder brother Kamlesh also used to live with him," said CO (Phulpur), Alka Dharamraj. "What we know so far is from the victim's statement. We will have to gather more forensic evidence and take detailed medical opinion about how old the wounds are."
Police said they are on alert to prevent the matter from snowballing into a clash between the two communities.
News Updates 24.01.14
'Death of Dalit girls accidental' - The Hindu
The Hindu
'Death of Dalit girls accidental'
Rashmi Rajput
'We are soon going to file closure report in a local court'
The Maharashtra police's final report on the mysterious death of three Dalit sisters in Bhandara district in western Maharashtra, has concluded it a case of accidental drowning.
On February 14, 2013 the sisters – aged five, nine and 11 – went missing from Murmadi village in Lakhni taluka of Bhandara. On February 16, their bodies were found in a well about two km from their home.
Based on the report of the local medical officers, police registered a case of rape and murder. But subsequently it was found that the autopsy was performed hurriedly and the sisters weren't sexually assaulted.
The government also appointed a team of senior forensic to look into the allegations. In April last year they submitted a report concluding that the girls weren't raped and the deaths could be homicidal, suicidal or accidental. "Another six-member committee which studied the case thoroughly, concluded that the girls died due to accidental drowning. We are soon going to file closure report in a local court," a source told The Hindu.
News Updates 28.01.14
Gurjars in Ajmer threaten to strip Dalit girl- Hindustan Times
Hindustan Times
Gurjars in Ajmer threaten to strip Dalit girl
A few members of the Gurjar community have threatened to strip a 13-year-old Dalit girl living in the Ajmer district of Rajasthan, if she does not withdraw a molestation case.
The Dalit girl's family, who live in Dumada village, 20 km from Ajmer, are living in constant fear after threats from the Gurjar community members. The village is dominated by Gurjars with only two Dalit families.
The Gurjars have threatened to kill the family and strip their daughter in public if they don't withdraw a case of molestation registered against Raghunath Gurjar, 55, who allegedly molested the girl, said Ramesh Chand Bansal, coordinator of Center for Dalit Rights.
According to Bansal, on January 21 Raghunath Gurjjar allegedly molested the teenager after forcibly dragging her into a room on his farm. The girl had taken her cattle for grazing and a few of them had entered into the fields of the accused.
The father of the victim who works as a labourer was in Ajmer city while her mother was away to work on a NERGA site. The victim narrated the incident after her parents returned and reported the matter to police.
The victim has alleged that the upper caste members are threatening them and asking them to withdraw the case, alleged the victim's father.
Bansal alleged that police tried to weaken the case and has not added the relevant POSCO and SC/ST sections. The police have registered the case under section 354 and 341 sections of the IPC, said Bansal.
"We are investigating the matter," Preeti Chaudhary, CO, rural Ajmer, said.
News Updates 30.01.14
Clashes kill 3 after bid to assault Dalit girl in UP- The Indian Express
The Indian Express
Clashes kill 3 after bid to assault Dalit girl in UP
JUST five months after the Muzaffarnagar communal riots, three persons have been killed in caste violence in Bulandshahr district of Uttar Pradesh.
According to reports, clashes broke out on Tuesday after a group of youths belonging to the Thakur community tried to rape a Jatav (Dalit) minor girl here. While the girl managed to escape and her relatives beat up the youths, rumours that she was raped spread in the village. The Jatavs assembled in large numbers and clashed with the Thakurs.
Two Thakurs and one Jatav were killed while six were injured in the violence which lasted for over an hour.
"We have arrested two members each from the two groups. Police and PAC personnel have been deployed in the village. A case under the SC/ ST Act and a case of eve-teasing have been registered," said Lakshmi Singh, Bulandshahr SSP. "The in-charge of the police outpost, Devendra Singh Chauhan, has been suspended for not acting on the complaints of Jatavs," she said.
"We have lodged several complaints with the police about the Thakurs' violent behaviour but no action has been taken," said a Jatav.
News Updates 31.01.14
Man rapes minor dalit girl at Teetarvarda- IBN Live
http://ibnlive.in.com/news/man-rapes-minor-dalit-girl-at-teetarvarda/448987-3-239.html
Rajasthan: Dalit girl harassed by Gujjars leaves home- Hindustan Times
One held for sexually assaulting girl- The Hindu
Dalit woman seeks 5 pc relaxation in Teachers' e'bility test- Business Standard
IBN Live
Man rapes minor dalit girl at Teetarvarda
http://ibnlive.in.com/news/man-rapes-minor-dalit-girl-at-teetarvarda/448987-3-239.html
A minor Dalit girl studying in class nine was allegedly raped in the backyard of her house by a labourer at Teetarvarda, 25 km away from Dausa district headquarters, police said on Thursday.
The 20-year-old accused, belonging to Uttar Pradesh, was arrested this morning from the area, Circle Officer of Dausa police Rajendra Singh said.
The incident occurred on Wednesday when the 14-year-old girl was going home from school.
The girl was admitted to a hospital in her village by parents and the police recorded her statement there.
Hindustan Times
Rajasthan: Dalit girl harassed by Gujjars leaves home
Failed to withstand threat pressures from Gujjar community of Dumada village a dalit girl and her family left their village home on 29 January to take shelter at a safer place. Dalit rights activists here informed that fearing a backlash from the Gujjar community the family has left their home to a safer place.
The family was living under constant pressure from Gujjar community for filing a molestation case against one of them. The community had threatened to strip their 13-year-old in public if the case was not withdrawn.
Hindustan Times had highlighted the incident in its edition dated January 28. The teenager alleged that 55-year-old Raghunath Gujjar of the village allegedly molested her after forcibly dragging onto a room on his farm.
The girl was shepherding cattle and some of them entered onto the fields of the accused. The father of the girl, who works as labourer was in Ajmer while her mother was away at work on a Nerga site at the time of incident.
Later as case was registered against the accused.
Dalit Rights Activists alleged that police failed to provide protection to the family.
"Despite our repeated complaints to the police about threats they did not take an action for the safety of the family, alleged Ramesh Chand Bansal District Coordinator of Center for Dalit Rights. We have written a latter to Women's Commission for intervention in the case, he said.
DySP Preeti Chaudhary was unaware of the family's migration from the village. "We will inquire into the incident and if threat perception to the family was found true stern action would be taken against people who are threatening the family," she said.
The Hindu
One held for sexually assaulting girl
The Chowdepalle police on Thursday took a youth into custody on charges of sexually assaulting a minor girl by luring her with chocolates and flowers. The police said that a daily wager in Chowdepalle village, Kurdhus (22), kept luring the nine-year-old Dalit girl since a week by offering her flowers and chocolates, before committing the offence. The incident came to light when the girl complained of severe pain. She was sent to area hospital for medical examination.
Business Standard
Dalit woman seeks 5 pc relaxation in Teachers' e'bility test
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) Thursday told acourt here that it will soon file a charge sheet against the two Italian marines allegedly involved in killing two Indian fishermen in 2012.
Marines Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone were arrested for killing two Indian fisherman off the coast of Kerala in February 2012, taking their fishing boat for a pirate vessel.
The two are currently on bail, pending trial, and are living and working at the Italian embassy in New Delhi.
NIA counsel told Additional Sessions Judge Dharmesh Sharma that charge sheet has been prepared and it will be filed soon. It apprised the court that they're waiting for resolving a certain application related to the case, pending in the apex court.
According to the agency, the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear the plea of Italian government challenging invocation of anti-terrorism law against its two marines Feb 3.
The trial court has deferred the further hearing of the case to Feb 25, adding that it will decide later on the NIA plea requesting to take "appropriate steps" to secure the custody of the marines.
The court, however, made it clear that in case the charge sheet is filed, it will proceed with the matter.
The Supreme Court Jan 18, 2013, said that till such time as the special court is set up, the marines will be under the custody of the apex court.
The marines, posted on board oil tanker MV Enrica Lexie on security duty, had opened fire at a fishing boat, suspecting that it carried pirates. Two fishermen, Ajesh Binki and Gelastine, were killed in the firing.
Italian officials say the marines merely fired warning shots into the sea in the direction of the fishermen's boat.
Italy disputes India's jurisdiction over the case, claiming the incident took place in international waters
News Updates 04.02.14
Dalit minor gang-raped in Raj- Business Standard
Business Standard
Dalit minor gang-raped in Raj
A 16-year-old Dalit girl was allegedly abducted and raped by a man and his nephew in Kotkhawda area here, police said today.
The incident occurred on January 31 in Padmanandpura village of the district, they said.
The girl had gone out for some work when the accused Shriram (35) and his nephew Bhairo (18) pulled her into their jeep and took her to an isolated area near the village where they gang-raped her.
"She returned home at night and narrated the incident to her parents, following which her father lodged an FIR yesterday," the police said.
Both the accused are absconding and police is on a look out for them, they added.
News Updates 05.02.14
Football coach booked for making casteist remarks- PTI
http://www.ptinews.com/news/4378266_Football-coach-booked-for-making-casteist-remarks-.html
PTI
Football coach booked for making casteist remarks
http://www.ptinews.com/news/4378266_Football-coach-booked-for-making-casteist-remarks-.html
Hisar (Haryana), Feb 4 (PTI) Kurukshetra University's football team coach Mahesh Khyalia was today booked for allegedly making casteist remarks against a woman player.
Police said Khyalia has been booked under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
The coach made the remarks when the girl was practising on ground, drawing sharp reactions from women and Dalit students.
Though the coach had apologised for his comments, the students went to the city police station and registered a case against him.
News Updates 13.02.14
Dalit women demand housing sites- The Hindu
The Hindu
Dalit women demand housing sites
Hundreds of Dalit women from different parts of the district staged a protest outside the Mandya Zilla Panchayat office here on Wednesday seeking housing sites.
The protesters, under the banner of the Akhila Bharat Janawadi Mahila Sanghatane, marched from the Silver Jubilee Park to the ZP office.
They demanded that the zilla panchayat initiate measures to distribute housing sites to the Dalits in the district.
The protesters submitted a memorandum to zilla panchayat Chief Executive Officer P.C. Jayanna. Their demands include housing sites to the Dalits for free; sites to families belonging to weaker sections of society; to clear encroachments from government land; provide financial assistance to the Dalits to construct houses; to issue title deeds to those who construct houses on government land, and to provide 150 days of work in a year under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act.
News Updates 14.02.14
Dalit woman burnt by employer for resisting rape in Bulandshahr- India Today
5 held for gang rape of dalit girl near Dindigul- The Times Of India
Dalit woman assaulted, stripped in Hassan village- The Hindu
India Today
Dalit woman burnt by employer for resisting rape in Bulandshahr
A dalit woman working at a brick kiln at Kirra village was allegedly set ablaze by her employer when she resisted his attempt to rape her.
The woman, who suffered 95 per cent burns, was admitted to the district hospital from where she was referred to Meerut for treatment.
According to police, the brick kiln owner, Aas Mohammad, along with another man sprinkled Kerosene oil and set her on fire after she resisted an alleged attempt by them to rape her on Wednesday evening.
A Sub Inspecter, who was sent to record her statement, reported that the victim had sustained burns while working at the kiln.
However, when SSP Umesh Kumar Singh was told by the tehsildar that the woman had been set ablaze by Mohammad, he placed SI Chote Singh under suspension.
The accused have been arrested and sent to jail, police said.
The Times Of India
5 held for gang rape of dalit girl near Dindigul
DINDIGUL: Five men were arrested in Dindigul district on Thursday in connection with the gang rape of a dalit girl who they abused and abandoned in a garbage dump in a village here.
The victim, a 17-year-old girl from Ottanagapatti in Vedasandur block in Dindigul district, was working in a fancy store in the region. She is said to have been lured by one Praveen from the same region with promises of marriage. On February 1 at around 7.30 pm, the girl allegedly went with him on his two-wheeler. When they reached the Ariyapathampati-Marampadi junction, he allegedly took her to a secluded place, where she was brutally attacked and raped by him.
According to the fact-finding report by Evidence, an NGO, Praveen had allegedly phoned some of his friends, including Marudhupandi, Kumaran, Sakthivel and Natrayan, to come to the spot. The gang then took turns and raped her after which she was thrown into a garbage dump in Vedasandur in unconscious state.
Some autodrivers, who saw her, took her to the Vedasandur government hospital. She was then referred to the Rajaji Government Hospital in Madurai as her condition was critical. An FIR was registered against the accused at the Vadamadurai All Women Police station under various sections, including the SC/ST Atrocities Act, on Wednesday.
The girl, who regained consciousness on February 10, narrated the incident to her parents. Her parents were also allegedly threatened by three policemen to withdraw the case. Meanwhile, on Thursday, all the five accused were arrested and remanded.
Cases of sexual abuses have been on the rise in Tamil Nadu. According to statistics compiled by the National Crime Records Bureau, in 2011, 677 rape cases were reported in the state. It has increased to 923 in 2013.
The Hindu
Dalit woman assaulted, stripped in Hassan village
A Dalit woman was beaten and stripped allegedly by people of other castes at Gangooru village in Belur taluk on Thursday.
The incident occurred during a peace meeting held in the morning to ease tension in the village following Dalits' entry into a temple, and a mass haircut programme organised by a Bangalore-based hairstylist in the village on February 11.
Men and women of other castes allegedly assaulted the woman and tore off her clothes.
"They stripped me in the centre of the village. More than 600 people had gathered," the woman, who was in tears, told The Hindu. She has been admitted to the government hospital in Belur.
The woman's husband was arrested on Tuesday in connection with the mass haircut programme.
'Instigated the crowd'
During the peace meeting, one person allegedly instigated the crowd to assault her and strip her.
"Not only men, even women, joined in humiliating me. They surrounded me, pulled me, hit me and within seconds, pulled off my clothes and pushed me to the ground. A handful of police personnel tried to prevent me from being humiliated further," she said. The woman claimed that the police could not control the mob as there were very few personnel present.
The peace meeting was attended by officials, including Taluk Social Welfare Officer Lakshme Gowda, Deputy Superintendent of Police Manjunath Naik, and Belur taluk JD(S) president Ananta Subbarao. The woman and her relatives attended the meeting following an appeal by the officers.
"When we got there, there were hardly any Dalits. People of other castes were there in huge numbers. We stood in a corner. One of them criticised us and said we deserved humiliation. He continued his speech even as the Social Welfare Officer objected. The people took the officer to task for stopping him. Later, the group of men and women attacked me," she alleged.
Action promised
Ravi D. Channavara, Superintendent of Police, visited the village. He told The Hindu that the woman had given her statement and the police would register the complaint.
"We have a video clip as proof of the incident. We will book a case against all those involved and take action," he said.
News Updates 16.02.14
Dalit women in Haryana to march for redressal of cases of atrocities committed by upper caste men- Two Circle
Two Circle
Dalit women in Haryana to march for redressal of cases of atrocities committed by upper caste men
By Lalita Sharma, TwoCircles.net,
New Delhi: All India Dalit Mahila Adhikar Manch (AIDMAM) is organizing a Pad Yatra (long-march) in in Kurukshetra for redressal of pending cases against atrocities faced by Dalits, particularly women, beginning February 17. They organized a similar march last year as well.
This Yatra is effect of the enduring struggles of Dalit Women in Haryana, which they face on regular basis in public and private spaces. There are pending cases against people from the upper castes and public officials, varying from rape of a Dalit women, gang rape, abduction and murder.
From police officials to lawyers and other administrative officers, the group gets exploited everywhere, one of the reasons being lack of financial backing. The community feels highly ignored in even registering the complaints of exploitation, hearing of cases, and punishing the culprits.
This second in the series Yatra by AIDMAM is an initiative of Manisha Devi, a student of MA in Gender Studies at Kurukshetra University, joined by twenty five to thirty consistent student supporters, activist and lawyers. A similar long walk was organized last year as well.
The fact that our last year's march failed to capture the attention of the media proves our point says Manisha.
This year's yatra will start from February 17 from Kurukshetra in Haryana. The protestors would march through the roads to Ambedkar chowk, where they would assemble to reach out to the people, finally leading towards DG office where they demand redressal of pending cases against atrocities faced by Dalits, particularly women.
The group is expected to be joined by around 200 more people during the Yatra. The Yatra will stop at Karnal on the night of February 17 and will continue through Panipat and Sonipat on the 18th and 19th. It will pass through Jind on the 20th and end up at Hissar on February 21.
They will also submit a memorandum to the Chief Minister on February 21, which they hope, will bring into notice the exploitation they face.
Organizers have appealed to all the Dalit officers, young social activists, women and students to extend their support.
Manisha told TCN that if their grievances are not addressed properly, they will continue their march to Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and other neighbouring states as well.
The ignition to these Yatras came after a gang rape in the region, wherein the mother of the victim was ruthlessly murdered.
While violence against women in India has gained the spotlight due to reprehensible events, the systemic injustice and atrocities meted out to Dalit women in particular in rural areas is (and has been over centuries) masked and often forgotten in the conversations on patriarchal violence.
This Yatra is an effort by them to highlight their struggle for dignity and justice. The protestors wish to spread awareness of these issues, for which they would stage a Nukkad Natak too during the Yatra. They want to reach out to give support and courage to other victims of such atrocities, themselves guided by the victims who are consistent members of the group.
Although Manisha and her colleagues find it difficult to balance their studies and the work for the empowerment of the deprived communities, but this has not deterred them. "We have no financial support to convince people to stop this degrading treatment. Earlier we were hesitant but it is too much to bear now. People should realize that when the term 'Dalit' is mentioned, it's not their property. We have a dignity and everyone should respect that. The government should wake up from the long years of sleep," she told TCN.
As the country is gearing up for another general elections, AIDMAM is pinning hope that through such marches they will be able to spread awareness about issues concerning Dalits, and such deprived communities, so that it becomes part of an election manifesto.
News Updates 17.02.14
Man given life imprisonment for rape- Business Standard
Business Standard
Man given life imprisonment for rape
A local court has awarded life imprisonment to a 38-year-old man for raping a Dalit woman.
Additional District and sessions Judge Natya Prakash Nayak yesterday awarded life sentence to Rajesh Yadav for raping a dalit woman on July 16, 2009 in Ghunghter area, when she was alone at her house.
The court also imposed a fine of Rs 11,000 on the convict.
News Updates 24.02.14
Dalit woman alleges neigbours boycotting her- The Hindu
Dalit Woman Demands Security, Alleges Harassment- The New Indian Express
The Hindu
Dalit woman alleges neigbours boycotting her
A Dalit widow from Bonkrigudde, near Kenjar, alleged that numerous complaints about harassment and social boycott from her neighbours have fallen on the deaf ears of Bajpe police.
Airing her grievance at the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes monthly grievance meet held at the police commissioner's office on Sunday, a teary-eyed Chennamma, a fish vendor, said she and her 11-year-old daughter have been harassed, abused, assaulted, and debarred from accessing a public water tank by her neighbours in the area.
'Police inaction'
"Though I have filed a complaint at the Bajpe police station, the police have not taken any action. Instead, the harassment is getting worse as the neighbours have been threatening me to withdraw the complaint," she said.
Police Commissioner R. Hitendra assured of an Assistant Commissioner of Police-led prone into it.
The New Indian Express
Dalit Woman Demands Security, Alleges Harassment
A dalit woman of Malavoor village in the taluk has sought security alleging mental and physical harassment on a regular basis by her neighbours.
At the monthly SC/ST meeting held at the Deputy Commissioner's office on Sunday, Channamma alleged that her neighbours Ramanna, Saraswathi, Baby and Rakesh Poojary had threatened to murder her. "They knock on my door at midnight and throw garbage in my hut. When I opposed it, they asked me to leave the village.
Though I had complained to Bajpe police, they refused to register a case," she said.
Channamma said, "My husband died four years ago when he fell from a building. My 16-year-old daughter was fatally knocked down by a train. I live with my younger daughter. My neighbours have been making my life stressful. Hence, I need police protection."
She also accused the Bajpe police of being hand-in-glove with the miscreants.
Police Commissioner R Hithendra instructed Mangalore North ACP Ravi Kumar to conduct a proper investigation in this regard.
Dalit leader P Keshava said a dalit who met with an accident at Moodbidri recently was treated at a private hospital in Karkala. The hospital authorities are not giving proper documents on the treatment, which is needed to avail insurance, he added. Hithendra directed the Moodibidri sub-inspector to look in to it.
News Updates 27.02.14
17 Year Old Dalit Girl Raped in Haryana- Out Look
http://news.outlookindia.com/items.aspx?artid=830413
Out Look
17 Year Old Dalit Girl Raped in Haryana
http://news.outlookindia.com/items.aspx?artid=830413
A teenage dalit girl was allegedly raped by two youths in a village here, police said today.
The incident happened in Devrad village last night, they said adding both the accused -- Dalbag, aged 23, and Mohit (21) -- hailed from the same area.
The two forcibly took the 17-year-old girl to an abandoned house and allegedly raped her, police said.
After the girl lodged a complaint, police registered a case of rape against Mohit and Dalbag.
News Updates 28.02.14
Dalit Woman Custodial Death: Cops Acquitted- The New Indian Express
The New Indian Express
Dalit Woman Custodial Death: Cops Acquitted
A Madras High Court bench today acquitted all eight policemen in the case of the custodial death of a 48-year-old Dalit woman in 2002.
Justice Aruna Jagadeesan set aside the judgement by a lower court given in February of last year and acquitted all the policemen after observing that the charge against them had not been proved. The lower court had sentenced the policemen to up to 10 years' rigorous imprisonment.
Karuppi, a domestic help, was accused by her employer of stealing a gold chain from his house.
She was questioned at Parmakdui police station where she was allegedly tortured for six days. Her body was found hanging from a transmission tower behind the police station in the early hours of December 1, 2002.
Police registered a case of suicide in the matter and denied that she had died at the police station.
But various organisations took up the case and the policemen were convicted by the lower court in February, 2013.
News Updates 01.03.14
20-year-old girl found murdered in Sonepat- Hindustan Times
Hindustan Times
20-year-old girl found murdered in Sonepat
A 20-year-old Dalit girl was found murdered at Pinana village, 22km from Sonepat town, in the wee hours of Friday. The victim had gone missing from her home late evening on Thursday, when she had left her house to go to her uncle's house in the same village.
When dalit girl did not reach there till late night, her mother with some others launched a manhunt and after finding her absent at her uncles' house, they approached the police.
Village watchman spotted the body of the girl near the village crematorium and reported the matter to the police. She had injuries on her head, said the police, which sent the body to the civil hospital for the postmortem.
Mohana station house officer sub-inspector Jagdish Kumar said that a case under 302 (murder) and 201(causing disappearance of evidence) of Indian Penal Code had been registered against unidentified people.
On rape attempt, he said that it would be known after the post-mortem report, but police had begun their investigations.
News Updates 02.03.14
Minor Dalit girl raped in Moga- Zee News
http://zeenews.india.com/news/punjab/minor-dalit-girl-raped-in-moga_915163.html
Zee News
Minor Dalit girl raped in Moga
http://zeenews.india.com/news/punjab/minor-dalit-girl-raped-in-moga_915163.html
Moga: A case of abduction and rape of a minor Dalit girl has come to light here with police registering a complaint in the matter.
A 15-year-old Dalit girl was allegedly abducted by one Shinder Singh from Dharamkot on February 23.
According to the complaint lodged by the victim's parents, Singh took the girl to a secluded place and raped her before dropping her near her house the next morning.
The victim's parents, however, only last night lodged a complaint against the accused, police said. No arrests have been made so far in the case, they added.
PTI
News Updates 04.03.14
Man held for Dalit girl's murder- Hindustan Times
MP: Minor Dalit girl immolates self after molestation- Hindustan Times
Visually challenged teacher alleges harassment at school- The Hindu
Hindustan Times
Man held for Dalit girl's murder
Three days after a 20-year-old Dalit girl was found murdered at her village in Sonepat district, the police have arrested her lover, Ajmer Kumar of Pinana village.
Police said that the accused had told them that he had relations with the victim for the last several months.
As his marriage was fixed for March 6 with someone else, the victim was allegedly pressuring him to marry her or she would 'expose' him. He said that he got scared and decided to get rid of her. He killed her and dumped the body near the village crematorium.
Mohana police station house officer sub-inspector Jagdish Chander said that the accused had murdered the victim using a weight-lifting rod which has been recovered by the police. He said that the accused was produced in a court and was sent to 14-day judicial custody.
Hindustan Times
MP: Minor Dalit girl immolates self after molestation
A minor Dalit girl set herself ablaze, after a youth allegedly had molested her in Garhakota town in the district, police said on Monday.
The victim took the extreme step after a youth identified as Nilesh Ladia, allegedly molested her, they said, adding that her father had lodged a complaint.
The 16-year-old girl suffered 100% burn injuries and is under treatment at the district hospital, the police said.
Allegedly, Ladia had threatened her that if she did not respond to his overtures, then she would have to face the consequences when she went to school to appear for examinations, her father said in his complaint.
Additional superintendent of police DR Teniwar said that since the victim was unable to record her statement until now, the police registered a case on the basis of her father's complaint.
The Hindu
Visually challenged teacher alleges harassment at school
A visually challenged teacher submitted a petition to Collector M. Karunakaran on Monday alleging harassment by the headmaster and other colleagues.
In a petition submitted to the Collector, Karunya Seelavathi, now working as a graduate English teacher at the Government Higher Secondary School at Maruthakulam, said she was transferred from the Government Higher Secondary School at Thirumalaigoundanpalayam near Tirupur in July 2012.
"Since I'm visually challenged, I am being harassed and teased by the headmaster and five other teachers for the past one-and-a-half year. As I forwarded complaints to the Chief Minister's Special Cell, State Human Rights Commission and the education department, I'm being threatened by them. Hence, I've come to submit a petition to the Collector in person for immediate action," said Ms. Karunya Seelavathi.
A group of people from Gopalasamudram South, who had come to the Collectorate, said they were forced to start a separate school in their area for the Dalit students, who were studying in a government-aided private higher secondary school at Gopalasamudram North as they were oppressed by the caste Hindu students there. Though the villagers had submitted a petition to the District Adi Dravida Welfare Officer urging him to take steps for establishing a separate school for Dalit students, it was never forwarded to the higher-ups in Chennai.
Moreover, the "affected students" should be enquired by the District Adi Dravida Welfare Officer and teachers who practiced "untouchability" should be punished.
"If the official machinery failed to take action in this issue, people of Gopalasamudram South will be forced to boycott the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls," said G. Velayuthaperumal, a resident of the area.
News Updates 05.03.14
Dalit minor abducted, gangraped in Kotkhawda- IBN Live
http://ibnlive.in.com/news/dalit-minor-abducted-gangraped-in-kotkhawda/449770-3-239.html
IBN Live
Dalit minor abducted, gangraped in Kotkhawda
http://ibnlive.in.com/news/dalit-minor-abducted-gangraped-in-kotkhawda/449770-3-239.html
A 16-year-old Dalit girl was allegedly abducted and raped by a man and his nephew in Kotkhawda area here, police said on Monday.
The incident occurred on January 31 in Padmanandpura village of the district, they said.
The girl had gone out for some work when the accused Shriram (35) and his nephew Bhairo (18) pulled her into their jeep and took her to an isolated area near the village where they gang-raped her.
"She returned home at night and narrated the incident to her parents, following which her father lodged an FIR yesterday," the police said.
Both the accused are absconding and police is on a look out for them, they added.
News Updates 14.03.14
Dalit woman gang-raped in UP- The Times Of India
Indian girl tonsured for 'speaking to friend'- Aljazeera.Com
The Times Of India
Dalit woman gang-raped in UP
DEORIA (UP): A Dalit woman was allegedly gang-raped in Lar area here by three persons who also tried to kill her, police said here on Thursday.
The incident took place on March 11 when the 42-year-old woman was returning home after cooking at a function.
The accused — Vidhyachal, Gopi Gaur and Harilal Rajbhar — who hired her for cooking at the function, dragged her to a field and raped her.
They also tried to kill her. She was seriously injured in the attack.
The woman was rushed to a hospital, where her condition was stated to be stable.
Police have lodged an FIR in this connection and launched a manhunt to nab the accused.
Aljazeera.Com
Indian girl tonsured for 'speaking to friend'
Minor girl tonsured and paraded with blackened face by village elders in Bihar after being found talking to boyfriend.
The police have arrested six people so far for Tuesday's assault on the girl [Nand Kishor Singh] |
A girl in the eastern Indian state of Bihar was tonsured and paraded after her face was blackened by village elders as a punishment for talking to her boyfriend.
The police have arrested six people after the incident on Tuesday in Kadwa Tola village of Purnea district, about 300km from the provincial capital, Patna.
The 14-year-old girl, an orphan, lives in the village with her grandparents. Her grandfather is a cycle-rickshaw puller.
According to the girl's complaint to the police, the village court ordered the punishment after she was caught talking to her boyfriend. The girl belongs to the Dalit (backward) community, whose members often face discrimination in India's caste-ridden society. |
"They tied us and kept us in a room for whole night and next day the village court slapped the judgement," the girl told Al Jazeera.
The villagers imposed fines of Rs 12,000 ($195) on both the boy and the girl for their "act of indiscretion".
"But they let the boy go when his family promised to pay the amount and since we are poor, my family was unable to pay the fine and they meted extreme humiliation to me," she said.
"They first shaved my head and then blackened my face with ash and paraded me in the village," she said.
A local police official said that some villagers had caught the girl talking to the boy at the Gulab Bagh market yard while returning from her school.
"Altogether six out of total seven named accused persons in the case have been arrested and sent to jail", Shweta Gupta, officer-in-charge of Purnea Women police station, told Al Jazeera.
Among those arrested is the village headman, who presided over the court.
'Unrepentant'
Police officials said some of the villagers were still unrepentant, saying the punishment was for maintaining "social discipline and moral propriety".
Several Indian provinces are notorious for village councils (locally called Khap Panchayats) that have no legal sanction, but yet adjudicate over personal matters.
Scores of boys and girls have died in suspected honour killings ordered by such councils for daring to fall in love defying caste and cultural restrictions.
In West Bengal state, a woman was allegedly gang-raped recently as punishment for being found with her lover.
News Updates 18.03.14
Two gangrape accused arrested- PTI
http://www.ptinews.com/news/4506838_Two-gangrape-accused-arrested-.html
PTI
Two gangrape accused arrested
http://www.ptinews.com/news/4506838_Two-gangrape-accused-arrested-.html
Aurangabad (Bihar), Mar 16 (PTI)
Two persons wanted in connection with a gangrape case were arrested today from a village in Bihar's Aurangabad district.
Acting on a tip-off, the police raided a hideout in Pachokhar village and arrested the accused Mithilesh Paswan and Jaiprakash Paswan in connection with the gangrape case of a Dalit girl in the village four days ago, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Ajay Narayan Yadav said.
Raids were on to nab two other absconding accused, he said.
News Updates 19.03.14
Minor Dalit girl raped in UP- Business Standard
Minor kidnapped, raped during Holi- The Times Of India
Business Standard
Minor Dalit girl raped in UP
A 12-year-old Dalit girl was allegedly raped by a youth in Baksha area of the district today, police said.
The incident took place when the girl had gone to the field this morning.
Later, she told the incident to her family members, who registered an FIR in this connection.
Police said an investigation was on and they were trying to ascertain the identity of the youth.
The Times Of India
Minor kidnapped, raped during Holi
JAIPUR: A 15-year-old dalit girl, who resisted attempt of three youths wanting to put some Holi colours on her face, was allegedly kidnapped and raped by them. The incident took place during 'Holika dehan' at Raniwara village under Mandrayal police station area in Karauli district. The police have registered a case and launched a massive hunt to nab the accused.
The girl lodged a case of kidnap and rape against the youths who belong to her village a day after the incident.
According to the police, the girl was outside her home on Sunday evening and she suddenly went missing. The parents lodged a missing report at the police station.
On the next day, she was found at an isolated place outside her village. After her return, she said that three youths, who live in same village, raped her one after the another.
"The girl and her parents approached us and lodged a case of kidnap and rape against three persons. She was taken for medical examination on Tuesday," said Sita Ram, circle inspector, Mandrayal police station.
The girl in her statement named the accused as Narendra Singh (25), Prakash Jaatav (23) and Bhura (24) who are residents of her village. "All the accused are at large and we have constituted a team to nab them," said an officer.
The girl alleged that initially the youths attempted to put colours on her face which she resisted. Though the locals and parents claimed that the resistance of the girl actually provoked the youths to kidnap her, police maintained that it would only be clear in a medical examination.
Following the incident, villagers shouted slogans against police on Tuesday and demanded immediate arrest of the accused and suitable compensation to the girl.
News Updates 20.03.14
70-year-old man arrested for sexually abusing minor girls in school- The Times Of India
The Times Of India
70-year-old man arrested for sexually abusing minor girls in school
KATHGODAM: Police in Uttarakhand have arrested a 70-year-old man for sexually abusing six to nine-year-old girls at a residential school run by him in Pithoragarh.
Almost a dozen girls believed to from classes I, II and III at the co-education Himalayan Public School established by Chandra Singh Karki for economically weak students told the police that they had been abused by him several times in the past.
Officials are also exploring the possibility that the school children - many of whom come from nearby villages - may be involved in human trafficking.
The affair came to light when a few senior girls of the school secretly shot a video and sent it through a social networking App to Nainital SSP Vimmi Sachedva Raman. A police team that was constituted to investigate the matter met the minor girls in the school.
"The girls told investigators that Karki had abused them after calling them to his office," Raman told TOI.
Police officials said that one of the girls is a dalit and that Karki has been booked under the Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences Act and the Prevention of Atrocities against SC/ST Act.
Sources said that Karki had tried to hush up the case and convince parents through some local NGO workers that they should not pursue the matter. "If found guilty, the NGO workers who have been named by parents of some of the victims will also be booked under IPC Section 201 for destruction of evidence," Raman said.
News Updates 26.03.14
4 girls abducted from Hisar village,1 gang-raped- The Times Of India
The Times Of India
4 girls abducted from Hisar village,1 gang-raped
HISAR: Four girls of Bhagana village in Hisar were allegedly abducted and one of them, a dalit, was raped by five youths from the jat community in Bathinda district of Punjab. The victim and other three girls, who were also kidnapped by the accused, were left near Bathinda railway station after the alleged crime.
Police have registered a case of kidnapping, rape and criminal conspiracy against the accused. They have also been booked under Prevention of Atrocities against SC/ST Act and Protection of Children from Sexual Offence (POCSO) Act. Teams have been formed by the police to nab all the accused, out of which three were identified as Lalit Kumar, Sandeep and Sumit.
According to the FIR, the victim alleged that she and her other three friends were kidnapped on Monday night after they had come out of their homes to answer nature's call. She alleged that the accused took them to some place in Punjab in a car where she was violated.
Police spokesman Harish Bharadwaj said, "Police are conducting medical examination of other three girls to confirm if they had been raped too. Manhunt has been launched to arrest the accused."
News Updates 29.03.14
MP: man who raped 8-year-old girl gets life imprisonment- ABP Live
ABP Live
MP: man who raped 8-year-old girl gets life imprisonment
Indore: A local court here today awarded life imprisonment to a man for raping and sodomising an eight-year-old Dalit girl in 2012.
Special Judge R P Sharma also convicted the accused Chaman Laxman (23) under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities Act).
The court also ordered Laxman to pay a compensation of Rs 5,000 to the victim.
Prosecutor Vishal Anand Shrivastava said that Chaman raped the girl on August 19, 2012 behind a temple in Bhanwarkuan area.
News Updates 30.03.14
Man arrested for raping eight-yr-old- The Asian Age
http://www.asianage.com/mumbai/man-arrested-raping-eight-yr-old-347
The Asian Age
Man arrested for raping eight-yr-old
http://www.asianage.com/mumbai/man-arrested-raping-eight-yr-old-347
A 35-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the rape of an eight-year-old girl behind a temple in the Padmapura area of Aurangabad on Thursday night.
The accused, identified as Dhirendra Rajendra Malik, from Orissa is a plumber and lives in Padmapura, where the girl also resides. The victim is a daughter of a labourer and had gone to the Sai Baba temple along with her mother at around 8 pm. Malik, who was known to the girl and her mother, approached them and took the girl with him promising to buy her juice. He took her to a secluded place and abused her before dropping her home. At midnight, the victim started screaming out of pain and narrated the incident to her mother. The two then approached the Kranti Chowk police station and lodged a complaint. Acting on the complaint, the police arrested him early morning on Friday.
Malik was produced before the special court for child sexual abuse cases where the judge, S.G. Shete, remanded him to police custody till March 30.
The victim in this case belongs to a backward caste while the accused is from an upper caste. However, the police hasn't invoked the Prevention of Atrocities Act in this case. An organisation called the Dalit Atyachar Virodhi Kruti Samiti has taken up the issue. Its secretary, Buddhapriya Kabir said that it is possible that the complainant might not have mentioned their caste in their complaint, but the Samiti will write about it to the police station in-charge and demand invocation of the atrocities section.
The organisation also said it would launch an agitation and take to the streets if the police fails to invoke the required section despite being informed of the victim's caste.
News Updates 31.03.14
Two minors held for gang-raping minor in city- Odisha Sun Times
http://odishasuntimes.com/42512/two-minors-held-gang-raping-minor-city/
Odisha Sun Times
Two minors held for gang-raping minor in city
http://odishasuntimes.com/42512/two-minors-held-gang-raping-minor-city/
Bhubaneswar, Mar 30:
Commissionerate Police on Sunday nabbed two minors for allegedly raping a minor Dalit girl at Dumduma under Khandagiri police limits here.
The matter came to light yesterday night after the girl's parent lodged a complaint with the Mahila police station here. Acting on the complaint, police nabbed the two minors – aged 14 and 17 years – and forwarded them to the Juvenile Justice Board in Khurda today.
In their complaint, the girl's parent had alleged that the two boys of the same locality lured her with chocolates a week ago and took her to an isolated place where they gang-raped the girl and threatened her not to disclose the incident to anyone.
Family members of the girl, after coming to know about the incident, first filed a complaint with Khandagiri police station, which sat over the complaint for a few days before referring the case to the Mahila police station yesterday.
Mahila police, after conducting a medical test on the victim, nabbed the duo from Dumduma area and carried another medical test on the accused before sending them to the juvenile court.
News Updates 14.04.14
Bail for men accused of raping dalit woman- The Times Of India
The Times Of India
Bail for men accused of raping dalit woman
KOCHI: The high court of Kerala has granted bail to two men, who were accused of raping a woman after the police reported that the alleged victim has been suffering from schizophrenia. The woman had later accused two others of violating her, the police said.
Justice N K Balakrishnan granted bail to Kakkadampoyil, Kozhikode natives Roy T M (33) and Anil C S (19).
The woman, belonging to a scheduled caste, complained to police on April 5, 2013, that the duo trespassed into her house and raped her on two-three occasions.
Advocate S Nirmal, who appeared for the accused, submitted that the woman was mentally ill and had been inconsistent in her statement.
Following a petition by Roy and his advocate's argument, the high court sought a report from the sub-inspector of Thiruvambady police station. The officer reported that the woman has been under treatment for schizophrenia, and lacked normal intelligence.
The police also stated that the woman had retracted her initial statement and named two others as her alleged tormentors.
The petitioners' counsel submitted that as the accused were booked under Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes ( Prevention of Atrocities) Act and rape, it was not possible to get bail from the magistrate or sessions court.
Granting bail to the duo, the court, referring to the police report, held that the complainant was not consistent regarding those who had raped her. The court also expressed doubt whether she had been really raped or if it was just some sort of hallucination.
The accused were granted bail on conditions of executing a bond of Rs 25,000 each with two solvent sureties. They were also ordered to surrender their passports.
News Updates 18.04.14
Women tied to bonded labour in Tamil Nadu: Survey- The Times Of India
The Times Of India
Women tied to bonded labour in Tamil Nadu: Survey
NEWS DELHI: A survey carried out in January last year by the Indian NGO SAVE reveals that young, unmarried women working in the garment manufacturing units of Tamil Nadu are tied to their employers in a system of bonded labour. Tamil Nadu is the largest cotton yarn producing state in India, home to about 1,574 of India's spinning mills.
There are an estimated 2,24,000 women Workers in these units. Around half of them work under schemes like Sumangali (an estimated 80% of women working under such schemes are under 18 and between 15-20% of these women are less than 14 years of age).
"Sumangali" in Tamil refers to a happily married women. In Sumangali employment schemes, young, unmarried, predominantly dalit women (60%) are employed in garment manufacturing units to enable their families to pay their dowries. In reality, schemes such as this translate to bonded labour. Wages are paid only when workers complete a 3-5 year contract period.
In the research report, 'Small Steps, Big Challenges' published last month, the India Committee of the Netherlands (ICN) and the Federation Dutch Labour Movement (FNV) investigated the steps taken to ban bonded labour among first and second-tier suppliers. This investigation also looked at 26 buyers from Netherlands and other countries. Only eight of the 26 companies responded to the research. Six — Hema, Impala Loft, Migros, O'Neil, Tommy Hilfiger and Van den Broek — admitted to problems of bonded labour existing or having existed in their supply chain.
Three out of four suppliers from Tamil Nadu (Eastman Exports Global Clothing, KPR Mill and SSM India) featured in previous ICN reports. Under duress, they recently approached Indian NGOs (SAVE, READ and CARE-T) to monitor the conditions at their production units and to train employees and managers.
In KPR Mill, all six units of production are being monitored and visited regularly. The improvements are visible as wages are transferred to the employees' bank accounts, workers receive ID cards and women are not confined and are allowed to visit their homes frequently. Other initiatives taken by SAVE in Eastman Exports have focused reports on hygiene and health, but worker's rights issue are yet to be addressed.
In addition to this, there is Ethical Trading Initiative, a forum run by the Tamil Nadu Multi-Stakeholder (ETI-TNMS) Group. It is the only multi-stakeholder initiative that specifically aims to address worker's rights issues in relation to the Sumangali scheme. But there is a need for more such group initiatives taken to totally root out instances of bonded labour in the state.
News Updates 19.04.14
Dalit Woman Auto Driver Again on the Warpath- The New Indian Express
The New Indian Express
Dalit Woman Auto Driver Again on the Warpath
Chitralekha, a Dalit woman auto driver who made it to the national headlines through her lonely crusade against the upper class political domination in Payyanur, is once again on the path of struggle, against the continuing victimisation on the part of the police and the trade union leadership in the locality.
Chitralekha and her family have threatened to launch an indefinite stir in front of the Collectorate here from Saturday, demanding justice.
The Dalit woman alleges that she and her family are being subjected to continuous attacks by the CITU local leadership in Edat near Payyanur where she lives.
The latest attack took place on January 31. DYFI activists threw stones at her house, partially damaging the house and two autorickshaws parked on the premises.
They also threatened the family members. She alleges that the Payyanur police charged false cases against her and her husband Shreeskanth, who had to spend 32 days in jail.
The series of attacks began in 2005 when she started working as an autorickshaw driver in Eramangalam in Edat near Payyanur.
According to Chitralekha, the male auto drivers belonging to the CITU did not like her presence in the male bastion and began attacking her.
Her autorickshaw was burnt down in December 2005. Intermittent attacks continued and there was no action against the perpetrators.
Chitralekha and her family will start an indefinite stir seeking action against the DYFI and CITU activists who allegedly denied the basic rights of the family. They also want action against the police officials who imposed false cases against them.
News Updates 20.04.14
Dalits flee Haryana village after four women raped, seek justice in Delhi- The Indian Express
The Indian Express
Dalits flee Haryana village after four women raped, seek justice in Delhi
Over 80 Dalit families from a village in Haryana have fled to Delhi after they were allegedly threatened by Jats for protesting the abduction and rape of four women.
The Dalits are from Bhagana in Hisar district. They alleged that four of their women were abducted on March 25 by five men. The women were sedated, raped and dumped at a railway station in Bathinda, Punjab.
Police arrested the five men but the Dalits said the Jats began intimidating the families of the victims and that's what forced them to leave the village. "All that we had was our honour. The Jats took it away from us.
Who will marry our daughters now? The police may have arrested the five men but we think they will be out soon," the mother of one of the victims said.
Manish Chaudhary, Assistant Superintendent of Police, Hisar, said: "Four girls, two of them minors, were allegedly raped. We have registered an FIR against the five accused. Two of them are related to the village sarpanch. While two have been charged with rape, three have been booked for kidnapping. Medical examination of two girls has confirmed rape. We are still waiting for the forensic report."
The Dalits alleged that they were warned by the Jats of the village not to report the matter to police. The families of the victims have decided to move the Supreme Court for rehabilitation and compensation. A petition, being readied with the help of Human Rights Law Network, will be filed on Monday.
Advocate Colin Gonsalves, who is helping the families file the petition, said: "The state of Haryana has become the rape capital of India. It is shocking that even after the Verma committee report, such incidents continue to be reported. We still have a long way to go before the recommendations of that report are actually put to practice."
News Updates 21.04.14
Nirbhaya re-run in Madhya Pradesh- The Times Of India
The Times Of India
Nirbhaya re-run in Madhya Pradesh
BHOPAL: A 14-year-old dalit girl was gang-raped by five people inside a moving bus and then flung out of the vehicle in Singrauli district on Sunday in a shocking re-run of Delhi's Nirbhaya tragedy that shook the conscience of the nation. The bus driver also joined in the monstrous act. Also, the rear wheels of the bus missed her by inches as she lay bleeding and unconscious on a dirt road in Nalhatani village, 15 km from the district headquarters.
Hours later, villagers picked her up and took her to district hospital after informing the police. She narrated the ordeal to police after gaining consciousness.
Police said the survivor had gone to meet her aunt at district's Waiden village. Later, when she was waiting for conveyance to return home, she was offered a lift by the driver of a bus operated by Siddiqui Travels.
This bus was hired by a local businessman for a wedding ceremony and it was heading towards the venue to pick guests.
There were around five people inside the bus, including its driver and two cleaners. As soon as the girl boarded the bus, they began molesting her.
She screamed for help, but the windows were shut. They stopped the bus near a desolate area and dragged the girl inside forest. She was sexually assaulted again, police said, quoting the victim. She said they dragged her back to the bus and then pushed her off the moving bus. The girl suffered serious head injuries.
Police said her medical examination report is awaited. Her parents were also informed about the incident. A case has been registered under different sections, including Protection Of Children Against Sexual Offences Act. The accused have been detained, but police refused to confirm that she was raped inside the bus.
News Updates 22.04.14
UP: Man commits suicide over inaction in daughter's rape case- The Times Of India
Singrauli gang-rape case: Four accused arrested- The Times Of India
The Times Of India
UP: Man commits suicide over inaction in daughter's rape case
Amroha: There are more reports of inaction over crimes against women from Amroha in Uttar Pradesh.
Upset by the lack of action by authorities after his daughter was allegedly sexually assaulted, a Dalit man has committed suicide.
According to his family, a group of men kidnapped and tried to rape the minor girl. They alleged that the police failed to take any action in the case, despite her father filing a complaint.
They also said that the Panchayat refused to act against the alleged perpetrators.
"The police did not help us at all, they did not hear our pleas. They're responsible for my husband's death. I want those who attacked my daughter to be punished," said the man's wife.
The Times Of India
Singrauli gang-rape case: Four accused arrested
BHOPAL: Police have arrested four of five accused in connection with the alleged gang rape of a 14-year-old dalit girl in a moving bus in Singrauli district on April 20 on Monday. The girl was allegedly thrown of the bus after the accused raped her.
The girl was found lying injured on the road in Jalhathani village, around 15 kilometers from district headquarters and was taken to hospital.
Singrauli superintendent of police D Kalyan Chakravarty said, "Four accused have been arrested and interrogation is going on. Meanwhile forensic teams from Sidhi have arrived and have begun tests."
"We would also be sending the survivor to Rewa's Sanjay Gandhi Medical College for medical tests again," he said. Statements of accused Rambhajan Jaiswal, Virbali, Chhotu Jaiswal and Juma Sheikh were recorded before court, Chakravarty told TOI.
Earlier in her complaint, the survivor told police that she had gone to visit her aunt at Waidhan on April 19.
The next day, when she reached the bus stop to return home, one of the accused approached her and pointing towards a particular bus said it was going to Ambikapur, so they would drop her at Jalhathani village, following which she boarded the bus.
One of the accused started molesting her near Bardghata village and when she protested they stopped the bus and took her to a nearby jungle and raped her, police said citing her complaint. Later they took her to Jalhathani village and threw her out of bus, she said in her complaint.
"We have registered a case against four people, under section 376 D, (gang-rape) and future course of action would depend on the medical reports from Rewa," Chakrav
News Updates 25.04.14
Dalits of Bhagana village seek justice for rape victims- NVO News
http://nvonews.com/dalits-of-bhagana-village-seek-justice-for-rape-victims/
"Caste is enforced through Dalit women's bodies"- Two Circles
NVO News
Dalits of Bhagana village seek justice for rape victims
http://nvonews.com/dalits-of-bhagana-village-seek-justice-for-rape-victims/
By Vidya Bhushan Rawat
Rape as an instrument of caste dominance
On March 23rd when India remembers one of its greatest sons Bhagat Singh for his supreme sacrifice for the nation, in Haryana (unfortunately it was part of undivided Pepsu province when Bhagat Singh was executed) four Dalit girls belonging to Dhanak community were abducted from their village by five Jat boys of the same village at 8 in the evening. The girls were going out to fetch water in the evening and they would a white colored car rushing towards them and grabbed them inside the car. All four lost consciousness after getting drugged and raped. Next morning they found themselves at Bhatinda Railway station in neighboring Punjab State in utterly humiliating conditions but they were helpless as they did not know any one and had nothing with them.
The Sarpanch of the village was aware of the incident and was waiting for the families to contact him for 'help'.
After the families got intimation of the disappearance of the girls, all in their teens, the villagers went to the Sarpanch Rakesh who 'assured' them that all the girls would return their home by next day. The parents of the girls asked him to help otherwise they would file an FIR in the police station but he was just not ready to help them. Finally, when the villagers and parents of the girls threatened that they were going to lodge the FIR against the disappearance of the girls that the Sarpanch Rakesh and his uncle Virendra informed them that all the girls were at Bhatinda Railway station in Punjab which was about 170 kilometer away from their place.
Sarpanch Rakesh accompanied with his uncle Virendra and others left in a car towards Bhatinda and found the girls exactly at the place where the Sarpanch had mentioned to them which clearly indicate that he had known everything in advance. They were terrified and in very bad shape. Immediately, they returned to their home. On their way back home, the Sarpanch stopped the vehicle in Hisar for a 'tea break' and put the girls in a room on the first floor. After some time, he went up in the rooms of these girls and threatened them with dire consequences if they speak anything about the incident.
An Administration with caste loyalties
The girls narrated the nightmare to their family persons who decided to go for a medical test of them and fight back. The Jats knew it well that hurting an Indian woman is easier as she would not go for the medical test but these girls have shown extraordinary courage to get justice. The medical test was done at Civil Hospital, Hisar on March 25th. The callous and crude attitude of the doctors at the hospital was visible when they should have taken utmost care of the girls and their families, they were not attended. The families of these children who are in their teens actually reached the Civil hospital by 10 am but the by 1130 pm only one girl could be 'officially' 'checked'. The parents blamed the Superintendent of Police Manisha Chaudhury for not supporting them and threatened them. Strange but true that in India your gender does not matter but your caste identities more than that. The entire 'medical' process was completed by mid-night at 1.30 am. No effort was made by the authorities to assure the families of justice. Instead they were asked not to report till last moment. At 2.30 am in the night the SSP Manisha Chaudhury took them for 'statement' in front of the 'judicial magistrate' under section 164. They were let off after that in mid night when it was raining heavily.
I have seen the documents. Both the FIR and the medical reports are written carelessly. The doctor's reports are written in highly 'medical' language. Poor people may not know what has happened and what has the doctor said in the report. By the time, they come to know, the time is lost. Most of the cases in India have collapsed in the court of law due to negligence by the police and medical authorities. It is not just negligence but purely caste prejudices. It is shameful when India's women's movement was trying to hoodwink us that 'women' have no castes, the fact is caste and religious identities are more powerful in India than being a 'woman' identity and Haryana's Dalit women have not got that much support from Indian middle classes, women's movement who were shouting loud at top of their voices after December 16th. It became a pilgrimage for everyone to refer to us about their relations with the 'movement' which was purely casteist and communal.
Why the nation does not show same kind of restlessness for mass rapes due to caste and communal violence? Is it because the victims are Dalits, Aadivasis and Minorities?
In the meanwhile the victims of Bhagana returned to mini secretariat in Hissar after recording their statement as they were neither in a position to return home nor are they willing to go back there now. There was no consolation, no show of strength by a lady officer. Rather, they were scolded and rebuked. Over 200 villagers have been protesting in the mini secretariat in Hissar for the past two years for the economic social boycott imposed by the Jats on them. The fact is that it was the aim of the Jats to throw the entire community away from the village. The police and administration ultimately filed an FIR on March 25th in the evening but the police did not name the Sarpanch Rakesh and his uncle Virendra in it who are actually the masterminds of the entire operation. Where are our anti rape laws which we have been so powerfully speaking about?
Bhgana's Dalit families had marched to Delhi last year as on May 21st 2012 they have been thrown away from their village. In the hot summer they came bare-chested when the Jats of the village had imposed an economic sanction on them. It was clear that the Jats were not very happy with the growing assertion and 'happiness' of the Dalits. They were cheated first as Rs 1000/- was collected from them in the name of land allotment but that never happened. Huge village land is available in Haryana everywhere but the Jats are forcing the government not to distribute it to the Dalits particularly to the Dhanuks and Balmikis. When the Chudhas, Dhanuks, Dhedhs (all the most marginalized Dalit communities) raised question about their land rights, the Jats threatened with the same consequences like some other communities like Chamars and Kumhars.
Shockingly, the Haryana government of Bhupendra Singh Hooda filed a case of sedition against one of the activist fighting for the rights of the Dalits. It happened with the Dalits were protesting against the callousness of the administration and burnt the effigies of the chief minister. Rather than compensating the Dalits the government and political parties across the spectrum have not taken care of their issues. Dalits are not allowed to visit the temples too if they wish to. Bhagana village's incident is not alone, the Jats and their Khaps are a threat to very essence of democracy. Now the Khaps of over 58 villages have asked government not to distribute village communal land to Dalits. Actually, the real cause of tension between the Jats and the Dalits is the war between them for the land rights. The land reform have absolutely been failed by the powerful peasantry in India and in the Jat heartland of Haryana and Western Uttar Pradesh as well as Rajasthan. The Dalits have been demanding their land rights for years but the Jat resistance is so powerful that no political party is ready to take up the issue for them.
The Dalits of village Bhagana have been on a protest sitting at the Mini Secretariat for over two years and now the police is forcibly evicting them. They came to Delhi and sat on Jantar Mantar in the hope that something would materialize but nothing happened. Now this atrocious and heinous crime against Dalit women in Haryana and things are not moving.
Haryana is a classic case of how Indian democracy function and how India really remained unchanged as far as social structure is concerned in our villages. A story very similar to other 'progressive states' such as Gujarat, Tamilnadu and Andhra Pradesh where such kind of economic and social boycott have been a tool in the hands of powerful peasantry to demolish and crush the very identity and dignity of the people.
While the Dalits who remain at the receiving end in Haryana and elsewhere at the hands of Jaats have got nothing but powerful Jaats have been given OBC status. It is shameful that such a powerful and landed community is given such a status which is a clear violation of basic decency of political life. Jats have never considered them as OBC and always took pride in their being Aryan Jamindars, a term which others may not like.
Jantar Mantar's irony
At the Jantar Mantar, I speak to Jagdish, a young Dalit activist and other elders from village Bhagana who are sitting on the protest from April 16th. The young girls and their parents are there. Most of them are covered.
How a tragic that those who commit crime walks openly while those who are victimized have to hide their faces. No police protection, no compensation, no assurances so far. The pain and anger is visible in their eyes as they are fed up with preaching and assurances by 'leaders'. An old man walks in and begins the conversation in a very 'informed' way. 'You should do 'this,' 'that' and involve activists, people, media' in your efforts. 'You must fight', he says. This is the battle of dignity of women of India. By this time Jagdish loses his temper, 'Who are you', he asks. The old man replies that he was part of
December 16th 'revolution'. It was disgusting to see such idiotic brahmanical mannerism when we all know that the incidents in Haryana need more serious attention of the nation. Jagdish cry at him,' Yes, Nirbhaya was an upper caste girl so you have pain for her sufferings but what about our sisters who face this humiliation at daily level in Haryana? Where are the people? We are Hindus when you need our vote but Dhanuks when we want to fetch water from the well and where is the media? Why don't they come and support. Kejriwal belong to Hisar but did not even bother to visit them despite of the fact that we met him once and he absolutely had no assurances for us. No political party including BSP has shown any interest on this issue in these times of politics. Now, some of his colleagues even defended Khap Panchayats even knowing the fact that they have only one meaning in Haryana which is denigrate and humiliate Dalits at all cost. It is not just inter- caste marriages which is being opposed by these Khapists, they have become law unto themselves. Now they are challenging the very essence of being a Dalit. They do not want them to be in their village. If you have to live in the village work as labours and slaves where anything could happen to you and state apparatus would not do anything. The writ of Indian constitution does not work there. Jantar Mantar gives us false hope as it only listens to the brahmanical lies and not to the pains and agony of the Dalits. Jantar Mantar keeps us under the wrong impression that this country is a 'secular socialist democratic republic' where we have allowed protests but have we resolved those issues?
Yesterday some students of JNU protested in front of Haryana Bhavan. They will protest for a few more days. We all will get tired with it. We will start thinking them as burden. The state has this habit of making them burden by delaying things so after some time the victim accuse those who stand with them as things do not move accordingly.
Internationalize the issue:
Where do we go? India's parliamentary democracy has failed Dalits. It has given some of them political representation and some more government jobs, much lower than their actual percentage but it has only tried to coopt them into the structure and did not give them right to live on their own conditions. The National Human Rights Commission, The National Commission for Women, The National Commission for Schedule Castes and the National Commission for Safai Karmcharis, all are autonomous bodies but look helpless and are like any other 'sarkari' department. Their working pattern is similar to other government agencies and hence do not really give us hope though for small cases they can do wonders. The state of India is helpless to the Manuwadis violent gangs in the name of social identities. Harayana is India's biggest scandal not in terms of land dealings but in terms of social chaos and politics of dominance.
International agencies, human rights bodies must act. It is time to question India on all the international forums for its inability to implement rule of law in Haryana. The Dalits in Haryana have not got justice. Dalits have not got justice elsewhere. You count any massacre in India of Dalits where they have got justice? The Andhra Pradesh High Court has released all the accused of the Tsunduru violence which was one of the worst massacre of Dalits in Andhra Pradesh.
Lakshmanpur Bathe and Bathani Tola in Bihar, Kumher in Rajasthan, caste victims of Dharmapuri, Bant Singh in Punjab etc have got no justice so far. It look justice eludes Dalits in India.
India's integrity is at stake? India's constitution is at stake. There is no point celebrating these fake 'dramas' of 'democracy' when we do not allow our people to live in dignity. It is disgusting, shameful and unbearable. I am writing India because Indian governments look helpless the powerful Jat lobby. It is not the question of which government comes to power in Delhi. Question is whether the Dalits in the villages will have right to live with dignity in their villages. Haryana's Dalits are seeking the answers from Indian state. It is time the institutions of Indian state function and provides justice to these girls of Dalit community who have become victim of the tyranny of the arrogant upper castes who are roaring for a new set of government which could be anti Dalits. It is the same tyrannical caste which played havoc in Mujaffarnagar and got scot free. It is time to implement the constitution of India in the Jat land otherwise no point in boasting your power of a mighty nation when the original inhabitant of India cannot live in their own country with dignity and respect.
Two Circles
"Caste is enforced through Dalit women's bodies"
By TCN News,
Cambridge, Massachusetts: Dalits are at the bottom of caste hierarchy in India and the caste system is enforced through Dalit women's bodies in the form of violence and abuse, said activists Asha Kotwal and Thenmozhi Soundarajan, who were in town to give details about a month-long "Dalit Mahila Swabhiman Yatra" in India.
Asha Kowtal, General Secretary of the India based All India Dalit Mahila Adhikar Manch (AIDMAM) and Thenmozhi Soundararajan, an activist and filmmaker based in New York presented a report back to a full house at MIT on a self-respect march they participated in India in Feb-Mar this year. The event was sponsored by Association for India's Development (MIT & Boston chapters) and Ambedkar International Center.
Called the "Dalit Mahila Swabhiman Yatra" or the "Dalit Women's Self-Determination March," the journey covered 4 states in north India and lasted more than a month, from Feb 17 to Mar 12. Aimed to put "political pressure on officials, call out perpetrators and raise the continued cry for justice," the march was an expression of "issues regarding caste and women."
"This is not a new situation for Dalit women in India," Soundararajan said, referring the cases of sexual violence that has afflicted women of the lower caste."This is a war fought with bodies of Dalit women."
Beginning their presentation with an explanation of caste hierarchy in India, they explained that Dalits, which means "broken," were the former untouchables outside the pale of the traditional four classes in Hinduism.
They also drew linkages between the traditional castes and the control of resources - with the upper castes cornering the lion's share.
It is this hierarchy with Dalits at the bottom that also gives rise to a mindset of control. "Caste and patriarchy operate together," Kowtal said. "The mindset of the upper classes is very clear - the lower social status of Dalit women is equal to their being of a low character," she added.
The idea of the march had its genesis in the gruesome incidents of violence against Dalit women in Sep-Oct 2012 in the state of Haryana. "It was a journey for justice to create a space for duty bearers and also provide space for survivors to reclaim their dignity," Kowtal explained.
"It was an emotive capacity-building process," Soundararajan added, "The Dalit women were making a statement that they would no longer be in darkness."
News Updates 26.04.14
Minor gang-raped in Noida; cops allegedly refused to file case- NDTV
NDTV
Minor gang-raped in Noida; cops allegedly refused to file case
Noida: In yet another incident highlighting the continued apathy towards women, a minor Dalit girl has alleged that the police did not register a case after she was repeatedly gang-raped over four days allegedly by a group of men in a village in Noida near Delhi.
The girl, 14, was attending a wedding in Salarpur village on April 17 when she was abducted allegedly by seven men. When her family approached the police, they allegedly refused to lodge a complaint. The girl, meanwhile, was gang-raped several times allegedly by five men, and was then dumped at a secluded spot on April 20, close to the place from where she had been kidnapped.
When the girl, along with her family, again went to the local police to file a first information report (FIR), the cops allegedly refused again. The cops, in fact, allegedly urged the teen and the family to agree to a compromise with the accused.
A case of rape has now been filed after the matter was brought to the knowledge of senior police officials. The accused, though, are on the run.
News Updates 27.04.14
After 20 years, 8 get jail for parading dalit woman naked- The Times Of India
The Times Of India
After 20 years, 8 get jail for parading dalit woman naked
ALLAHABAD: A special SC/ST court here sentenced eight persons to 18 years of imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 on each for parading a dalit woman naked in 1994 at Daunapur village in Ghoorpur in 1994. The case had shook the nation and the woman was awaiting justice for 20 years, despite getting assurance from every political heavyweight.
Accused Ajayab Lal, Rajnath, Salik, Khadak, Ramgopal, Deenanath, Kantha and Lurkhur have been convicted and sentenced under several Sections of IPC (147, 504/149, 506, 354, 149) and some sections of SC/ST Act.
The eight accused will have to undergo rigorous imprisonment of a total of 18 years.
Likewise, each of the accused will have to deposit a sum of Rs 50, 000 and half of the fine will be paid to victim Shivpatiya as compensation.
Special judge, SC/ST court, Viqar Ahmed Ansari said that the court has also found 11 other accused guilty of charges under Section 147, 148, 506/149, 354/149 of IPC and some Sections of SC/ST Act. The court has said that these accused are on bail. Their bail bonds be cancelled and sureties discharged.
The court has directed the district magistrate for protection to the victim, her dependants, the complainant and the witness to secure the ends of justice. It was also directed that they shall be relocated to somewhere else where they can live with dignity as there is threat to them by the accused. P 8
The incident took place in 1994 at Daunapur village where a dalit woman, Shivpatiya, was paraded naked by influential villagers of the same village over a pity issue. She was subjected to brutal atrocity while returning back to the village after collecting fodder grass. A group of men wanted to teach her a lesson, following a fight between children of the village over a pity issue.
After the incident, the then top leaders in the state, including the then chief minister Mulayam Singh Yadav and Bahujan Samaj Party's founder Kanshi Ram, had visited the village. They had promised that the perpetrators would be dealt with firmly. A job for the victim's son and monetary help was also offered.
Several NGOs and other organisations also reached the village and promised help to the victim.
There were 22 accused in the case, three of whom had died. The rest were out on bail and there were 10 witnesses, eight of them from the victim's family. One investigation officer expired during the trial. It took two years for recording the statements of the victim and her husband.
The case under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including rioting, outraging the modesty of a woman, criminal intimidation and criminal conspiracy, was registered on January 21, 1994. The accused were also booked under various Sections of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
The chargesheet was filed on February 7, 1994. The case was transferred to the additional sessions judge on June 24, 1994. On October 10, 2007, it was sent to a fast track court. However, a decision could not be reached and it was brought back to the court of Special Judge (SC/ST Act) in May, 2011 and the decision was declared on Saturday.
News Updates 30.04.14
Govt challenges acquittal of 4 in gang-rape case- The Times Of India
The Times Of India
Govt challenges acquittal of 4 in gang-rape case
CHANDIGARH: Taking cognizance of Haryana government's plea against the acquittal of four accused in the infamous Dabra gang-rape case, the Punjab and Haryana high court on Tuesday issued notice to the four persons.
A division bench comprising Justice Rajive Bhalla and Justice Amol Rattan Singh asked the accused to file reply on the state's appeal on July 4. Besides the state government, the victim - a 16-year-old Dalit girl - has also filed an appeal seeking punishment for all the four who were acquitted by the trial court.
She has submitted that the trial court had committed an error while acquitting the four who were equally responsible for the offence. The incident took place on September 9, 2012 when 8 persons allegedly raped the Dalit girl. The accused had recorded the incident on cell phones and later circulated the MMS clippings on the web.
The matter was reported to the police on September 19, 2013 when the girl's father committed suicide and the matter was widely reported in media. Police later arrested 8 persons and booked them for rape while two others were booked for harboring the accused.
The district and sessions court of Hisar in May 2013 had sentenced four youths - Pawan, Vikas, Rajkumar and Baljit, all residents of Dabra village - to life imprisonment but four others - Anil, Mahender, Kuldeep and Sunil - were acquitted. Two other accused Suresh and Sultan, who were booked for harbouring the accused, were also acquitted.
The appeal of Haryana government has come almost one year after the acquittal. According to sources, initially the law officers of the state had found the case unfit for appeal before the high court. However, after the victim's family strongly demanded filing of an appeal against the trial court's verdict, the state government decided to file the appeal.
The National Commission for Scheduled Caste had also recommended filing of an appeal challenging the acquittal.
News Updates 01.05.14
Gangrape accused arrested in Noida- IBN Live
http://ibnlive.in.com/news/gangrape-accused-arrested-in-noida/468761-3-242.html
IBN Live
Gangrape accused arrested in Noida
http://ibnlive.in.com/news/gangrape-accused-arrested-in-noida/468761-3-242.html
Police on Wednesday arrested a gangrape accused, who has been absconding for the past month, an official said.
Fahimmudin, who had raped a Dalit girl in Salarpur area last month along with four other accomplices, was arrested on Wedneday, he said.
The accused with four accomplices kidnapped and raped the victim when she had come to her relative's home to attend a marriage ceremony. Police are trying to nab the other four accused who are still at large, he said.
News Updates 04.05.14
Two students held for abetting suicide of 20-year-old female colleague- IBN Live
IBN Live
Two students held for abetting suicide of 20-year-old female colleague
Two B.SC students were on Saturday arrested for allegedly abetting the suicide of a 20-year-old Dalit girl, their college mate whom they had been harassing for over one year, police said.
Akansha, a B.SC first year student, committed suicide on April 21 by hanging herself from the ceiling fan at her residence in Nandgram area, they said.
In a suicide note recovered from her room, Akansha had allegedly blamed her three classmates - Aakash, Ashutosh and Ankur - for her death.
Aakash and Ashutosh were on Saturday arrested by the Crime Branch of the UP Police after a detailed investigation of the case, police said, adding that they were also booked under the SC/ST Act.
The accused are also B.SC students of the same college as the victim and knew her for a long time, police said.
"Aakash and Ashutosh used to mentally harass Akansha by sending her obscene messages on Facebook.
When the victim deleted them from her friend list, Aakash opened seven fake accounts on Facebook and again started harassing her," said a senior police official.
The official said Aakash and Ashutosh would also send obscene messages to Akansha on her mobile phone.
Police have booked the duo for abetment to suicide and charges under the IT Act and SC/ST Act.
"Police have found 300 chats between Aakash and Akansha from January to April 20 this year. Ashutosh was also harassing her. We found roles of Ashutosh and Aakash in abetting her suicide, but police are also scanning the role of Ankur.
"If Ankur, who is named in the FIR registered by the victim's parents after her suicide, is also found involved, police would definitely arrest him," he said.
News Updates 08.05.14
Two women booked under SC/ST Act- The Hindu
The Hindu
Two women booked under SC/ST Act
The Coimbatore District Rural Police have booked two women under the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 for abusing a woman belonging to the Arunthathiyar community.
According to the complainant, she had a land dispute with her neighbours J. Jagajothi of Kamanickenpalayam.
A quarrel broke out on Sunday over this issue and Jagajothi and her friend allegedly abused the complainant by her caste and also assaulted her.
The complainant suffered leg injuries and was admitted to the Government Hospital at Palladam and later shifted to the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital (CMCH).
Based on her complaint, the Negamam Police have registered a case and invoked Sections 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) of the Indian Penal Code read with various provisions of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
The Deputy Superintendent of Police, Pollachi, is leading the investigations into the case.
14 arrested
Alandurai Police, who raided a hideout on Pethichetti Street on Tuesday on a tip off, arrested 14 persons on the charges of gambling.
They Police recovered cards and Rs. 9,230. Cases have been registered in this connection.
News Updates 09.05.14
Tope visits village where Dalit sarpanch was murdered- Business Standard
Business Standard
Tope visits village where Dalit sarpanch was murdered
Minister for Higher and Technical Education and district guardian minister Rajesh Tope and Dalit leader Eknath Awad today visited Nanegaon in Badnapur tehsil where a dalit sarpanch was murdered.
Additional Director General of Police Vishnu D Mishra and Inspector General of Police Amitesh Kumar also visited the village.
Manoj Kasab, the sarpanch, was assaulted by some villagers on April 3; he died in hospital on April 5.
A former sarpanch has been accused of involvement in the attack.
News Updates 10.05.14
INLD leader held on rape charge - The Tribune
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2014/20140510/haryana.htm#11
The Tribune
INLD leader held on rape charge
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2014/20140510/haryana.htm#11
Rohtak, May 9
A local INLD leader has been arrested on the charge of raping a backward class woman luring her with a job.
Davinder Saini (30), who contested the municipal elections from ward 13 here last year, took the victim to a factory on Hisar Road on the pretext of getting her a job and allegedly raped her on Wednesday evening. He later abandoned her after threatening her of dire consequences in case she revealed the matter.
The woman, however, reported the matter to the police. Another youth who acted as the link between the woman and Saini is still at large.
Meanwhile, the police have arrested two persons for allegedly killing their friend, Narender Kumar(30) hailing from Bhali Anandpur village in the district, over a monetary dispute.
Deepak and Mohan allegedly strangled Narender tand burnt his body after sprinkling petrol on it at Kot village in Jhajjar district.
Narender's family members got a missing complaint lodged on February 24.
While the local police were looking for the accused, the Rajasthan police arrested them in Sikar district in connection with a kidnapping case.
During interrogation, they confessed their involvement in Narender's murder following which the Rajasthan police informed the Rohtak police.
News Updates 13.05.14
Neighbour allegedly rapes minor girl in Dagarpur village- IBN Live
IBN Live
Neighbour allegedly rapes minor girl in Dagarpur village
A Dalit minor girl was allegedly raped by her neighbour in Dagarpur village of the district, police said on Monday.
According to the FIR lodged by the girl's father at Sadar Police Station, the accused raped the girl inside a room of his house on Sunday night.
A case has been registered against the youth and investigation is on, police said.
News Updates 14.05.14
Three youths gang-rape minor girl during wedding ceremony- TFPJ
http://freepressjournal.in/three-youths-gang-rape-minor-girl-during-wedding-ceremony/
Rape victim's uncle attempts suicide - The Tribune
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2014/20140514/haryana.htm#23
TFPJ
Three youths gang-rape minor girl during wedding ceremony
http://freepressjournal.in/three-youths-gang-rape-minor-girl-during-wedding-ceremony/
SHIVPURI: Three youths dragged a 13-year-old girl to a house and gang-raped her in a village under Khaniandhana police station area on Monday night. The girl was watching a marriage procession when the accused took her to a nearby house where they raped her. The accused fled from the house when some villagers reached there after hearing the girl's screams.
The girl's father had gone to another village to participate in a wedding while her physically disabled girl was at home. He filed a complaint at Khaniandhana police station. The three accused have been booked under section 376 B of the IPC, sections 3, 2 (5) of the SC/ST Act and section 4 of Protection of Children from Sexual Offence Act, 2012.
According to sources, the incident took place at Devkho village during the marriage of Virendra Pal's daughter. The girl was at Pal's house and watching the wedding procession when accused Pran Singh, son of Gulva Kushwaha, Manoj, son of Kamla Koli, Shankar, son of Mangalia Koli forcibly took her Shankar's house.
Pran Singh raped the girl first after which Manoj took the turn. The other villagers including Bhadda Jatav, Jagdish Chouhan, Arjan and Sukhlal were passing by Shankar's house where they heard the girl's screams for help. The accused escaped from the house when the villagers entered the house after breaking open the door.
The villagers took the girl to her house where her physically challenged mother was alone during her husband's absence. The cops have launched a hunt to nab the accused after the victim's father filed a case.
The Tribune
Rape victim's uncle attempts suicide
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2014/20140514/haryana.htm#23
Hisar, May 13
An uncle of one of the four minor girls of Bhagana village, who were raped in March, attempted suicide by consuming poison at his residence last night. While the police have booked him under Section 309 of the IPC, he alleged that he took the step as he was being pressurised to withdraw the case by some of the villagers.
Talking to The Tribune from the PGIMS, Rohtak, over phone, he alleged that some villagers belonging to the upper caste Jats had been pressuring him to withdraw the rape and abduction case against the village youths.
When asked whether anyone visited him at his residence to threaten him in this regard, he denied, while reiterating that he tried to end his life because he was unable to cope up with the growing pressure for compromise.
Meanwhile, the police spokesperson, Harish Bhardwaj, maintained that he had been booked for attempt to suicide by the Hisar sadar police station. The initial probe, however, denied any pressure from the rape accused, stating that the accused youths had been arrested.
The investigating officer in the case said he had been admitted to the hospital and was referred to the PGIMS, Rohtak, where his condition is said to be stable. In March, four girls belonging to the Dalit community were reportedly lured and raped by a group of upper caste youths.
The girls were recovered and taken back from the Bathinda railway station while the accused youths were later arrested by the Hisar police.
News Updates 15.05.14
Protest for release of girl who stabbed youth for attempting rap- The Times Of India
The Times Of India
Protest for release of girl who stabbed youth for attempting rape
FATEHGARH SAHIB: Around 200 labourers and dalit families of Badinpur village in Fatehgarh Sahib district staged a protest on Wednesday, demanding release of a jailed Dalit girl, who stabbed a youth who tried to rape her six months ago.
The girl has been languishing in jail for the past six months after police slapped attempt to murder charges on her. The youth, who allegedly attempted to rape the girl, belongs to an upper caste community and is her neighbour. While the police had charged Gurprit under Section 354 (A) for outraging her modesty, the girl was booked under Section 307 of IPC.
The girl had appeared for her class XII exams from Nabha jail, where she is currently lodged. The girl is the youngest of seven sisters and her father is a daily-wager. The incident occurred on December 2 last year, when the girl was alone at her home. "The girl's family had good relations with the neighbours. The youth is a relative of the girl's neighbours and was staying with them for the past few days. On the day of the incident, the girl had gone to the neighbour's house seeking help in some domestic work. The neighbour's family sent the boy with her but he tried to rape her. When the girl raised an alarm, the boy fled," said Aman Deol, leader of Istri Jagriti Manch, a women's organization, which led the protest in front of Mandi Gobindgarh police station.
"Later, the girl complained to the neighbours against the youth but they allegedly used derogatory remarks against her caste. Outraged over this, she stabbed the youth," said Deol, demanding that the youth should be charged for attempt to rape and also under SC/ST Act.
Rajeev Lohatbaddi, president of Democratic Lawyers' Association, the organization which today constituted the team of lawyers to independently inquire the matter, alleged that instead of taking any action against the assailant, the police, on the next day, arrested the girl and slapped charges of attempt to murder against her.
"They took her away from her home on December 3 and later informed the family that they had arrested the girl," said Lohatbaddi.
News Updates 26.05.14
Minor sets herself on fire after rape bid- The Times Of India
The Times Of India
Minor sets herself on fire after rape bid
BHOPAL: Unable to face embarrassment, a dalit girl set herself on fire after a youth attempted to rape her at Ragauli village in Chhatarpur district on Sunday evening. The 14-year-old has sustained more than 90% burns and is battling for life at government hospital, police said.
Matguwa police station in charge S N Khamparia said, "Accused Santosh Ahirwar, 24, is a resident of Dharguan village. He had come to Ragauli to meet his friend." In dying declaration, the girl said the accused tried to rape her when she had gone to neighbourhood in afternoon, but somehow managed to escape after pushing him away, Khamparia told TOI.
"After the incident, the girl rushed to her home and set herself ablaze after pouring kerosene," he said.
Villagers informed 108 ambulance service and she was rushed to the government hospital. It was from the hospital that police came to know about the incident around 8 pm, he said.
"The accused is on the run and police teams would be sent to nab him," he said.
News Updates 27.05.14
2 minors raped in separate incidents- The Asian Age
http://www.asianage.com/mumbai/2-minors-raped-separate-incidents-545
Bhanwari case: Court frames murder charges against all 17- Business Standard
The Asian Age
2 minors raped in separate incidents
http://www.asianage.com/mumbai/2-minors-raped-separate-incidents-545
Two cases of sexual assaults on minor girls were reported in Osmanabad and Jalna districts. One of the victims is a Dalit and the other was gangraped by three people.
In the first case, a 21-year-old youth, Umesh Birajdar, has been arrested for repeatedly raping a 17-year-old Dalit girl on the promise of marrying her, at village Omarga in the Osmanabad district between January and April last year. An officer from the Omarga police station said the girl is from Hadapsar in Pune and lives with one of her relatives in the village.
Meanwhile, in Jalna, a 13-year-old girl was subjected to gangrape by three teenagers, all minors, at village Avhana in Bhokardan tehsil on May 16, according to DSP Vikrant Deshmukh. Apart from raping her at knifepoint, they also shot the crime on a cellphone camera. The victim finally mustered the courage and approached the Bhokardan police, after which a case was registered on Sunday and the accused were detained by the police later. The victim has stated that she had gone to a woman's house to watch TV and after some time, the woman went out for some work. Then, the trio barged in and subjected her to sexual assault one by one. All the accused are aged between 15 to 17 years.
Business Standard
Bhanwari case: Court frames murder charges against all 17
Almost three years after the murder of auxiliary nurse Bhanwari Devi, a court here will commence the trial from June 23 while it framed murder charges against all the 17 accused in the sensational murder case today.
Bhanwari was killed in 2011 and the case had hogged the limelight after Rajasthan Minister Mahipal Maderna was sacked for his alleged involvement in the case.
Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (SC/ST Cases), where the trial will take place, today directed the CBI to produce the list of the prosecution witnesses to be examination.
"The court has fixed June 23 to 28 for the initial phase of the examination of the witnesses for the trial," said Senior Special CBI counsel Ashok Joshi.
"We would submit the list of our witnesses with their order to be produced in the court during this 6-day period," the lawyer said.
Before this, the judge, Mahendra Kumar, today reread the charges against all the 16 accused in their presence, except absconder Indra Bishnoi.
Today's proceeding took place after the decision of the revision petition moved by the CBI in the High Court in December 2012. The petition was decided on Friday.
"In the fresh reframing, all the accused have been charged under Section 302, 364, 120 B and 201 of IPC, while the charges under SC/ST Act have been struck down by the court," said Joshi.
Earlier, the trial of the case was to begin from January 15, 2013 and a schedule of 4 days had been listed by the court then with the CBI having submitted the list of the prosecution witnesses.
But revision petitions from both the sides delayed the start of trial.
"On account of the slew of the revision petitions from both the sides, the trial could not begin then and it took about 16 months for all these petitions to be decided," said Joshi.
News Updates 28.05.14
Dalit minor rape case - Hindustan Times
http://www.hindustantimes.com/punjab/bathinda/dalit-minor-rape-case/article1-1223485.aspx
Hindustan Times
Dalit minor rape case
http://www.hindustantimes.com/punjab/bathinda/dalit-minor-rape-case/article1-1223485.aspx
The district police seem to be trying everything to quell snowballing of protests by parents and farmers demanding arrest of the third accused in the alleged rape of minor Dalit girl in Gandhar village of Muktsar district.
Perhaps, it's the reason that despite the parents and farmers detained from outside the residence of Paramraj Singh Umaranangal, inspector general of police (IGP), Bathinda Zone, police are not willing to reveal the location, where they have been kept.
As many as 11 protesters, including Bhola Singh, father of the victim, and 10 other women, including mother Charanjit Kaur, were picked by police while they were protesting outside the IGP residence.
Deputy superintendent of police (DSP) Gurjit Singh Ramana said a meeting of protesters was fixed with Yurinder Singh Hayer, deputy inspector general (DIG) of police, Bathinda range, in this connection.
When contacted Hayer said none of the protesters came to meet him and claimed that they might have gone to the office of senior superintendent of police (SSP) Gurpreet Singh Bhullar.
However, Bhullar too denied to have met the protesters, stating that the matter did not fall in his jurisdiction so there was no relevance in him meeting the protesters.
He claimed that the protesters were detained at the Vardhman police post. However, Gurmail Singh, in charge of the Vardhman police post, denied the claim.
A police official on condition of anonymity said the detained protesters were taken to the Vardhman police post, but the police administration did not want to reveal it.
Meanwhile, 10 protesters, who were arrested on Monday, have been sent in judicial custody till June 2.
General secretary of the Punjab Khet Mazdoor Union Lachhman Singh Sewewala, meanwhile, declared that the activists of his organisation and BKU (Ekta-Ugrahan) would stage a protest outside the mini secretariat building on daily-basis and would court arrest.
Notably, the parents and the farmers are demanding arrest of the third accused, Gurlal Singh.
The protesters alleged that despite the accused being declared a proclaimed offender by the court, he was roaming free in the village and the Muktsar police were not arresting him.
The girl was allegedly raped by three persons of upper caste on January 24. Two of accused Manpreet Singh and Baljeet Singh have already been arrested.
News Updates 29.05.14
Girl gang-raped in UP's Azamgarh district - The Times Of India
Dalit sisters rape: Akhilesh for fast-track court to punish accused - The Hindu
The Times Of India
Girl gang-raped in UP's Azamgarh district
PTI | May 30, 2014, 02.23 PM IST
AZAMGARH: A teenage dalit girl was allegedly gang-raped by four people in Saraimeer area of the district, police said on Friday.
The incident took place on Thursday night when four men allegedly caught the 17-year-old girl here and gang-raped her in a nearby field, they said.
The accused have been identified as Mukesh, Arvind, Vikram and Durgesh.
Police said all four accused fled the spot after the crime.
An FIR has been lodged in this connection and the hunt is on to nab the four accused, they said.
The incident comes just two days after the shocking gang-rape case of two dalit sisters in Badaun in the state, whose bodies were found hanging from a tree.
The Hindu
Dalit sisters rape: Akhilesh for fast-track court to punish accused
PTI
The Uttar Pradesh CM also sanctioned financial assistance of Rs. 5 lakh each to the families of the two girls who were gang-raped and murdered in Badaun.
Terming the gang-rape and murder of two Dalit sisters in Badaun as "unfortunate", Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Friday ordered the police to arrest all the accused immediately and said a fast-track court should be constituted to ensure that they were duly punished.
The CM also sanctioned financial assistance of Rs. 5 lakh each to the families of the victims.
Akhilesh, who was reviewing the progress of the case with DGP A.L. Banerjee and other senior officials, said such incidents should not be repeated at any cost, according to official sources.
Coming down heavily on the police, the Chief Minister said the case was "unfortunate" and all accused should be arrested immediately.
He said a fast—track court should be constituted to ensure that the accused get due punishment, the sources said.
He also said that the families of the victims should be given security as well as all necessary help, they added.
Of the seven accused in the case, three, including a policeman, have been arrested.
The two girls, who were cousins and aged 14 and 15, went missing from their house on the night of May 27 and their bodies were found hanging from a mango tree in the village in Ushait area the next morning.
News Updates 31.05.14
UP govt recommends CBI probe into Badaun gangrapes - The Hindu
The Hindu
UP govt recommends CBI probe into Badaun gangrapes
PTI
Under attack from Opposition parties, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday decided to recommend a CBI probe into the gangrape and murder of two dalit sisters in Badaun.
"The Chief Minister has decided to recommend a CBI probe into Badaun incident as demanded by family members of the victims," an official release said here.
"The formalities in this regard will be completed soon," it added.
The family of two murdered teenage girls had demanded a CBI probe into the incident saying they had no faith in local police which was "hand in glove" with the accused.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who visited the village of the two dalit sisters on Saturday, also supported the family's demand for a CBI probe.
A team of National Commission for Women (NCW) had also faulted the local police.
The Chief Minister had on Friday ordered constitution of a fast track court to ensure justice to the victims' family and announced a compensation of Rs five lakh each to them.
BSP supremo Mayawati too had pressed for a CBI probe in the matter while demanding of imposition of President's rule in the State over alleged failure of the Samajwadi Party Government to maintain law and order.
Union Women and Child Welfare Minister Maneka Gandhi had on Friday said that if the family members of the girls wanted, she would recommend a CBI probe into the incident.
The two teenage dalit sisters, who were cousins aged 14 and 15 years, were allegedly gangraped and murderd with their bodies found hanging from a mango tree in Katra village.
The girls went missing on May 27 and their bodies were found hanging on May 28.
All the five named in the FIR including constables Sarvesh Yadav, Chhatrapal Yadav and three brothers Pappu Yadav, Awadhesh Yadav and Urvesh Yadav have been arrested. The FIR was registered against seven including two unnamed.
While services of Sarvesh and Chhatrapal have been terminated, sub—inspector Ram Vilas Yadav had been suspended.
News Updates 01.06.14
We don't want money. We want justice: Family of Badaun gang-rape victims- DNA
Rape survivors battle for justice- The Times Of India
UP govt recommends CBI probe into Badaun gangrapes- The Hindu
Lack of toilets proves a serious threat to women's safety- The Hindu
DNA
We don't want money. We want justice: Family of Badaun gang-rape victims
Dalit sisters' family refuses Rs 5-lakh compensation; Under pressure, Akhilesh sacks chief secretary, recommends CBI inquiry; Rahul visits girls' families.
Buffeted by criticism from political opponents, social activists and the media over the rape and murder of two teenaged Dalit sisters in Budaun, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday sacked the state's chief secretary Javed Usmani. He has been replaced by Alok Ranjan, a 1978 batch IAS officer, the senior-most bureaucrat in the state after Usmani.
All five accused, including two police constables, have been arrested, with the two cops being terminated from service. But the incident is turning out to be political nightmare for the SP regime. The ruling party and the government cut a sorry figure on Saturday as Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi met the victims' family even as state ministers and SP leaders stayed away. Even Budaun MP Dharmendra Yadav, SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav's nephew, failed to visit his constituents.
"No amount of money can repay a woman's honour," Rahul told reporters after meeting the family. He also demanded a CBI inquiry into the case.
Akhilesh has declared that the state government would soon refer the matter to the CBI. The girls' kin refused the Rs 5 lakh compensation the state has announced. "We don't want money. We want justice. We want the rapists to be hanged," one of the girls' father said.
The political storm is likely to gain momentum when BSP chief Mayawati meets the grieving family on Sunday.
Even as she dubbed the SP regime as "jungle raj", her party leader Sudhindra Bhadoria called on Akhilesh to resign, and asked the Centre to impose president's rule in the state if he declines to do so. "The state of lawlessness has reached its climax. Removing the officers is not enough. He (Akhilesh) himself should step down as chief minister, as he is not able to run the administration."
Akhilesh's move to sack Usmani is being viewed as sudden and surprising considering the chief secretary is not directly connected with the unseemly incident in any manner. "It's a law and order problem, and if any top official had to be sacked, it should have been the Additional DG (law and order) or the DGP," said a senior bureaucrat.
Political analysts say Akhilesh has made the move with several other objectives in mind in view of the severe drubbing the SP got in the Lok Sabha election: He wants to establish himself as a decisive administrator to fob off the image of a puppet CM whose strings are pulled by his father or other senior SP leaders.
"Akhilesh wants to show that he means business. He is also giving out a clear message that he is not in a mood to appease Muslims anymore," says senior journalist Pradeep Kapoor. "This is also a way to demonstrate that law and order is his top priority and there is zero per cent tolerance on this count," he added.
Faced with the uphill task of shoring up his party's fortunes in the next state elections due in 2017, Akhilesh will perhaps have to indulge in more meaningful action than merely axing the top brass.
'Have you faced danger?'
Questioned by reporters over the rise in incidents of rape in Uttar Pradesh, chief minister Akhilesh Yadav on Friday shot back at the journalist: "Aapko toh khatra nahin hua? (it's not as if you faced any danger?)."
The chief minister's counter-question left mediapersons stunned.
Akhilesh was in Kanpur on personal work when reporters started grilling him over the alarming rise in rape cases in the state. There have been four rapes over the last three days in UP, beginning with the sexual assault and murder of two Dalit teenagers in Badaun, followed by the rape of another Dalit teenager in Azamgarh. On Friday, a fourth girl was raped in Sharawasti.
Last month, Akhilesh's father and SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav had said: "Ladkon se galti ho jaati hai. Kya rape case mein phansi di jayegi? (Boys make mistakes, but should they be hanged for it?)"
The Times Of India
Rape survivors battle for justice
NEW DELHI: The rape and murder of the two teenage girls in Uttar Pradesh's Badaun district last Wednesday sent shockwaves across the country, and also threw into focus four rape survivors from Bhagana village in Hisar, Haryana, who have been protesting at Jantar Mantar in the national capital since April 16. Bhagana is some 170km from New Delhi.
The survivors, aged between 13 and 18 years, belong to the landless Dhanuk sub-caste, and worked for upper caste landowners. Villagers say the khap panchayat had imposed a social boycott against the caste group, forcing about 250 families to leave their homes and flee the village.
The displaced villagers say atrocities against them began over a 280-acre piece of common village land two years ago, which the Jats tried to usurp with the help of local authorities and the khap.
According to the rape survivors, on March 23, they went to a field to relieve themselves in the evening, a routine the families follow in the absence of toilets in their homes.
Five Jat men drugged them and forced them into a car. The girls were found the next day at Bathinda railway station in Punjab, some 160 km from their village.
The youngest survivor, a 13-year-old, says she remembers a strong-smelling handkerchief being thrust on her face. Her next memory of that time is waking at the station with bruises and torn clothes. She says she also recalls the weight of the bodies of the men, on her.
The four sit silently with their parents and members of their caste group, hiding their faces with scarves.
Father of one of the survivors said he worked with his entire family of four in the farm belonging to the village sarpanch, for a sum of Rs 50,000 a year.
On March 23, when the girls did not return till late evening, a frantic search began. Villagers approached the sarpanch, who assured them that the girls would soon be found. The next morning, villagers said, the sarpanch, with two of his relatives, drove them to Batinda in Punjab.
"He told us to stay in the car. The three of them went into the station. Half an hour later, they emerged with the girls, who were in shock, hiding their faces. Later, the girls told us that he had threatened them and told them not to reveal anything to anyone. But the girls named all the accused. Next morning we went the police station and filed an FIR. The girls were sent to the hospital for tests, they were made to wait for 8-9 hours," the father said.
In 2012, the khap panchayat had called for a social boycott of 130 Dalit families at Bhagana village, over the land dispute. Following the rape of the girls in March, 90 more families have fled the village.
"Rape is a weapon for revenge, suppression and humiliation against the lower caste. The police and administration belong to Jats in Haryana. We are treated like cattle," said Jagdish Kajla, a member of the Bhagana Kand Sangharsh Samiti, which is spearheading the fight for justice to the four girls.
In last two months, the villagers have made representations to the Haryana CM, Bhupinder Hooda, National Human Rights Commission, the National Commission for Women and the SC/ST Commission, but have got no reprieve.
Five people have been arrested so far in this case.
Protestors demand that an FIR be lodged against the sarpanch and his relatives, and compensation be granted to the victims and their families, to enable the rehabilitation of Dalit families.
Virender Singh Baghodia of the Bhagana Kand Sangharsh Samiti said, "The Jat sarpanch knew about the gang rape, but the police is scared to touch Jats. For us, the government and the khap are just the same."
The Hindu
UP govt recommends CBI probe into Badaun gangrapes
Under attack from Opposition parties, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday decided to recommend a CBI probe into the gangrape and murder of two dalit sisters in Badaun.
"The Chief Minister has decided to recommend a CBI probe into Badaun incident as demanded by family members of the victims," an official release said here.
"The formalities in this regard will be completed soon," it added.
The family of two murdered teenage girls had demanded a CBI probe into the incident saying they had no faith in local police which was "hand in glove" with the accused.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who visited the village of the two dalit sisters on Saturday, also supported the family's demand for a CBI probe.
A team of National Commission for Women (NCW) had also faulted the local police.
The Chief Minister had on Friday ordered constitution of a fast track court to ensure justice to the victims' family and announced a compensation of Rs five lakh each to them.
BSP supremo Mayawati too had pressed for a CBI probe in the matter while demanding of imposition of President's rule in the State over alleged failure of the Samajwadi Party Government to maintain law and order.
Union Women and Child Welfare Minister Maneka Gandhi had on Friday said that if the family members of the girls wanted, she would recommend a CBI probe into the incident.
The two teenage dalit sisters, who were cousins aged 14 and 15 years, were allegedly gangraped and murderd with their bodies found hanging from a mango tree in Katra village.
The girls went missing on May 27 and their bodies were found hanging on May 28.
All the five named in the FIR including constables Sarvesh Yadav, Chhatrapal Yadav and three brothers Pappu Yadav, Awadhesh Yadav and Urvesh Yadav have been arrested. The FIR was registered against seven including two unnamed.
While services of Sarvesh and Chhatrapal have been terminated, sub—inspector Ram Vilas Yadav had been suspended.
The Hindu
Lack of toilets proves a serious threat to women's safety
The acute shortage of toilets across the country has come to the fore again with the gang-rape and murder of two teenage Dalit girls in Badaun, Uttar Pradesh who went missing on the night of May 27th after they went to relieve themselves in the open because they did not have access to a toilet at home.
The lack of toilets impacts the safety of women and this had been highlighted by Amnesty International (India) when it had noted that "besides being a health hazard the lack of adequate sanitation facilities across India also poses a serious threat to the safety of women and girls forced to practice open defecation, making them more vulnerable to violence."
The lack of adequate toilet facilities had earlier been termed a major health hazard by the World Health Organisation (WHO) while the World Bank had identified it as one of the major contributors to malnutrition in India.
More than 600 million people – over half of India's population – defecate in the open, noted a World Bank report, worse not one State in the country is free of Open Defecation (OD), it had said.
While the WHO has estimated that at any given moment, half of the developing world's populace suffer from diseases associated with contaminated water and bad sanitation, Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak of non government organisation Sulabh International, who has long worked on the subject, believes the situation is far worse in India. "The Central Government claims that currently there is a shortfall of 43 per cent toilet access to general public. However, the truth is that only 30 per cent of the Indian population have access to safe and clean toilets," he said.
Adding that the lack of toilets poses a serious health hazard, he added: "States including Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh are among the worst offenders, though there is no State – including the Capital – where everyone has access to toilets."'
The 2011 Census of India provides some startling results: Nearly 12 per cent of urban households resort to OD and another 8 per cent use public or shared toilet facilities. The situation is far worse in smaller cities (population below 100,000), with OD rates around 22 per cent.
Though significantly less prevalent than in rural India, OD in urban settings poses more serious challenges.
With higher population densities and lack of safe spaces, OD affords little dignity and poses grave security risks for women.
Meanwhile, a World Bank working paper released earlier found that children exposed to more faecal germs don't grow as tall as children with less exposure. Studies have shown physical height is an important economic variable reflecting health and human capital.
News Updates 03.06.14
Minor, dalit girl raped in Ashoknagar, Narsinghpur- The Times Of India
In UP, 10-year-old gang-rape survivor abducted- The Times Of India
Badaun victims do not belong to SC/ST: U.P.- The Hindu
Raped, 4 Haryana teens on stir- The Times Of India
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/Raped-4-Haryana-teens-on-stir/articleshow/35965512.cms
Pregnant minor raped, killed- The Asian Age
http://www.asianage.com/india/pregnant-minor-raped-killed-569
Three minors raped, one murdered in separate incidents in Rajasthan- IBN Live
Gangrape in Badaun: UN condemns horrific crime against two Dalit teenaged girls in UP- The Financial Express
Gang rape exposes India's violent caste system- DW
http://www.dw.de/gang-rape-exposes-indias-violent-caste-system/a-17676877
The Times Of India
Minor, dalit girl raped in Ashoknagar, Narsinghpur
BHOPAL: An eight-year-old girl was allegedly raped by a youth in Ashoknagar district on Monday while three people were arrested for abducting and raping a teenaged dalit girl at Bagpaudi village of Narsinghpur district last night.
In the first incident, an eight-year-old was raped by a youth, at whose house in Naguakhedi village the survivor's elder sister worked as a maid. The minor had accompanied her sister for work on Monday when Golu Raghuvanshi, 20, took advantage of the situation and raped the minor, said superintendent of police Ashoknagar Tarun Nayak.
Sahdora police station in charge Virendra Singh Chouhan told Times of India the incident took place at around noon. "A complaint was lodged when the girl informed her parents," Chouhan said.
Meanwhile, three people were arrested from Bagpaudi village for abducting and raping a 14-year-old girl at a field in the village. Narsinghpur superintendent of police Manish Kapuria said, "In her statement, the survivor complained that the trio abducted her when she was outside her house. She was taken to a deserted field in the village and raped by Thakur while his two accomplices kept guard," Kapuria said.
Meanwhile as villagers reached the site looking for the girl the accused fled.
"All three accused were arrested by police personnel at Sation Ganj police outpost," he said. The accused were identified as Kanhaiya Thakur, Rahul Mehra and Binnu Kacchi, all residents of Bagapudi village.
The Times Of India
In UP, 10-year-old gang-rape survivor abducted
MEERUT: A 10-year-old girl, who was abducted and gang-raped allegedly by three men at a hostel in Ganganagar area in March, was again kidnapped on Sunday from outside her home, reportedly by friends of one of the accused who is in jail.
The incident has sent the police department into a tizzy as it is being blamed for not taking timely action in this matter. The police teams conducted raids throughout the night, but were not able to find the girl.
The victim's family claimed they had been receiving threats after lodging a police complaint on March 19 against the three accused. While one of them, Arvind, was arrested and sent to jail, the others are still at large.
SSP Omkar Singh said five police teams have been set up to trace the minor. He said the girl's parents had lodged a complaint against Arvind's mother and his two friends in connection with her abduction, following which an FIR under SC/ST Act was lodged against them. Arvind's mother has been arrested, police said.
The girl's family is alleging that the police did not pay heed to their demands for protection for the girl. They claimed that last month, an attempt was made on her life when a speeding car tried to mow her down. She escaped with a fractured leg.
However, police claim that say no demand for her protection was made.
The Hindu
Badaun victims do not belong to SC/ST: U.P.
With the Centre sending a letter to the Uttar Pradesh government asking why the SC/ST Act was not used against the accused in the Badaun gang-rape case, the Home Department here on Monday clarified that "the caste of the victims does not attract the Scheduled Castes and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act."
IG, Law and Order, Amrendra Sengar, said, "There is no confusion at the district level in this matter as the caste of the victims does not come under the Scheduled Caste or Tribe," the official said.
The official said he was not aware whether the letter recommending a CBI inquiry into the case, as announced by Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, has been sent to the Centre or not so far.
Earlier in the day, Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju said in Delhi: "The law is there. It is to protect the SCs and STs from atrocities. It was a clear case of atrocity on a weaker section of the society. We do not know why the State government has not slapped it [clauses] against the accused." Mr. Rijiju said the letter to the U.P. government was sent on Monday. According to sources, the two cousin sisters belonged to "shakya" caste, which comes under the category of Backward Castes. — PTI
The Times Of India
Raped, 4 Haryana teens on stir
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/Raped-4-Haryana-teens-on-stir/articleshow/35965512.cms
NEW DELHI: The rape and murder of the two teenage girls in Uttar Pradesh's Badaun district last Wednesday sent shockwaves across the country, and also threw into focus four rape survivors from Bhagana village in Hisar, Haryana, who have been protesting at Jantar Mantar in the national capital since April 16.
Bhagana is some 170 km from New Delhi.
The survivors, aged between 13 and 18 years, belong to the landless Dhanuk sub-caste, and worked for upper caste landowners. Villagers say the khap panchayat had imposed a social boycott against the caste group, forcing 250 families to leave their homes and flee the village.
The displaced villagers say atrocities against them began over a 280-acre piece of common village land two years ago, which the Jats tried to usurp with the help of local authorities and the khap.
According to the rape survivors, on March 23, they went to a field to relieve themselves in the evening, a routine the families follow in the absence of toilets in their homes.
Five Jat men dragged them and forced them into a car. The girls were found the next day at Bathinda railway station in Punjab, some 160 km from their village.
The youngest survivor, a 13-year-old, says she remembers a strong-smelling handkerchief being thrust on her face. Her next memory of that time is waking at the station with bruises and torn clothes. She says she also recalls the weight of the bodies of the men, on her. The four sit silently with their parents and members of their caste group, their faces covered in scarves.
Father of one of the survivors says he worked with his entire family of four in the farm belonging to the village sarpanch, for a sum of Rs 50,000 a year.
On March 23, when the girls did not return till late evening, a frantic search began. Villagers approached the sarpanch, who assured them that the girls would soon be found.
The next morning, villagers said, the sarpanch, with two of his relatives, drove them to Bathinda in Punjab.
"He told us to stay in the car. The three of them went into the station. Half an hour later, they emerged with the girls, who were in shock, hiding their faces. Later, the girls told us he threatened them and told them not to reveal anything to anyone. The girls, however, named all the accused. Next morning we went the police station and filed an FIR. The girls were sent to the hospital for tests, they were made to wait for 8-9 hours," the father said. In 2012, the khap panchayat called for a social boycott of 130 Dalit families at Bhagana village, over the land dispute. Following the girls' rape in March, 90 more families have fled the village.
"Rape is a weapon for revenge, suppression and humiliation against the lower caste. The police and administration belong to Jats in Haryana. We are treated like cattle," said Jagdish Kajla, a member of the Bhagana Kand Sangharsh Samiti, which is spearheading the fight for justice to the four girls.
In last two months, the villagers have made representations to the Haryana CM, Bhupinder Hooda, National Human Rights Commission, the National Commission for Women and the SC/ST Commission, but have got no reprieve. Five people have been arrested so far in this case. Protestors demand that an FIR be lodged against the sarpanch and his relatives, and compensation be granted to the victims and their families, to enable the rehabilitation of Dalit families.
Virender Singh Baghodia of the Bhagana Kand Sangharsh Samiti said, "The Jat sarpanch knew about the gang rape, but the police is scared to touch Jats. For us, the government and the khap are just the same."
The Asian Age
Pregnant minor raped, killed
http://www.asianage.com/india/pregnant-minor-raped-killed-569
The chief minister said that she has instructed the DGP about strict action against the accused and that they should get punishment at the earliest
Badaun, Bareilly or Jhalawar, the place may be different, but girls live under same fear. While the country is yet to overcome shock and anger from gruesome rape and murder of two dalit girls in Uttar Pradesh, a minor pregnant girl was gangraped and killed in the VVIP district of Jhalawar.
The victim's body was found near a water body outside Kholi village on Sunday, which falls under chief minister Vasundhara Raje's constituency Jhalarapatan while her son Dushyant Singh is member of Parliament from Jhalawar. This is second incident in Jhalawar after rape of a five year old girl.
The 15-year-old girl went missing after she had gone for grazing cattle on Saturday. Her family searched for her whole night after she didn't return in the evening. In the morning, villagers found her bruised body, which also had several burn marks on body, suspecting that the accused had burnt her with cigarettes and bidis.
While the victim's family accused three persons of the village with whom it had old rivalry, the enraged villagers had refused to take the body demanding arrest of the culprits and compensation for the victim's family.
However, they later relented after the senior police and district administration officials rounded up a young person and announced compensation of `3 lakh.
According to the police, there were clear strangulation marks on the body. During the post-mortem, the girl was found to be pregnant for six months.
Meanwhile, chief minister Vasundhara Raje said that she is disturbed with the recent incidents of rapes and her sympathise are with the families of the victims. Ms Raje said she has instructed the DGP about strict action against the accused and that they should get punishment at the earliest.
About gangrape and murder of the minor girl, she said that the accused have been arrested and sent to judicial custody.
IBN Live
Three minors raped, one murdered in separate incidents in Rajasthan
Three minor girls were allegedly raped, and one of them murdered in separate incidents in Rajasthan, police said on Monday.
A 14-year-old girl, a resident of Kholi village, had gone to graze her goats in forest area when she went missing Saturday afternoon. She was found dead on Sunday morning about a kilometre away from the village, Hari Singh, SHO Bakani police station said.
"The family of the girl alleged that she was raped and then strangled to death by Pappu Lal Tanwar (23), his cousin Shyam Lal (21) and Lalchand Tanwar from the same village. The accused were booked under sections 302 (murder), 376 (rape) of IPC and sections of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act," the SHO said.
"Two of the accused were arrested today," Circle Officer Khushal Singh said. Doctors have not ruled out rape before murder of the minor but it will be confirmed only after the forensic science laboratory report is received, they said. The body of the minor was handed over to the family on Sunday after postmortem for performing last rites. Her family members demonstrated in front of the police station with her body. Later, District collector Vishnu Charan Malik announced a Rs 3 lakh compensation to the grieving family.
In another incident, a 5-year-old girl was raped by her neighbour on Saturday night in Narayanpura village.
Hamraj Kanjar raped the minor girl on Saturday night when she was sleeping on the roof of her house with her 8-year-old brother, Sudhir Kumar, SHO Mahila police station said.
"Hearing her cries, her parents, who were sleeping on the ground floor rushed upstairs and took the victim to Jhalawar district hospital where she is undergoing treatment. Her condition is stable," Kumar said.
Kumar said a case under section 376 (rape) of IPC and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act was lodged on Sunday against the accused following which he was arrested.
A medical test of the accused, who is believed to be a juvenile, was also conducted to ascertain his actual age. PCC Chief Sachin Pilot would visit the families of both rape victims on Tuesday in Jhalawar, according to a PCC spokesperson.
In another case, a 15-year-old Dalit girl was raped in her house in Ladli ka baas village in Dausa district.
"Kanaram Meena (26) raped the girl when she was alone in the house yesterday," SHO Nangal Rajawatan Murari Lal said, adding that the victim was admitted to a hospital and the accused has been arrested.
The Financial Express
Gangrape in Badaun: UN condemns horrific crime against two Dalit teenaged girls in UP
The United Nations has condemned the "brutal" gangrape and murder of two Dalit teenaged girls last week in Uttar Pradesh's Badaun district, calling for immediate action against the perpetrators and to address violence against women and girls across India.
"There should be justice for the families of the two teenaged girls and for all the women and girls from lower caste communities who are targeted and raped in rural India.
Violence against women is not a women's issue, it's a human rights issue," Resident Coordinator of the UN system in India Lise Grande said.
UN Chief Ban Ki-moon too had called the recent incidents of violence towards women in India and Pakistan "appalling".
"In recent days we have also seen other tragic incidents in which women have been the targets of appalling violence – from Pakistan to India to California and Nigeria. The world will never find true peace and prosperity if half the population face discrimination and exploitation," Ban had said in remarks made to reporters in Toronto last week.
The UN system in India said ending violence against women and girls is a fundamental goal of the world body and assured its support to people across the country to do what it takes to ensure that every woman and every girl can live safely and with dignity everywhere.
"Every girl and woman should be able to live safely, feel protected and grow up free of violence," UN Women's Representative in India Rebecca Tavares said.
"Amongst the many actions that need to be taken, the UN encourages the speedier application of the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act 2013, including the establishment of the one-stop crisis centres. The justice system is key to addressing the problem," Tavares said.
Grande noted that many "progressive reforms and changes" have been put in place following the brutal gang-rape and murder of a young woman in Delhi in December 2013 but stressed the need for implementing the laws meant for the protection of girls and women.
"But having the laws in place are only one part of the solution – their implementation also matters as does changing mind-sets. Violence against women and girls is preventable, not inevitable. Sustained implementation of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO), 2012 and the setting up of Special Courts and child friendly procedures for victims under 18 years of age are also key priorities," Grande added.
The latest brutal act of violence against the girls in UP also highlights the dangers girls and women all over India are exposed to due to the lack of toilets.
UNICEF's Representative to India Louis-Georges Arsenault said around 65 per cent of rural population in India defecates in the open and women and girls are expected to go out at night. "This does not only threaten their dignity, but their safety as well," Arsenault said.
Last week, the UN had described as a "horrendous crime" and strongly condemned the incident and stressed that all citizens should be protected by the law.
DW
Gang rape exposes India's violent caste system
http://www.dw.de/gang-rape-exposes-indias-violent-caste-system/a-17676877
The brutal gang rape of two teenage girls has once again exposed the vulnerability of Indian women to sexual crimes. Experts say low-caste women are subject to sexual assaults more often than others.
It has been almost a week since the gang rape of two Dalit girls in the small village of Katra in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. A number of politicians and government officials have visited the family of the deceased to offer condolences and compensation. The bereaved family, however, has refused to accept the money.
According to the police, on Tuesday May 27, the two cousins, aged 14 and 15, went missing from their home after going into the fields because there was no toilet in their home. The following day Indian TV footage showed the villagers sitting under the girls' bodies as they swung in the wind, and preventing authorities from taking them down until the suspects were arrested. An autopsy report found the girls had been raped before being hanged from a tree. Police arrested two police officers and two men from the village the following day and are searching for three other suspects.
There have been several rape cases in the South Asian country in the past few years, but this one highlighted the link between India's caste system and the increasing sexual violence against women.
"Can there be any justice for the low-caste people like us? Do we always have to live and be treated like animals?" asks Lilawati, a neighbor of one of the murdered girls.
The father of one of the girls stood motionless in a corner of his ramshackle house. He only opened up only when the debate veered to whether justice would be done in his daughter's case.
"Two policemen took part in the assault. I pleaded to the senior officials to arrest them but they didn't listen to me. Justice is not meant for us. Dalits are treated like dogs," he told DW, adding that had the police acted swiftly after his daughter went missing, she could have been saved.
A series of gang rapes
The recent attacks have spotlighted India's ongoing struggle with sexual violence. Women's safety in India has been in the international spotlight since the gang rape and murder of a 23-year-old student on a bus in New Delhi in 2012 - an incident that drew international condemnation and led to the introduction of stricter laws.
Officials say around 25,000 rapes are committed every year in India, a nation of 1.2 billion people. Activists say, however, that number is low because female victims are often pressured by family or police to remain quiet about the crime.
Statistics reveal that Dalit women are harassed, raped and even murdered with impunity, indicating that things haven't changed much despite the fact that India now takes the issue of rape more seriously than before.
"It is amply clear that dominant castes are known to use sexual violence against Dalit women and girls to punish them, assert their power or simply settle personal disputes," Ranjana Kumari of the Center for Social Research told DW.
Caste-based violence
Dalits make up 21 percent of the 200 million people living in Uttar Pradesh.
"Dalit women are more vulnerable to sexual crimes than other social groups. They feel more insecure, and face structural violence," Kalpana Kannabiran, director of the Council for Social Development, told DW, adding that the caste system allows such crimes to continue without any check.
Campaigners like Vrinda Grover, a lawyer and women's rights activist, who was in the forefront of the movement that tightened India's anti-rape laws, feels little has changed on ground.
"Look at the systemic and routine sexual violence experienced by Dalit girls and women. And still some people say that castes do not matter in India. We all should be ashamed," Grover told DW.
News Updates 04.06.14
15-yr-old Dalit girl found hanging from tree in Sitapur- The Indian Express
13-year-old girl raped in Greater Noida- The Times Of India
Minor rape victim abducted in Meerut - The Times Of India
The Indian Express
15-yr-old Dalit girl found hanging from tree in Sitapur
A 15-year-old Dalit girl was found hanging from a tree at Benipur in Sitapur district Tuesday. Police claimed it to be suicide while the victim's father, Ram Swaroop, a labourer, suspects murder.
Swaroop has filed an FIR against six Dalits, including one 38-year-old Ramesh, at Mishrikh police station in Sitapur. Other accused are Ramesh's father-in-law Pyare Lal and his family members. Ramesh lives in Piswa under Mishrik police station.
Police said Ram Swaroop alleged that Ramesh, who is married and has no child, wanted to marry his daughter. SP, Sitapur, Tehsildar Singh, said Swaroop suspects that since he rejected the marriage proposal, the accused killed his daughter.
Station House Officer, Mishrikh police station, Ashok Kumar Pandey, said: "The autopsy report states that no injury was found on the body and the cause of death was asphyxia due to ante mortem hanging."
The Times Of India
13-year-old girl raped in Greater Noida
allegedly gang-raped by three boys, two of them minors, at Badalpur in Greater Noida.
It was one of three rape or attempted rape cases reported in Greater Noida on Tuesday even as anger and protests against the rape and murder of two minor girls in Badaun barely a week ago swept the state. In the two other cases, a woman in Rabupura alleged she was raped by four men who held her in-laws hostage while another woman in Chanchli told the police three men barged into her house when she was alone and tried to rape her.
The Dalit girl was found in an unconscious state near a tubewell in the Badalpur's Girdharpur colony on Monday, police said. Badalpur happens to be the birthplace of BSP chief Mayawati.
The Class VII student had left home for the market around 6pm but did not return. "Her family started looking for her and found her near the tubewell around 10pm," said Brijesh Kumar Singh, SP, Greater Noida. "She was rushed to a hospital, where she told her family that three boys had raped her," Singh added. All three boys named by the girl have been apprehended. "Two of the accused are 14 and the third is a 19-year-old boy.
While the minors were produced in a juvenile court and have been remanded to a home, the other accused has been sent to jail," Singh said.
The girl was taken for medical tests. "Preliminary tests detected no external or internal injuries. We have recommended secondary tests," the SP added.
In Rabupura, the survivor said she was attacked by four men from her village after they had a fight with her husband on June 1. She said her husband was arrested but the four men weren't. That night, they attacked her in her house after locking her father-in-law and brother-in-law in a room, she alleged. Police said the woman's family had lodged a police complaint but did not mention rape. "However, she has been sent for a medical examination. We will soon make arrests," he added.
In Chanchli, three men who tried to rape a woman escaped after she raised an alarm but set fire to the house before, according to the police complaint. No arrests have been made yet.
The Times Of India
Minor rape victim abducted in Meerut
C. K. Chandramohan
The girl's family had sought police protection as the accused had not been arrested
Reports of rapes continued from western Uttar Pradesh. On Sunday, a minor, who had been gang-raped, was kidnapped outside her home in Ganga Nagar Colony near Meerut.
The Union Home Ministry has sought a report from the U.P. government on the Ganga Nagar case. BJP MP from Baghpat, Satyapal Singh spoke to the Superintendent of Police and sought the immediate arrest of culprits.
Samajwadi Party leader and member of the U.P. SC/ST Commission Kiran Yadav on Monday accused the police of having neglected the pleas of the Ganga Nagar Colony minor's family for nearly two months. "I had taken the victim to the SSP office on Saturday seeking protection. He assured us of action and the second accused was arrested the same evening but the girl vanished on Sunday morning … how?" Ms Yadav askedCiting helplessness of rape victims in Meerut and Muzaffarnagar, chairperson of Meerut Childline, Anita Rana, who had been counselling the Ganga Nagar Colony victim, urged the Supreme Court to take suo motu action.
There was despair and anger at the Ganga Nagar victim's residence. The family wanted to know why the police were sheltering criminals though protection had been sought for over two months now when the victim said she could identify all rapists.
The girl's father said that on April 21, unidentified car-borne persons tried to run her down as she on her way to her aunt's house. The girl jumped aside but suffered a fractured leg as the tyres ran over her.
News Updates 06.06.14
Dalit girl raped, murdered in U.P. - The Hindu
SIT formed to probe Badaun gangrape-murder - The Hindu
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/sit-formed-to-probe-badaun-gangrapemurder/article6089303.ece
Savings Scheme for Girls to be Implemented as part of Mission 676 - Indian Express
SC to hear plea against death sentence for four-year-old's rape, murder - Big News Network
http://www.bignewsnetwork.com/index.php/sid/222647167
Endless wait for justice - The Hindu
http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/endless-wait-for-justice/article6086150.ece
The Hindu
Dalit girl raped, murdered in U.P.
PTI
A 19-year-old Dalit girl was allegedly raped and murdered in Badhauna village under the Baksha police station area two days before her marriage, police said on Thursday.
The girl, who was to get married today (Thursday), was found murdered with her throat slit open near her house on Wednesday morning.
Later, the body was sent for post mortem examination, the police said.
The medical report received on Thursday confirmed that she was raped before being killed, the police said, adding that the manner in which she was murdered indicated towards the involvement of more than one person in the crime.
Medical report awaited
Chief Medical Superintendent Bhaskar Rai said advanced medical examination report was awaited.
Meanwhile, after receiving the autopsy report, the family of the victim sat on fast-unto-death demanding immediate arrest of the accused, proper security and compensation.
The Hindu
SIT formed to probe Badaun gangrape-murder
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/sit-formed-to-probe-badaun-gangrapemurder/article6089303.ece
PTI
Team searches houses of the accused in custody
A four-member Special Investigation Team has been constituted to probe the shocking gangrape and murder case of two cousins in Katra Sadatganj village in Badaun, officials said.
"The SIT headed by circle officer of Ujhani, Mukesh Saxena has been set up for investigating the case", SSP Atul Kumar Saxena said.
The SSP said that SIT visited the village on Friday and talked to the complainants and witnesses.
The team got the houses of the accused opened and searched them, Mr. Saxena said adding that help of the witness was being taken to prepare sketches of two accused who are yet to be identified and that the entire process was being videographed.
The case is being monitored at the government level and taking the seriousness of the matter for solving it promptly, the investigations have been taken over from local police, the SSP said.
Indian Express
Savings Scheme for Girls to be Implemented as part of Mission 676
By Express News Service
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Scheduled Castes Development Department will implement a savings scheme for girls as part of the 'Mission 676' of the State Government.
"The project titled 'Valsalyanidhi' involves depositing Rs 50,000 in the name of newborns of economically backward families. The maturity amount could be used for education or marriage of the girl when she attains 18 years of age," Minister for Welfare of Scheduled Castes A P Anil Kumar said.
He said the department would provide funds to write off loans (up to Rs 1 lakh and those with expired repayment period as on March 31, 2010) availed of by SC persons from SC, ST Development Corporations and Cooperative Banks.
'Vidyajyothi', another new project would be launched to eliminate the disparity in success rate of SC students and general students.
Special coaching would be given to students of Classes VIII, IX and X. Primary school students would be given free school bags, umbrella and sandals.
'Smritivanam', a financial assistance project to set up crematoriums, would be launched. Rs 25 lakh will be sanctioned for a single unit through the local bodies.
A medical college in Palakkad, self-sufficient village project and a housing scheme for widows are other components of the department's Mission 676 programme.
Big News Network
SC to hear plea against death sentence for four-year-old's rape, murder
http://www.bignewsnetwork.com/index.php/sid/222647167
Big News Network (IANS) Thursday 5th June, 2014
The Supreme Court will hear on June 10 a plea by Rajasthan resident Kalu Khan seeking the stay of his death sentence for allegedly raping and murdering a four-year-old girl.
A bench of Justice J.S.Khehar and Justice C.Nagappan directing the hearing of the matter after counsel Asha Jain Madan told the court that the execution of Kalu Khan's death sentence is fixed for June 18.
Replying to a query, Madan said the death sentence was confirmed by the Jodhpur bench of Rajasthan High Court on April 9.
The special judge, SC/ST court, Sriganganagar, convicted Kalu Khan and describing his offence as "rarest of rare", sentenced him to death.
According to the prosecution, Kalu Khan, a resident of Sriganganagar, in May 2012 allured the girl from her father Kashiram's house and brought her to his house on the promise of giving her berries. Upon reaching home, he prompted his son Jumman Khan, a minor, to rape her and then followed him in raping the child.
Finding that her condition was deteriorating, Kalu Khan killed her.
The dead body was recovered when the girl's grandfather, searching for her, saw Jumman burying something in a pit in his courtyard. As Jumman failed to give any satisfactory answer as to what he had buried, the pit was dug up and the body recovered.
Kalu Khan, in his petition, said that the offence for which he has been convicted did not come under the rarest of rare category and the only evidence against him was that of the co-accused and his son who was allegedly found to be burying the dead body. Jumman was tried by the Juvenile Justice Board.
He contended that he could not have been awarded death sentence in the facts of the case where the conviction is based solely on circumstantial evidence and neither the murder was pre-planned as held by the trial court nor did he have any criminal past.
The Hindu
Endless wait for justice
http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/endless-wait-for-justice/article6086150.ece
Brinda Karat
Prosecuting the guilty police personnel along with the accused is needed urgently to bring justice to the brutalised young girls and their grieving families in the Badaun case
The searing image of the bodies of two cousin sisters — just 14 and 15 years old — hanging from a tree in Katra Sadatganj village in Badaun district of Uttar Pradesh, brought home to the world the utterly despicable hypocrisy underlying India's claims to being a democratic nation.
In this case, the girls did not belong to the Scheduled Castes (SC), but this does not mean that caste was not a major factor in the crime. The cousins belonged to a caste considered socially inferior to the one to which the criminals in the case belong. In this village, as in thousands of villages across the country, many men belonging to the dominant castes believe that rape of women or girls of castes lower to them in the hierarchical caste ladder is an inherited and an inheritable right. They also believe that to abuse, demean, defile, harass and exploit the so-called lower castes is part of an unchallengeable tradition.
Symbol of oppression
It is the arrogance of that tradition and inherited caste-based power which told the desperate parents when they were searching for their daughters, "you will get them back in two hours."After two hours passed, the parents were told: "go to the tree and you will find them." They were informed of this, not by the families of the accused, but by the policemen of the village police station where they had gone to complain. The police belonged to the same caste as the criminals and were reportedly close friends with the accused. They must be prosecuted for custodial rape.
What did the parents do? They waited for two hours.
The two hours symbolise the utter helplessness of ordinary citizens in the face of criminalisation of politics in U.P. under the Samajwadi Party (SP), the state of lawlessness driven by statements and actions of the leaders of the ruling party and the administration, and the impunity enjoyed by the police at various levels. If ever there was a case to implement the concept of command responsibility to hold senior officers responsible, it is in the Badaun case.
In thousands of villages across the country, many men belonging to the dominant castes believe that rape of women of castes lower to them is an inherited and an inheritable right
Equally, the two hours symbolise the burden of centuries of oppression, of the destruction of humanity, of a helplessness born out of lifetimes of waiting for justice, of a resigned belief that silence may save the lives of their daughters. They symbolise the horrifying systemic nature of caste-based hierarchies, and of supremacy and subordination determined by birth that remain a marker of social relations in India.
Those who believe that "development" represented by modernisation processes such as urbanisation or industrialisation automatically level out discriminatory caste-based practices, fail to see that caste as an instrument of power has been co-opted and used for modern goals of economic and political benefit. In the established patterns that pass for democracy in India, castes owe allegiance to some political party whose job is to defend members of that caste, regardless of the brutal nature of the crime they may have committed, in return for votes. The dominant castes in Badaun know well that they have the strong backing of the SP, just as the dominant community in Haryana's politics continues the system of khap panchayats as they have the patronage of the Congress and other parties. In the Khairlanji case in Maharashtra, it was an open secret that the community involved in the dastardly crime had the backing of the Nationalist Congress Party. In the recent caste-based atrocity in Ahmednagar, where a dalit youth was brutally murdered for daring to speak to a Maratha girl in his class, a similar pattern of caste-based political patronage to the criminals emerged.
In the Lok Sabha election campaign, although the issue of women's security did figure as an important one for most political parties, it is striking that caste-based atrocities on women of oppressed communities did not form part of public discussions. The interface between patriarchy, caste and economic power makes women of the oppressed castes most vulnerable to sexual violence. Yet their voices went unheard, even by those parties who claim to represent them.
It is equally striking that organisations based on religious mobilisations, like the Sangh Parivar which claims monopoly in representing "Hindu" interests, maintain a deafening silence on caste-based crimes against Hindu women. In Muzaffarnagar, the issue of sexual harassment of women became a powerful tool in the hands of the Sangh Parivar to shred a long-standing harmony between Muslims and Jats. This tool would enable the Bharatiya Janata Party to reap the electoral benefits of the communal violence against the Muslim community.
In this diabolical plan, the rape of Muslim women was a justified response to the alleged sexual harassment of Hindu girls. The sweep of seats for the BJP is an example of cold-blooded communalisation of secular issues such as sexual harassment. This issue is now being seen by the Sangh Parivar as having a huge potential to garner votes — the issue of defending the chastity of "our Hindu" women in which the perpetrators are always from the "other" community almost as powerful in its message as the defence of a religious symbol.
But for years in this same area of Muzaffarnagar, there have been within Hindu communities, killings, lynchings, revenge rapes and terrible violence against young couples who have dared to cross the caste barrier to marry people of their choice. In such cases, the boy is usually of a lower caste than the girl and therefore both must be punished. The Sangh Parivar, active in the area, has maintained a deafening silence on these crimes because they too subscribe to maintaining the "purity" of lineage that is so deeply embedded in casteist ideologies. Casteism and communalism not only co-exist, they feed into and strengthen each other.
he economic benefits derived from continuing caste-based professions is well-known. Even today in the so-called unclean jobs, SCs are overrepresented. In fact, a reverse reservation takes place in which some low paid jobs — the jobs of sweepers for instance — are almost exclusively reserved in practice for SCs or for Most Backward Castes. Second, among casual and contract workers, and manual labourers who have no security of service and who earn meagre wages, a disproportionate number belong to SCs and Scheduled Tribes (ST). On whether education can crack caste discrimination, a study conducted by IIM Ahmedabad in 2006 found that graduates belonging to the SC/ST category earned significantly lower wages than those in the general category. This shows how historical inequalities created by caste structures have been strengthened by the present trajectory of capitalist "development" to intensify the exploitation of labour of the "untouchables" for profit.
Fast-tracking the case
In the Badaun case, the fathers of the two cousins owned small plots of land, 2.5 bighas each, which they found unviable to cultivate. They depended on casual agricultural work and one of them also used to ply a rickshaw. On the days they got work, their average earning was around Rs. 150 a day. For the youth of more powerful castes, the children were easy prey.
Fast-tracking the case and prosecuting the guilty police personnel along with the accused is needed urgently to bring justice to the brutalised young girls and their grieving families.
Equally, the case once again highlights the urgent necessity for those who believe in alternative politics to work together to bring about radical social change. This is needed to reverse the present framework of economic and social policies and alter the polluted face of India's democracy.
News Updates 07.06.14
RAPE OF 'LOWER-CASTE' GIRLS Bhagana Dalits stand divided - The Tribune
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2014/20140607/haryana.htm#3
Badaun rape victim's family set to leave UP - The Pioneer
http://www.dailypioneer.com/nation/badaun-rape-victims-family-set-to-leave-up.html
The Tribune
RAPE OF 'LOWER-CASTE' GIRLS Bhagana Dalits stand divided
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2014/20140607/haryana.htm#3
Deepender Deswal,Tribune News Service
Bhagana (Hisar), June 6
A section of Dalits of Hisar's Bhagana village, where four Dalit girls were allegedly raped by Jat boys, don't want any confrontation with the upper-caste community. Probe them about their brethren who have been protesting for justice to the victims and they say that the law should take its own course.
Kitab Singh, a Dalit and former sarpanch of the village, said: "The animosity between communities is not going to do any good to us. The Haryana Government should address Dalits' problems. Some persons are politicising the issues to pursue their vested interests," he said, alluding to his brethren who have been protesting for two years.
Tension erupted in the village in April 2012 when land-owning Jats laid claim to shamlat land (village common land). When landless Dalit agricultural labourers protested, the upper-caste men imposed social boycott on them. Left with no option, nearly 120 Dalit families left their homes and camped outside the Mini-Secretariat.
Drained of protesting, many of them returned home, but some led by Haryana Kumhar Sabha chief Virender Bagoriya, continued the dharna. And then this April, four Dalit girls were allegedly raped, fuelling the already-tense situation.
"They (protesting Dalits) are not ready to listen to us. They have their agenda," Kitab Singh said.
Juxtapose this statement with Hawa Singh's and the divide along the caste lines becomes clear. "I worked as an agricultural labourer with a Jat family to earn a living. But not anymore. Now, I work at construction sites in Hansi or Hisar, while two of my sons do odd jobs outside the village as Jats denied us work," said Hawa Singh, an elderly man from the SC community.
Baljit Singh, belonging to the Jat community, says social boycott was not imposed on the Dalits. He agreed with Hawa Singh on some Dalits going astray. "The village elders tried to defuse the tension, but this group (protesting Dalits) remained adamant on their stand," Baljit said.
Village sarpanch Rakesh Panghal alleged that those sitting on dharna had clubbed the land issue with the alleged rape of four girls to get political mileage out of it.
Making light of Jats' "hollow claims", Bagoriya says Dalits seek their rehabilitation outside Bhagana. "We fear for our lives in Bhagana and, thus, will not return to the village."
The Pioneer
Badaun rape victim's family set to leave UP
http://www.dailypioneer.com/nation/badaun-rape-victims-family-set-to-leave-up.html
Saturday, 07 June 2014 | PTI | Badaun
Living under the shadow of fear ever since their teenaged daughters were brutally gang-raped and murdered in Katra Sadatganj village nine days ago, the victim's family is preparing to shift out of Uttar Pradesh to continue their fight for justice."Today media and people are also coming to extend their sympathies, but as soon as all this stops, musclemen of the village can do anything to us," father of one of the teenaged victims said.
News Updates 09.06.14
Villagers blacken boy's face for teasing girl - The Tribune
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2014/20140609/himachal.htm#6
The Tribune
Villagers blacken boy's face for teasing girl
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2014/20140609/himachal.htm#6
Our Correspondent
Una, June 8
The situation turned violent yesterday after a 22-year-old Jat youth allegedly passed remarks against a minor girl from the village, who belonged to the Dalit community. People from the two communities in Sanoli panchayat of Una district entered into a faceoff, forcing SDM Dhanvir Thakur and DSP Surinder Sharma to intervene.
According to accused Varinder Singh's father Mukhtiar Singh, his son was beaten up in the presence of panchayat members and other locals. He alleged that later, he was paraded in the village with his face painted black. He said Varinder, who repeatedly pleaded not guilty, was dejected and even tried to end his life after reaching home.
On the other hand, the mother of the minor girl, in her complaint, has alleged that the accused had teased her daughter with obscene remarks. After the incident, locals were divided in favour of either parties. With threat to peace in the village, the panchayat informed the district administration, requesting its intervention.
SDM Dhanvir Thakur said the situation was now under control and tempers were cooled after deliberations. He said it was decided to lodge cross-cases and investigate into the matter.
DSP Surinder Sharma said a case under Sections 354 and 506, IPC, besides the SC/ST Act and the Protection Of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act had been registered against Varinder, while another case under Sections 147, 149, 355, 342, 323 and 506, IPC, had been registered against the pradhans of Sanoli, Majara, Malukpur, Poona and Binewal panchayats. He said the matter was being investigated, adding that no arrest had been made so far.
News Updates 12.06.14
The body of a 22-year-old Dalit woman was recovered from a field in Nauria area of Pilibhit district - The Pioneer
The Pioneer
The body of a 22-year-old Dalit woman was recovered from a field in Nauria area of Pilibhit district
Thursday, 12 June 2014 | PNS | Lucknow |
The charred body of a 22-year-old Dalit woman was recovered from a field in Nauria area of Pilibhit district on Wednesday.The young woman, adentified as Pooja, had married Nishant belonging to an upper caste barely two months back .
The body was spotted in the fields by some villagers who informed police about it.Pooja's parents alleged that she killed as they belonged to upper caste and did not like her.
Pooja had eloped with Nishant on April 14 and married him but their relationship was not approved by his family.Prima facie it appeared that the woman was strangulated and then set on fire as a wire was found tied around her neck.
A case has been registered and Pooja's brother-in-law was detained.Meanwhile, a 30-year-old woman was allegedly gang-raped by three of her neighbours in Lisadhi Gate area of Meerut.
According to reports, Taj Mohammad, Mazid and Imran entered the woman's house on Monday night when she was all alone and raped her.The woman narrated her ordeal to the police on Tuesday but they refused to lodge a complaint. Later when the family of the victim petitioned their case to senior police officials a case was registered.
"Preliminary investigation revealed that the matter was fake and the further investigations in the case are on,' the police said. The cops said after the investigation was completed the police will decided the further course of action.
News Updates 15.06.14
Man sentenced to death for rape and murder of minor Dalit girl - DNA
PT to organise demonstation to condemn rape incident - Zee News
Four rapes rock MP; two minors raped in Sidhi, Betul - The Times Of India
DNA
Man sentenced to death for rape and murder of minor Dalit girl
Saturday, 14 June 2014 - 4:36pm IST | Agency: PTI
A man has been sentenced to death for raping a seven-year-old dalit girl and bludgeoning her to death with a brick by a local court here.
Special judge (SC/ST Act) Shanti Prakash Arvind held Bhanu Yadav guilty yesterday and described his actions as inhuman and gruesome. The judge said that the crime falls in the rarest of the rare category and awarded capital punishment to the convict.
According to special public prosecutor Rajendra Prasad, the seven-year-old victim was taken to an abandoned house in Dewa area on the night of June 18, 2012 by her neighbour Bhanu where he raped her and later battered her to death with a brick.
On the complaint of the victim's father, an FIR was lodged and Bhanu was arrested. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 15,000 on the convict.
Zee News
PT to organise demonstation to condemn rape incident
Last Updated: Saturday, June 14, 2014, 15:05
Coimbatore: Puthiya Tamizhakam would organise a demonstation in Chennai on June 16 to condemn the shocking incident of abduction and rape of two minor girls from a hostel in Pollachi recently.
Talking to reporters here, party founder-president Dr K Krishnasamy alleged that attacks on Dalits, downtrodden and minorities were increasing in Tamil Nadu, particularly after Lok Sabha polls.
The girls, aged 10 and 11 and inmates of a hostel run by a church in Pollachi were raped by two persons who approached them in the wee hours on Thursday under the pretext of asking for water.
Rape of a Dalit girl in a village in Tirunelvel on May 18, attacks on three Dalit youths in Sankerkoil and 10 Dalit youths in Thoothukudi recently only showed that atrocities against minorities have been on an increase, he said.
Krishnasamy urged the Govenrment to take note of the law and order situation in the state, particularly after Lok Sabha polls, and take stringent action against the culprits on warfooting.
He also asked the Centre to monitor the functioning of hostels across the state and strictly punish those who were flouting rules. PTI
The Times Of India
Four rapes rock MP; two minors raped in Sidhi, Betul
TNN | Jun 15, 2014, 08.50 AM IST
BHOPAL: Home minister Babulal Gaur's recent statement saying rapes cannot be stopped seems to be coming true in Madhya Pradesh as four incidents of rapes were reported from across the state on Saturday. Two cases were about minor girls aged 9 and 11 being raped.
Even as the focus on rapes and murders are on Uttar Pradesh, government and administration in MP too appear unable to prevent such incidents.
In the first incident, an 11-year-old girl was gang-raped by three minors at Fulwari village in Sidhi district on June 12. Survivour informed her parents on Friday and subsequently a complaint was filed. All three accused aged between 11 and 14 have been arrested and sent to juvenile home.
Police officials told TOI, survivour was grazing cattle when accused trio apprehended her. They took her to a desolate spot and took turns to rape her and fled. Following the complaint, medical tests of the girl were conducted and accused were arrested, police said.
The second incident is about a 9-year-old girl being raped by a 32-year-old man at Kamath village in Betul district on Saturday. The accused was caught by locals who later handed him over to police. Accused Bhojraj, 32, a resident of Patel ward of Multai town raped the minor while she was alone at home.
"Bhojraj, a carpenter was looking for job in survivour's neighbourhood and finding the girl alone at home her mother left for some work, accused took advantage of the situation and raped the minor," Betul SP Sudhir V Laad told TOI.
On her return, survivour's mother found the accused in a compromising position and raised an alarm. "Hearing her screams, locals rushed to the spot and caught Bhojraj. He was then handed over to police," said Laad. Accused has been booked under Section 376 (rape) of Indian Penal Code (IPC) and relevant Sections of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, said Laad.
In the third incident a 21-year-old woman had complained that she has been sexually exploited by her father since 2006 in Dhar district of Madhya Pradesh. A case was filed on Saturday by the survivour who was accompanied by her aunt at Amjhera police station of Dhar in the evening.
Amjhera police station in charge Anita Derwal told TOI, complainant has alleged that her father was raping her since 2006. She became pregnant in April 2014 and her father got her pregnancy medically terminated.
"We've registered a case under Sections 376 (rape), 313 (causing miscarriage without consent) and 315 (act done to prevent child being born alive) of IPC. A search has been launched to nab the girl's rape 55-year-old father, who is on the run," Derwal added.
The complainant alleged that her mother died in 2000, while grandmother passed away in 2003, leaving her and two younger brothers to be looked after by their father, a mason. Since 2006, he started raping her and threatened to kill her if she made the matter public.
Meanwhile, a 24-year-old woman was sexually exploited by her computer teacher in Kolaras town of Shivpuri district for more than a year. The survivor had joined computer coaching classes in 2011. Accused Bhupendra Tomar, 35, uploaded objectionable pictures of the woman on social networking sites after she refused to visit his institute after she got married.
Tomar was charged under sections for rape, SC/ST Act (prevention of atrocities) and IT Act.
News Updates 17.06.14
Computer centre director rapes woman, uploads obscene photos on facebook - Free Press Journal
http://freepressjournal.in/computer-centre-director-rapes-woman-uploads-obscene-photos-on-facebook/
Free Press Journal
Computer centre director rapes woman, uploads obscene photos on facebook
http://freepressjournal.in/computer-centre-director-rapes-woman-uploads-obscene-photos-on-facebook/
— By FPJ Bureau, June 17, 2014 01:36 am
The accused forced the victim to divorce her husband but as she refused he wreaked havoc in her married life by showing her photos to her husband
SHIVPURI: A woman has filed a complaint against the director of a computer training centre at Kolaras, accusing him of sexually exploiting her for four years on pretext of helping her to get a course degree. The accused identified as Bhupendra Singh Tomar secretly took the woman's obscene photographs. He forced her to make intimate relationship with him even after the woman's marriage. When the victim denied to be exploited at his hand, he created a fake ID on facebook and uploaded her obscene photos. He also tried to wreak havoc in the woman's married life. Police have booked Tomar under sections 376, 66, 66A, 67 A of the IPC and sections 2, 3, 5 of the SC/ST Act. The accused was arrested on Sunday night and the cops have seized the computers from his possession.
The Gyanishankar Colony resident woman enrolled four years ago in a course at Smart Computer Centre run by Tomar. He started sexually exploiting the victim in the name of getting her the degree and also photographed her in a compromising situation with him. Later he forced the woman with the help of the obscene photos. In the meantime, the woman got married in the year 2012. Tomar blackmailed her through the photographs and raped her several times.
The accused forced his victim to divorce her husband but she refused. Tomar was baffled by the woman's denial and he created a fake facebook ID from a computer of his centre and uploaded the woman's obscene photographs. He even called the woman's husband over the phone and told him about the photographs. The woman's husband evicted her from his house.
News Updates 19.06.14
Minor Dalit girl raped in Rampur - Zee News
http://zeenews.india.com/news/uttar-pradesh/minor-dalit-girl-raped-in-rampur_940674.html
Zee News
Minor Dalit girl raped in Rampur
http://zeenews.india.com/news/uttar-pradesh/minor-dalit-girl-raped-in-rampur_940674.html
Last Updated: Wednesday, June 18, 2014, 22:04
Rampur: A minor Dalit girl was allegedly raped by a married man at gun-point in Rampur district, the eighth rape incident here this month.
The 16-year-old victim had gone to relieve herself in a field in Shahbad Tehsil on Monday night, when the accused allegedly caught hold of her and raped her at gun-point, police said today.
The accused, Om Singh Yadav (22), who was known to the victim was arrested yesterday, they said.
Authorities have announced a compensation of Rs 60,000 under the SC/ST Act for the victim, Rampur collector CP Tripathi said.
According to police records, eight rape incidents have been reported in Rampur this month, while 25 sexual assault cases were lodged in the district in the past six months.
PTI
News Updates 21.06.14
2 booked for raping minor dalit girl - The Times Of India
14-year-old gang raped in Ratia - The Times Of India
The Times Of India
2 booked for raping minor dalit girl
TNN | Jun 21, 2014, 01.57 AM IST
FATEHABAD: Two youth have been booked on Friday for raping a minor dalit girl in Ratia town of Fatehabad district. The accused kidnapped the victim from her, took her to an unidentified place and raped her after drugging her. Both the alleged offenders are on the run.
The accused also threatened the girl not to disclose the matter to anyone. Police have registered a case of rape, kidnapping and criminal intimidation, besides booking the accused under Prevention of Atrocities against SC/ST Act and Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
Victim's father alleged that Munderi of Dhani Jakhan Dadi village and his unidentified accomplice abducted his daughter when she was alone at home. He said alleged the accused took her to some unidentified place, raped the victim and fled from the spot.
The girl reached home after the assault and narrated the incident to her family members who lodged a complaint with the police. The police took the victim to the community health centre in Ratia for treatment and medical examination.
The Times Of India
14-year-old gang raped in Ratia
TNN | Jun 21, 2014, 01.13 AM IST
FATEHABAD: A 14-year-old girl was allegedly gang raped by two youths at Ratia in Fatehabad district.
According to police, the youths abducted the girl from her house and raped her at a lonely place after drugging her.
The girl was threatened by the youths of dire consequences if she disclosed the matter. Police registered a case for gang rape and under SC-ST Act.
The victim's father alleged that Munderi of Dhani Jakhan Dadi village and his unidentified accomplice abducted his daughter when she was alone at home. The girl reached home and narrated the incident to her family who lodged a complaint.
News Updates 22.06.14
Minor raped - The Tribune
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2014/20140622/haryana.htm#12
The Tribune
Minor raped
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2014/20140622/haryana.htm#12
Gurgaon, June 21
A 14-year-old Dalit girl was allegedly abducted by two persons and then gang-raped in a cabin of the Heli Mandi railway station, near Pataudi, today.
The police have arrested 20-year-old Vikki of Jatauli village and 19-year-old Sanjay of Heli Mandi in the case.
The police said the victim and the accused were at a marriage function. After 8.30 pm, the father of the girl could not find her and he approached the police. She was found near the Heli Mandi railway station. The victim claimed that she was taken away by two known men where they gang-raped her. — TNS
News Updates 23.06.14
Badaun: Relatives of Girls Who Were Raped and Hanged May Take Lie Detector Tests- NDTV
NDTV
Badaun: Relatives of Girls Who Were Raped and Hanged May Take Lie Detector Tests
All India | Reported by Tanima Biswas, Edited by Abhinav Bhatt |
Updated: June 23, 2014 18:40 IST
Badaun: For two families whose teen daughters were raped before being hanged alive, more challenges lie in store than coping with their over-whelming grief.
The CBI, which is investigating the double murder in the Badaun district in central Uttar Pradesh, wants the relatives of the victims, who were cousins, to go through lie detector tests. The father of one of the victims was among the relatives who first alerted the police that the girls were missing. The police refused to help, allegedly because the girls were Dalits, and the men identified by the families as their abductors were higher-caste Yadavs.
The relatives have agreed to the CBI's request for a lie detector test, said sources; now, a court will have to sanction them.
The egregious contours of the case elicited international attention. When the girls, aged 14 and 15, were found hanging side by side from a mango tree, their families refused to allow policemen to bring down the bodies till the alleged killers were arrested.
The five suspects jailed since then include two policemen who are accused of being criminal accessories.
The top cop in Uttar Pradesh, Director General of Police AL Banerjee had recently denied the girls were raped and was quoted as saying their deaths were "an honour killing."
At the start of the month, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, attacked for his administration's handling of the case, asked for a federal investigation by the CBI, which then sent forensic experts along with investigators to collect evidence.
The families of the girls have said they had no faith in the impartiality of local police, accusing them of being "hand-in-glove" with the killers.
The father of one of the victims said his daughter and her cousin were attacked at night when they went to the fields to relieve themselves as there house had no toilet. The family reported the girls' disappearance to the police which refused to search for them.
News Updates 25.06.14
Dalit girl raped and murdered in Karur - The Hindu
Karur rape: Dalits demand arrest of culprits - The Hindu
The Hindu
Dalit girl raped and murdered in Karur
Special Correspondent
A Dalit girl was allegedly raped and murdered in K. Pichampatti village near Krishnarayapuram in Karur district on Monday night.
Police have picked up four persons in connection with the incident.
Heavy police pickets have been posted in the village to prevent any untoward incident.
The Hindu
Karur rape: Dalits demand arrest of culprits
C. Jaisankar
In yet another horrific act of violence against women, a 17-year-old Dalit girl was raped and murdered at K Pichampatty village, about 25 km from Karur, in Central Tamil Nadu.
The crime took place on Monday night at a betel farm, police sources said. The suspected persons approached the victim at a place between Sinthalavai and K. Pichampatty when she was riding a bicycle back home from Krishnarayapuram.
Police sources said the attackers "forcefully" took the girl to the farm, where they strangulated her to death after sexually assaulting her. The crime was committed on a 1.5 feet wide slushy path (varappu) in the farm.
The incident came to light when a villager spotted an abandoned bicycle near the farm not far from Pichampatty. He also alerted Ponnusamy, a landless labourer, and other relatives who were waiting for her to return home after her day's work at a mosquito nets manufacturing unit in nearby Karur, where she was employed temporarily.
They searched the place with torchlights and found the disrobed body of the girl in the betel farm.
As the news spread, a large number of Dalits of the village, which is dominated by caste Hindus, staged a road-roko at Krishnarayapuram demanding the arrest of the culprits. They continued their agitation well into the early hours of Tuesday. Police personnel who rushed to the spot seized the clothes of the victim, her lunch box and bicycle. The police also seized liquor bottles and footwear, purportedly used by the culprits from the crime scene.
"It is a case of rape and murder. We are awaiting the post-mortem report to ascertain the number of persons involved in the crime. We have collected vital clues," I. Ramasubramani, Inspector General of Police, Law and Order, Central Zone, told The Hindu. As many as seven persons, most of whom belonged to a caste Hindu group from K. Pichampatty, have been taken for enquiry, police sources added.
On Tuesday, the victim's parents, a large number of Dalits of the village and office-bearers of various Dalit organisations, refused to accept the body, demanding the arrest of the culprits first.
Gathering near the Karur government general hospital, where the body was taken for post-mortem, the agitators blocked road traffic and blamed the police for not taking swift and fair action in the case.
Later, they relented on assurances from S. Rajeswari, Tiruchi S.P., and took the girl's body to the village amid tight security for the last rites.
News Updates 26.06.14
9 suspects picked up in rape case, but no breakthrough yet- The Hindu
17-year-old 'beaten, set ablaze by father'- The Indian Express
http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/lucknow/17-year-old-beaten-set-ablaze-by-father/
The Hindu
9 suspects picked up in rape case, but no breakthrough yet
The police have formed 12 special teams, each headed by an officer of the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police
A day after the rape and murder of a 17-year-old Dalit girl near Karur, the police picked up nine suspects, but have not made any breakthrough.
The police have formed 12 special teams, each headed by an officer of the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP).
While the team led by the Kulithalai DSP has been entrusted with the investigation, the other teams are charged with collecting intelligence, analysing cell phone details, interrogating the suspects, analysing the crime scene and working with forensic experts.
"Investigators have so far picked up nine suspects and are interrogating them," S. Rajeswari, Superintendent of Police, Tiruchi, and in-charge of Karur district, told The Hindu on Wednesday.
"The teams are vigorously pursuing the clues and getting them corroborated," said Ms. Rajeswari, who is camping in Karur district to monitor the probe.
One of the teams analysed the scene — a betel farm at K. Pichampatty village, where the body was found.
The investigators have taken into possession the dress worn by the girl and her footwear.
Although the teams have gathered some clues, nothing tangible has come out for the investigators to zero in on the accused, police sources say.
The Mayanur police have filed a case on a complaint by the victim's father Ponnusamy under Section 302 (murder) of the IPC and Sections 5 and 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012.
Directive to SHOs
The State police headquarters has instructed the Station House Officers (SHOs) to comply with the Supreme Court's directive to expedite trial in such cases. The court order has been sent to all Superintendents of Police and Commissioners of Police, who have been told to circulate it among the SHOs.
The Indian Express
17-year-old 'beaten, set ablaze by father'
http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/lucknow/17-year-old-beaten-set-ablaze-by-father/
A 17-year-old Dalit girl was allegedly beaten to death and later was set on fire by her father and other family members in Saharanpur Tuesday.
The matter came to light after the local police received an anonymous letter informing about the incident.
The bones and ashes were recovered from the place where the body was reportedly burnt following a rigorous search around 2.30 am on Wednesday.
An FIR against girl's father Sethpal, a labourer, and unidentified family members was lodged at Nakud police station on a complaint filed by Juddi village chowkidar Sitaram. The case has been lodged on charges of murder and destruction of evidence.
SSP, Saharanpur, Rajesh Pandey said the recovered remains would be sent for forensic examination, adding the hunt is on to trace the girl's father and others who are absconding.
The police said preliminary inquiry revealed the girl was reportedly having an affair with her elder sister's brother-in-law and was pregnant. The investigation also found that the girl's family had offered a proposal for their marriage, but the youth's family reportedly demanded dowry which was turned down by the girl's father.
The police added the girl's father and others caught her with the same youth in a compromising state in the village and she was reportedly brought to the house where she was allegedly beaten to death.
The body was later set on fire.
Senior Sub-inspector (SSI), Nakud police station, Digambar said after receiving information on Tuesday evening they visited the girl's house to find her ailing mother who said her daughter was assaulted by her father and others and was later taken outside the house. She said she was unaware as to what happened to her daughter.
News Updates 29.06.14
Dalit girl allegedly raped- Business Standard
http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/dalit-girl-allegedly-raped-114062701190_1.html
Breakthrough eludes police in rape-murder case- The Hindu
Business Standard
Dalit girl allegedly raped
http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/dalit-girl-allegedly-raped-114062701190_1.html
A 13-year-old Dalit girl was allegedly raped by a man in Gandhi Camp area here, police said today.
In a complaint lodged with police, the girl said the incident happened some six months ago.
The girl alleged a woman in her neighbourhood took her to one Vimal Kumar who raped her, according to police.
The man threatened her with dire consequences if she revealed the incident to anyone, the girl said in the complaint.
The victim informed her uncle, with whom she was staying, about the incident when the man again tried to rape her on June 27, the complaint said.
Both the woman and Kumar were absconding, police said adding efforts were on to nab them.
The Hindu
Breakthrough eludes police in rape-murder case
A breakthrough continues to elude investigators in the rape and murder of a Dalit girl at K. Pichampatty.
Four days after the crime, the 13 special teams were yet to obtain concrete clues to zero in on the accused, police sources say.
Around 15-20 suspects from different communities have been interrogated so far. Admitting that there was no progress, a senior police officer said the teams were yet to obtain clinching evidence.
However, Joshi Nirmal Kumar, Superintendent of Police, Karur, said the probe was progressing in the right direction.
The teams were pursuing the probe from different angles, and every input was being verified and corroborated.
The possible involvement of persons known to the victim was not being ruled out.
Meanwhile, provisions of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Ordinance, 2014, have been invoked in the case registered by the Mayanur police.
Consoling parents
On Friday, members of the Karur-based Swathi Penkal Iyyakkam; Tamil Nadu Child Rights Protection India Network, Chennai; People's Watch, Madurai; and Human Rights Advocacy and Research Foundation, Chennai, visited K. Pichampatty and met the victim's parents.
They later went to the Mayanur police station and sought speedy action, said Pakkiayam, vice-president of the Swathi Penkal Iyyakkam.
On Thursday, the chairperson of the Tamil Nadu Commission for Protection of Child Rights, Saraswathi Rangasamy, met the parents of the victim at the village.
News Updates 02.07.14
Shocking: Dalit boy tied to tree, thrashed in UP's Hapur- The Times Of India
Minor girl 'raped', blackmailed over video clip in MP, three booked- Zee News
Dalit body demands arrest of killers- The Hindu
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/dalit-body-demands-arrest-of-killers/article6168296.ece
Pichampatty girls allege harassment by police- The Hindu
The Times Of India
Shocking: Dalit boy tied to tree, thrashed in UP's Hapur
An 12-year –old Dalit boy eas allegedly tied to a tree, stripped, thrashed, stubbed with cigarette butts and had petrol poured over his genitals by four persons in Hapur, UP, after he refused to help them unload crates of soft drink bottles from a truck to be taken to a local shop in the village.
Zee News
Minor girl 'raped', blackmailed over video clip in MP, three booked
Indore: Three youths have been booked for making an obscene video clip of a minor Dalit girl and blackmailing her, police said on Tuesday.
One of them has been booked on rape charge also.
Lasudia Police Station in-charge Narendra Gaharwar said Suraj (20), Deepesh (21) and Ritesh (22) were booked on a complaint filed by the 17-year-old victim yesterday.
They have been charged with abduction and under relevant sections of the IT Act. Deepesh, in addition, faces sexual assault charge, he said.
In her complaint, the girl said she was was on her way to a coaching class on January 30 when the trio (who apparently knew her) convinced her to join the birthday party of their friend.
They took the girl to a house, where Deepesh allegedly raped her, while Suraj and Ritesh made an objectionable video clip of her, it said.
Ritesh then demanded Rs 50,000 from the girl's family and threatened to upload the clip on Internet if the money was not paid.
Fed up with his threats and constant harassment, the girl and her family lodged a police complaint.
PTI
The Hindu
Dalit body demands arrest of killers
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/dalit-body-demands-arrest-of-killers/article6168296.ece
Members of the Devendra Kula Velalar Kootamaippu staged a demonstration demanding the immediate arrest of killers involved in the rape and murder of the Dalit girl at K.Pichampatty, at Kulithalai on Tuesday.
Led by the State vice president of the body, Rajkumar, the members drawn from different villages including K. Pichampatty demanded severe punishment for the accused.
Despite formation of special police teams there was no progress in the investigations of the crime, the protesters said.
Buses were diverted at Kulithalai due to the demonstration.
Meanwhile, the All India Mahila Congress has demanded that the probe be expedited to apprehend the culprits.
In a memorandum to the District Collector, national secretary S.Jothimani said the rape and murder of the Dalit girl has created fear and sense of insecurity among women in the district.
She wanted copies of the post-mortem report and modified First Information Report to be given to the family members of the victim.
Ms. Jothimani wanted the district administration to take steps to permanently shutdown the TASMAC liquor outlet in the village, in deference to the wishes of the residents. In places where TASMAC outlets are opposed by the residents these outlets should not be opened, she said.
The Hindu
Pichampatty girls allege harassment by police
With investigation into the last week's rape and murder of a Dalit girl at K. Pichampatty under way, a couple of girls of the village have petitioned the district administration alleging that they were being harassed by the police in the name of enquiry.
They alleged that the police were exerting pressure on them.
Separate petitions were submitted by them to Collector S. Jayandhi at the weekly public grievances redress meeting held at the Collectorate here on Monday.
The girls worked with the victim in the mosquito net manufacturing unit at Karur.
One of them — Indhumathi — in her complaint alleged that since the rape and murder was reported, she was being called every day by the police and harassed in the name of enquiry. She was being asked to state something that was far from truth, Indhumathi said.
The Collector told The Hindu that the girls had told her that they were being called for enquiry and that they were feeling scared and it was causing them mental agony.
The Collector said that the girls did not tell her that the police were harassing them.
Superintendent of Police Joshi Nirmal Kumar categorically denied all the allegations levelled by the girls.
· SP says a woman inspector was sent to their homes for enquiry
· The two girls have petitioned the Collector, saying they were scared of going to work
News Updates 04.07.14
Dalits attacked by Caste Hindus- The Hindu
Dalit girl, who was set ablaze succumbs to burns- PTI
http://www.ptinews.com/news/4882404_Dalit-girl--who-was-set-ablaze-succumbs-to-burns.html
Arrested for assaulting girl- The Hindu
The Hindu
Dalits attacked by Caste Hindus
Three Dalits, including a woman, were injured when a mob belonging to upper caste attacked their houses at Agarathupatti alias Tirumalaipuram near here on Wednesday.
Police have registered case against 48 persons and picked up nine persons for questioning. An AIADMK functionary, Muthuramalingam, has been cited as the prime accused in the case booked for rioting, using abusive language, hurting with deadly weapons and attempt to murder.
The perpetrators of violence have also been booked under the provisions of the Tamil Nadu Public Property (Prevention of Damage and Loss) Act and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
The police said people belonging to both the groups had been clashing over playing songs on their respective caste leaders during temple festivals.
Recently, the Caste Hindus had objected to Dalits using the common road.
"Dalits had refused to send their children to the panchayat union school fearing attack," district secretary of Tamil Nadu Untouchability Eradication Front S. Gnanaguru said.
On Wednesday evening, two Dalit youths were talking loudly in an inebriated mood at the bus stop that angered the Caste Hindus.
Following the incident, over 80 people, including women, attacked the houses of Dalits.
Tiles and asbestos roofs of nine houses were damaged.
The mob also destroyed electrical appliances and furniture. The injured – V. Marimuthu (26), K. Irulayee (60) and M. Yesu Mundiyappan (60) – were admitted to the Aruppukottai Government Hospital.
A strong posse of police has been deployed at the village.
"Dalits refused to send their children to the panchayat union school fearing attack"
PTI
Dalit girl, who was set ablaze succumbs to burns
http://www.ptinews.com/news/4882404_Dalit-girl--who-was-set-ablaze-succumbs-to-burns.html
Ahmedabad, Jul 3 (PTI)
A 17-year-old Dalit girl, who was allegedly set afire by her neighbours died today at a civil hospital here after battling for life for 18 days, police said.
The incident took place on June 16 outside her house in Ambedkarnagar area of Sayla town of Surendranagar district.
The Hindu
Arrested for assaulting girl
Two weeks after a 14-year-old Dalit girl of Parali village was sexually assaulted, the police arrested the accused on Thursday.
The accused, S. Adaikkan (30) of Mailadi, was remanded after being produced before a judicial magistrate court. The labourer is the father of three children.
The girl, studying 10{+t}{+h}standard in an Adi Dravidar school, was returning home on a bicycle when she was sexually assaulted in a sugar cane field near Mailadi in Kulithalai sub-division limits on June 20 evening, the police said. The accused threatened the girl of dire consequences after committing the offence, the police said.
On a complaint lodged by the girl, the Kulithalai All Women Police booked a case the next day under sections 5 and 6 of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 and under IPC section 506 (i) (criminal intimidation).
News Updates 05.07.14
Dalit girl, who was set ablaze, dies in hospital- The Hindu
1 held for sexually harassing minor girl in Karur district- The Times OF India
The Hindu
Dalit girl, who was set ablaze, dies in hospital
A minor Dalit girl, who was allegedly set on fire by neighbours last month in Gujarat, died of burns at the Civil hospital here on Thursday after battling for life for 19 days.
Following a dispute with neighbours over the disposal of dirty water, Chandrika Parmar (15) was set ablaze at her home in Syla village in Surendranagar district. She was brought to the hospital with 70 per cent burns and had been in a critical condition. "She passed away yesterday afternoon. The doctors told us in the beginning itself that her condition was serious. They said that they were trying their best. Her stomach and her entire body had swollen and turned yellow," the girl's cousin said.
The Times OF India
1 held for sexually harassing minor girl in Karur district
KARUR: A 30-year-old man who was accused of attempting to rape a minor girl a fortnight ago, was on Thursday arrested by the police and remanded in judicial custody.
Personnel of the all-women police station (AWPS) in Kulithalai of Karur district nabbed S Adaikkan, a resident of Therku Mayiladi in the district for allegedly attempting to rape the dalit girl of the same village on June 20. He was booked under 5 and 6 of the Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) and Prevention of Atrocities Against SC/ST Act.
According to a complaint filed by the girl's father, she was intercepted by the man while she was returning from school and sexually harassed. He further attempted to rape her. However, the girl managed to escape from him and informed her parents. The parents lodged a complaint with the AWPS on June 21. They also gave some clues about the identification of the accused. However, police did not arrest anyone. Despite repeated appeals from them to arrest the offender, police remained mute spectators, the parents claimed.
Angered by the unnecessary delay, the family and relatives recently staged a road blockade insist the district administration to arrest the accused. As the pressure mounted, police held identification parades in which the accused could not be identified by the victim's family. Meanwhile, P Ramasamy, assistant director of National Commission for SC/ST also insisted the respective police to expedite the investigation after visiting the police station on June 26. Ramasamy was in Karur to meet the parents of a 17-year-old girl in Pichampatti who was allegedly raped and murdered by unknown person(s). At this juncture, the parade was conducted once again on Wednesday when the accused was identified by the victim's family.
The AWPS then booked him for attempting to rape. As the accused was a non-dalit, he was also booked under the Prevention of Atrocities Against SC/ST Act.
He was produced in the Kulithalai judicial magistrate court II on Thursday morning which remanded him in judicial custody. Meanwhile, police are yet to crack the case of the rape and murder of the 17-year-old girl of Mayanur in Karur whose body was found in a betel grove near her village on the midnight of June 23.
Kulithalai deputy superintendent of police, Jameem, said that investigation is on in the rape and murder incident.
News Updates 07.07.14
Dalit family seeks fresh probe into mysterious death of woman- The Hindu
The Hindu
Dalit family seeks fresh probe into mysterious death of woman
The mysterious death of a young Dalit woman in a far-off village of Jodhpur has forced her in-laws' family to sit on a dharna outside the Collectorate since May 28 seeking a re-investigation into the case.
The woman's father-in-law Tejaram runs between police stations and court, while his wife and two children — both of whom are mentally unstable — wait endlessly.
Life, probably, was never easy for Tejaram's 21-year-old daughter-in-law whose burnt body was found in a jungle near Dediya village on February 10. But it became even worse for the family after her death under suspicious circumstances. The police arrested Tejaram and his son, Omaram, on charges of dowry death based on a complaint lodged by the victim's parents. Police registered a case because Omaram and his wife had been married for only three years. While Tejaram was kept in a lock-up illegally and released on judicial intervention, Omaram is still in jail facing trial.
Tejaram and his family have a different story to tell. In a petition before the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), filed on their behalf by Dalit Adhikar Network, they alleged that the victim was being sexually exploited by three upper caste men living near Tejaram's house — the only other family in the vicinity.
The three — Tej Singh, Kavraj Singh and Manohar Singh — used to visit Tejaram's house when he and Omaram were away at work in the nearby mines, threaten the three family members and sexually exploit the victim. They eventually killed her, the petition alleged. "Dalit women have been exploited by upper caste men for ages. No one listens to Dalits," Tulsidas Raj, State convenor of Dalit Adhikar Manch told The Hindu. He has been helping the family fight the case. "Our only hope is the NHRC, which has taken cognisance of the case, and we have demanded a CBI enquiry, protection to Tejaram and his family and action against the policemen who kept Tejaram in illegal custody.
Importantly, it makes a case under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act,'' he said.
On May 13, Tejaram, after a directive from the court, lodged a second FIR in which the three men had been accused of sexually assaulting and killing his daughter-in-law. It was after the police refused to take action against those named in the second FIR that the family left their house fearing victimisation and sat on a dharna outside the Collectorate.
The police, on the other hand, claim that it was a clear case of dowry death. "The victim and Omaram did not get along. She was staying there against her will. Who wants to live with mentally unstable people? The only two sane men were out during the day, and there was no other family nearby. So the victim made friends with these three young boys which the family disapproved of,'' said Govind Singh Devada, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Jodhpur.
The case was registered at Phalodi police station on a complaint from the victim's parents, he said.
News Updates 09.07.14
Dalit Girl Allegedly Raped in UP- Out Look
http://www.outlookindia.com/news/article/Dalit-Girl-Allegedly-Raped-in-UP/848847
Seven men gangrape three minor girls in Badaun- Deccan Chronicle
Badaun Dalit girls's bodies will be exhumed for fresh autopsy: Sources- IBN Live
Out Look
Dalit Girl Allegedly Raped in UP
http://www.outlookindia.com/news/article/Dalit-Girl-Allegedly-Raped-in-UP/848847
A 15-year-old Dalit girl was raped allegedly by a youth in Baniyather area, police said here today.
The family members of the victim alleged that she was raped by a youth while his aide held her at gun point on Sunday night, it said.
The incident occurred when the victim was alone at her residence as other family members had gone to attend a wedding, police said.
A case was filed against Shauqeen and Akhtar last evening in this connection, they said, adding the accused were absconding.
Deccan Chronicle
Seven men gangrape three minor girls in Badaun
Badaun: Three minor Dalit girls were allegedly assaulted and gangraped by seven men for opposing eve-teasing in Singauli village in Badaun, police said on Tuesday.
Three youths of a neighbouring village indulged in eve-teasing with the girls on Sunday who had gone to a nearby field.
As the girls raised objection, four other associates of the accused also joined them in beating the girls.
One of the girl's brother, who rushed to their rescue, was also beaten up, police said.
An FIR has been lodged under Zarifnagar police station area against the seven accused under sections of eve-teasing, assault and SC/ST act.
However, the girls have alleged that they were gangraped.
The family members of the girls however met the SSP LR Kumar on Tuesday, and alleged that police was saving the accused.
They complained that the station incharge lodged the case of eve teasing and not of gangrape at the behest of a Samajwadi Party leader to save the accused who belong to Yadav caste.
The SSP later told reporters that prima facie the case appeared to be that of eve-teasing, but as the family members have complained against it, the statements of the girls will be recorded in the court and further action would be taken accordingly.
Three of the accused have been arrested and efforts are on to nab the remaining accused, police said.
IBN Live
Badaun Dalit girls's bodies will be exhumed for fresh autopsy: Sources
New Delhi: The bodies of two minor Dalit girls who were alleged gangraped and murdered in Badaun district of Uttar Pradesh will be exhumed for autopsy, said sources on Tuesday. Sources added that the post mortem of the minor girls was completely botched up.
Highly-placed sources in the Central Bureau of Investigation said the first post-mortem was conducted at night, which is usually against laid down procedures. Post-mortem is not conducted after sunset except in an exceptional emergency cases.
On the exhumation of the bodies, one of the cousins of the victims said, "We are not ready for exhumation of bodies. What will the CBI find? The marks on those body must have gone, what can they find from skeletons.
"It's just an eyewash. The CBI is trying to implicate us. They are under political pressure. Why weren't the investigation done then, why exhume bodies now."
Ahead of exhuming, the CBI will constitute a medical board after which the agency will move a local court for a direction for exhuming the bodies of the two girls for a fresh postmortem.
The move comes after the autopsy report of the state government was only suggestive of rape without conclusively proving it.
The postmortem was conducted by a lady doctor who had no prior experience of it, said the sources.
The two cousins, aged 14 and 15, went missing from their house on the night of May 27 and their bodies were found hanging from a tree in the village in Ushait area the next day. The incident had sparked a nationwide outrage.
The CBI had on Monday carried out lie detector test on the fathers of the two cousins from Badaun who were allegedly raped, killed and their bodies found hanging from a tree even as the victims' family objected to the move of the agency.
The investigating agency sources had said the fathers of the rape victims, a family member and a witness have been brought to undergo polygraph test at Central Forensic Science Laboratory in CGO complex in New Delhi.
The sources had said they have taken three-days time from the court in Badaun to subject these four persons to polygraph or lie-detector test but if the procedure is completed earlier they may be allowed to go.
They said during the test which started on Monday, the family members of the victims were repeatedly asked about the mobile phone of the girls and why it was broken.
The CBI sources had said they are not doubting the claims made by the families of the victims but in order to develop a flawless case the agency needs to test the veracity of their statements.
The sources had said the statements given by the family members have some inconsistencies which need to be clarified before proceeding in the case.
(With additional information from PTI)
News Updates 10.07.14
Dalit teen gang-raped- The Times Of India
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhopal/Dalit-teen-gang-raped/articleshow/38116361.cms
The Times Of India
Dalit teen gang-raped
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhopal/Dalit-teen-gang-raped/articleshow/38116361.cms
BHOPAL: A dalit teenaged girl was lured by her tenant and two others including a woman and gang raped repeatedly in Ashoka Garden locality of state capital. A case has been registered against the three accused after the girl, 16, mustered the courage and informed her parents, who in turn lodged a complaint on Tuesday.
Cops have nabbed the woman accomplice while the accused the on the run.
Accused were Jagmohan, Hameer and Draupadi, a married woman.
Police said accused lived as tenants in girl's house and Draupadi persuaded the minor to establish physical relations with Jagmohan and Hameer. Both youths earlier lived in a separate portion of the same building, but shifted later.
Police said according to the complaint, when the minor refused, the accused youths forced her and outraged her modesty a number of times for around a month. Draupadi warned the girl to keep mum and not to disclose about it to anyone.
However, when girl hinted her father about the torture and physical and mental harassment, he talked to woman's husband, who rebuffed him ruling out involvement of his wife in any such act. The matter was reported to police after survivor and her family lodged a complaint.
Police said they would verify whether the woman took any money from the two accused or what was his actual motive behind crime. Investigating officials said accused are from Vidisha district and they are trying to locate them. Since the rape survivor is a dalit, the case has been transferred to AJK police, officials added.
News Updates 13.07.14
Dalit minor girl raped in Gwalior- The Times Of India
The Times Of India
Dalit minor girl raped in Gwalior
BHOPAL: A dalit minor girl was raped in Gwalior district by her neighbour last month. Police registered a case and started investigations after the survivor filled a complaint on Friday. The accused is yet to be arrested.
The incident took place at Mayur market area of the district on June 4, this year. However, the survivor told cops she was threatened by the accused not to file a complaint.
Accused Ashish Sharma, resident of New Indra Nagar has been booked under section 376 (rape) of IPC besides other relevant sections of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes (prevention of atrocities) Act and Protection of Children From Sexual Offences Act.
Thatipur police station in charge Vijay Tomar said, "The accused fled after girl's complaint. As per the complaint, he raped her in June when she was alone at her house."
News Updates 15.07.14
Married Dalit Woman Allegedly Gang-Raped in Odisha- Out Look
http://www.outlookindia.com/news/article/Married-Dalit-Woman-Allegedly-GangRaped-in-Odisha/849794
Bhagana gangrape: Probe panel exonerates sarpanch- Hindustan Times
Out Look
Married Dalit Woman Allegedly Gang-Raped in Odisha
http://www.outlookindia.com/news/article/Married-Dalit-Woman-Allegedly-GangRaped-in-Odisha/849794
A 28-year-old married Dalit woman was kidnapped and gang-raped allegedly by three persons in Odisha's Kendrapara district, police said today.
The woman was allegedly abducted from near her in-laws' house in Badagaon village under Marshaghai Police Station area last week, SDPO Nrusingha Charan Swain said.
The victim today lodged a complaint with the police in this regard, alleging that she was sexually assaulted by the accused at different places, he said.
They freed her after threatening her of dire consequences if she revealed the matter to anyone, the SDPO said.
A case under section 376 (rape) of IPC has been registered against the accused who are still at large and a manhunt has been launched to nab them, the SDPO said. The victim has been medically examined and her statement was also recorded, he said.
Hindustan Times
Bhagana gangrape: Probe panel exonerates sarpanch
Colonel Arya Veer, convener of a government- constituted committee that is looking into the gangrape incident of four Dalit girls at Bhagana village, has said sarpanch Rakesh Panghal was not involved in the crime.
The accused have already been arrested and sent to jail, he told the media on Monday.
Col Arya Veer said the aggrieved families did not turn up before the probe panel despite several calls.
The panel did not find any evidence, which could hint at the involvement of the sarpanch in the crime.
It may be mentioned that the four families of the victim girls have been raising their voice in Delhi for a long time to get justice. The girls were abducted on March 23, 2014. Five persons have already been arrested but the affected families have been alleging that the village Sarpanch was also involved in the crime.
The state government is ready to allot a plot each to these families in the village but not in Hisar town.
The government has also assured them of free education to girls and financial help for their marriages besides giving employment.
Bhagana has been in the news for the last three years over bitterness between Dalits/BCs and Jats.
News Updates 16.07.14
BSP workers protest over gangrape victim committing suicide- Business Standard
Hathras brought to a halt after woman's rape, suicide- The Times Of India
Mob fury in UP after woman is kidnapped and gang-raped, then burned alive for threatening to report her attackers- MOI
Girl found dead in canal identified- The Hindu
Business Standard
BSP workers protest over gangrape victim committing suicide
A Dalit woman, who was allegedly gang-raped, committed suicide by setting herself ablaze, prompting her family andBSP workers to stage a protest today which led to traffic jam in Sikandarau area here.
The woman, who was allegedly abducted and gang-raped by some persons in Jaswant Nagar area of Etawah on July 12, set herself ablaze yesterday, police said.
She was rushed to a nearby hospital, where she died during treatment.
Vehicular movement at Sikandarau area resumed only after Superintendent of Police Deepika Tiwari reached the spot and assured the family members and BSP workers that the accused will be nabbed soon.
"The victim has given her statement before her death in which she had taken some names. We have identified them and will arrest them soon", Tiwari said.
She said information in this regard has been forwarded to Jaswant Nagar police.
The Times Of India
Hathras brought to a halt after woman's rape, suicide
HATHRAS: Vehicles were burnt and stones pelted in Sikander Rao Road in Hathras district as a crowd protesting the gang-rape and subsequent suicide of a 22-year-old Dalit woman turned violent on Tuesday morning.
Police said that on July 12, five men visited the victim at her husband's home in Etawah and told her that her brother had sent them to fetch her. She was to accompany them to her parents' home in Purvi Naurangabad near Sikander Rao in Hathras, they said. The unsuspecting woman went with the five men, who were later joined by two others.
On the way, the men raped her and abandoned her close to a railway track. Reaching home, the woman confided in her mother. Late Monday, she doused herself with kerosene and set herself on fire, police said.
She was rushed to Aligarh Medical College, where she died of the 80% burn injuries.
The woman's mother and brother placed her body on display on the road, at a spot between the Sikander Rao police station and the railway gate, demanding compensation for their loss and immediate arrest of the accused.
The police station was attacked by an angry mob, and the numbers of people on protest soon swelled. Over 500 protestors gathered at the spot, going on a rampage and attempting to set a BSNL mobile tower on fire.
Local people jammed the Etah-Aligarh highway, and the mob set vehicles on fire. Demonstrators also pelted stones at policemen, who resorted to lathicharge to quell the crowd. Police and personnel of the Provincial Armed Constabulary from Aligarh, Hathras and Agra districts were rushed to the spot.
The woman's relatives said she was under depression, as the police, whom the family had approached on Sunday, had taken no immediate action.
Hathras SP Dipika Tiwari told TOI that the victim, before dying, had recorded a statement in front of police.
An FIR has been registered against Zeeshan, Tullan, Vakeel, Taufeeq and some unidentified men, under Sections 376 (rape), 342 (wrongful confinement) and 306 (abetment of suicide) of the IPC.
Mohit Gupta, Aligarh SSP, who is also DIG in-charge, Hathras, said, "We had already arrested two people, and on the demand of the victim's family, we conducted the post-mortem examination at night. But some anti-social elements tried to exploit the situation."
Hathras DM Shamim Ahmed said there was no delay in lodging an FIR. He said his administration planned to lodge an FIR against the miscreants responsible for disturbing the law and order situation.
The district administration later convinced the victim's kin to cremate her. The victim's brother told TOI, "She was my only sister. And her last rites were performed without the usual rituals." (With inputs from Ishita Mishra, Agra)
MOI
Mob fury in UP after woman is kidnapped and gang-raped, then burned alive for threatening to report her attackers
Large-scale violence erupted in the Sikandararau area of Hathras district in Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday, following the death of a woman who was gang-raped and burnt alive by her attackers on Monday.
Police said an irate mob threw stones and set fire to over a dozen of vehicles. The police reportedly fired blanks in the air to disperse the protesters.
Over a dozen demonstrators and policemen sustained injuries.
A 26-year-old dalit married woman was kidnapped by a gang of three men from her in-laws' house in Jaswantnagar in Etawah district on July 11.
Later, the assailants brought her to a house in Sikandararau area and raped her. After the attack, the miscreants dumped the victim near her mother's house in the same area.
The rapists once again assaulted her on Monday before setting her on fire because she was planning to approach the police.
She was taken to a local hospital by some Bajrang Dal leaders on Monday July 14, where she succumbed to burn injuries on Monday night.
Subsequently, the family, relatives and neighbours of the deceased resorted to violence, raising anti-police and anti-government slogans.
In fact, the deceased told the mediapersons before her death that the rapists assaulted and tortured her.
"Seven youths of Sikandararau kidnapped me in the night of July 11, brought me here and gang-raped in a house for two days. Then they threw me near my mother's house as my father had died two years ago.
"My mother tried to conceal the incident with the hope that my husband will accept me when I go back to him. But I was thinking to register a case with the police. These rapists attacked me again on Monday, sprinkled kerosene and set on fire," she was quoted as saying.
She also registered a statement before the magistrate prior to her death.
Meanwhile, the situation in Sikandararau is taking on a communal character as the accused reportedly belonged to the Muslim community.
Ranjan Arya, a Bajrang Dal leader, who had taken the victim to hospital, said: "The SP government has given standing order to the police to go slow on the criminals of minority community. This is why the police are punishing the protesters instead of the rapists."
Vijendra Tomar, Circle Officer of Sikandararau, said: "Huge police and paramilitary force have been deployed in the areas to maintain peace. We have also constituted several teams to arrest the accused."
The Hindu
Girl found dead in canal identified
Police have traced the identity of the schoolgirl whose body was found in a decomposed state in a canal at Killai in Chidambaram four days ago to Sirkazhi near here.
According to a police source, the Dalit girl was studying in a government school in Sirkazhi and was absent from school from early July.
The girl's body was found in a decomposed state in a canal four days ago. She was suspected to have been raped and murdered. Earlier, the Chidambaram police had formed a team to identify the girl.
Speaking to The Hindu , Venkatesan, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Sirkazhi, said a team was deputed to Chidambaram along with the girl's father and sister to assist the police in Killai .
"We are yet to get the details as the team along with the girl's sister is still in Chidambaram. We suspected it to be a case of love affair," he said.
Chidambaram police is investigating the case, but local police are looking for the suspect, Anbudasan, a fisherman of Pazhayar in Sirkazhi, he said.
News Updates 17.07.14
Woman stripped, beaten up in presence of cops in Bihar- Zee News
Zee News
Woman stripped, beaten up in presence of cops in Bihar
Patna: In yet another shocking incident, a middle-aged woman was stripped and badly thrashed by some unidentified men at a village in Bihar's Jehanabad district, just 50 kilometres away from the state capital, late on Wednesday night.
Media reports on Thursday said that the incident took place at around 1:30 am in the intervening night of July 16 and 17 when some unidentified people barged into the house of Sangita Devi and forced her out of house.
The attackers first vandalised her house and then stripped, kicked and punched the woman in front of her neighbours.
What is even more embarrassing is that the entire incident took place in presence of some local policemen, who did nothing to save the woman.
It has emerged that the woman was attacked in connection with the alleged kidnapping of a local youth Shakti Singh, who was involved in a land deal with Sangita Devi.
The attackers alleged that the woman was involved in the kidnapping.
The woman has sustained severe injuries and is being treated at the Bihar Medical College in Patna.
With the national media taking up the issue, the Jehanabad SSP has assured that action will be taken against all those involved in the incident.
The video footage of the incident will be examined by the police to identify the locals involved in the incident and appropriate action will be taken against them, the SSP said.
Meanwhile, Bihar unit chief of National Commission for Women (NCW) Anjum Aara has strongly condemned the incident and called for stringent action against the culprits.
Jehanabad Member of Parliament Arun Kumar has also criticised the incident and demanded strict action against those involved in it.
Bihar's ruling Janata Dal (United) spokesperson Rajiv Ranjan has expressed shock over the barbaric incident and assured that his government will ensure speedy justice to the victim.
The incident once again raises the plight of women living in the rural areas of Bihar and UP where crime against them is on the rise despite several measures taken by the Central government to ensure their safety.
Few months back, two minor Dalit sisters were gang-raped and murdered in the Badaun district of Uttar Pradesh. The incident triggered a national outcry and evoked sharp criticism for the ruling Samajwadi Party government there.
News Updates 19.07.14
Three held for Dalit woman's death- The Hindu
The Hindu
Three held for Dalit woman's death
Relatives of P. Seetha (28), a resident of Adhivaraganatham in Bhuvanagiri block and belonging to the Scheduled Caste community, blocked traffic on Bhuvanagiri — Sethiathope Road on Thursday, urging authorities to conduct a proper inquiry and arrest those responsible for the woman's death.
Police detained Seetha's lover Saravanan's mother Selvi (55), sister Sakunthala (40) and her husband Venkatesh (45) for interrogation on Wednesday. Saravanan surrendered in court on Thursday.
Seetha was beaten to death by Saravanan's relatives.
News Updates 20.07.14
17-yr-old raped, pushed into well in Rajasthan village- Hindustan Times
Hindustan Times
17-yr-old raped, pushed into well in Rajasthan village
A 17-year-old Dalit girl was allegedly raped by her neighbour and then pushed into a deep well at a village in Rajasthan's Bhilwara district on Thursday.
The girl, however, survived and was rescued by villagers on Friday, nearly 18 hours after the incident at Lasadia village under Kotari police station, around 40km from Bhilwara.
The accused Heera Lal Gurjar (22), a married man, is absconding.
Police have registered a case under Section 376 of IPC besides relevant sections of the Protection of Children Against Sexual Offences Act (Posco) 2012 and the SC/ST Act.
Police said that the victim -- also married -- was working alone in her agricultural field when the accused lured her to the banks of the nearby Kothari river and allegedly raped her.
The accused then took the survivor to the well in his field and shoved her into it with the intention of killing her, police added.
Though the victim screamed for help, her cries were drowned by the heavy rains which lashed the area.
She later climbed onto a motor installed inside the well to draw water till she was rescued by passersby who were alerted by her cries for help.
"The victim and accused are known to each other and it is presumed that she went to the river by consent and while returning the accused pushed her into the well," Bhilwara superintendent of police HG Raghvendra Suhas said.
Investigating officer, deputy SP Satish Kumar on Saturday recorded the victim's statement and collected other evidences from the spot of the rape.
News Updates 22.07.14
Teenage dalit girl gangraped in Mathura- PTI
http://www.ptinews.com/news/4945246_Teenage-dalit--girl-gangraped-in-Mathura.html
Dalit girl eve-teased and photographed in Muzaffarnagar- Deccan Chronicle
Six-year-old raped in Seoni- The Times Of India
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhopal/Six-year-old-raped-in-Seoni/articleshow/38842977.cms
Steep rise in sexual violence against Dalit girls in Haryana: report- Hindustan Times
PTI
Teenage dalit girl gangraped in Mathura
http://www.ptinews.com/news/4945246_Teenage-dalit--girl-gangraped-in-Mathura.html
Mathura, Jul 21 (PTI) A dalit teenage girl was allegedly gang raped by six youths in Pingri village of Mathura district, police said today.
The incident took place on Saturday when the victim had gone to a temple for an overnight religious event. In the night, she went to a nearby field to relieve herself.
On the way, six youths of the village abducted her and took her to a field.
Deccan Chronicle
Dalit girl eve-teased and photographed in Muzaffarnagar
Muzaffarnagar: A Dalit college student was allegedly eve-teased and photographed by two youths following which one of them was arrested at Mansoorpur village in the district, police said on Monday.
The incident took place on Sunday when the girl was going out from her house after which she was intercepted by the two youths, they said.
The accused eve-teased the girl, taking an objectionable photograph of hers and also threatened her with dire consequences if she revealed the incident to anyone, Circle Officer D K Mittal told newspersons on Monday.
A case has been registered against the two accused Suhail and Naushad, he said.
Naushad has been arrested in this connection and police are searching for the other accused, he said.
The Times Of India
Six-year-old raped in Seoni
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhopal/Six-year-old-raped-in-Seoni/articleshow/38842977.cms
BHOPAL: A six-year-old girl was raped by a man, who had accompanied his friend to Ulat village in Seoni district of Madhya Pradesh. Incident took place on Sunday evening and accused Anil Pawar, resident of adjoining Khoont village was arrested later in the night after a complaint was lodged.
Police said, Pawar came to the village along with his friend to visit some relatives. Pawar's friend went out for some work, leaving him at his relatives place when he took advantage and raped the minor, who was playing nearby.
"Villagers saw him commit the crime and the girl also sustained injuries," Barghat police station in charge, Bhagat Singh told TOI.
He has been booked under various sections of IPC along with SC & ST (prevention of atrocities) Act and protection of children from sexual offences Act, Singh said.
Hindustan Times
Steep rise in sexual violence against Dalit girls in Haryana: report
There has been steep rise in incidents of sexual violence against Dalit girls in Haryana, a report released on Monday in Chandigarh said.
The report was prepared by Women Against Sexual Violence and State Repression (WSS), some survivors and kin of survivors. The report deals with the atrocities committed against the naive and innocent girls in the name of caste politics. It deals with their experiences and also suggests some demands to enable them to lead a dignified and meaningful life.
The study's findings showed the exponential rise in sex violence against Delit girls (2001 to 2011) from 33 to 150 cases per year and the sudden drop from 150 cases to just 15 in 2012. This was a very worrying fact as they explained that the state machinery which had been set up for their protection was siding against them and working overtime to shield the accused who often had political links.
The group said that the police try to dismiss such cases as trivial matters and at times even decline to file a FIR. However, caste related violence has a pattern if observed properly. And the legislative, judiciary and the police tend to look the wrong way as far as justice is concerned.
Only 2-3% of the reported cases get some justice they claimed, this is not even taking into the account the number of cases which go unreported. The investigations carried out are flawed and people who sympathise with the plight of these poor young women are also targeted and threatened, said report.
Mary John, a feminist researcher, said that the state was to blame for neglecting the plight of these Dalit women and not taking adequate care of them before and after the incident happened. She said the Jats did this to assert their dominance over the lower castes.
Delhi-based Rajat Kalsan, an advocate, talked about his experience with dealing with these cases and how he himself was targeted and the various discrepancies that the governance brings up to save the accused.
Taking one example of Dabra village in 2012, eight Jat boys gang-raped a 15-year-old girl and also made a video to blackmail her. This video was later leaked, the father saw the video and committed suicide. Only four out the eight accused were framed with charges and the rest were left scot-free.
The survivor of the September 2012 Hisar rape case was also present there. She talked about her personal experience with the authorities and the neglect and humiliation she faced at their hands and other upper class people in her college. She has been rewarded a sum of `8 lakh by the government and she has turned into an activist now.
News Updates 23.07.14
Women's body found in bag in Hathras - India Today
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/womans-body-found-in-bag-in-hathras/1/373534.html
Accused spoke to Badaun girl before murder, says CBI sleuth- Hindustan Times
India Today
Women's body found in bag in Hathras
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/womans-body-found-in-bag-in-hathras/1/373534.html
The body of a 30-year-old woman was found packed in a bag near Bhojgarhi village in Hathras district.
The police recovered the body after being alerted by the villagers about an unclaimed bag lying in a field beside the road. The woman was wearing a pair of capris and a top. The police have sent the body for post-mortem.
Though the body doesn't seem to have any visible injury marks, the police are awaiting the post-mortem report to ascertain if she was sexually assaulted or not.
Last week, violence had erupted in Hathras after a 22-year-old gangrape victim had committed suicide.
The married Dalit woman had been gangraped on July 12 and had subsequently poured kerosene on herself and set herself ablaze.
She was rushed to Aligarh Medical College where she died of the 80 per cent burn injuries that she had suffered.
The woman's mother and brother had placed her body on display on the road, between the Sikander Rao police station and the railway gate, demanding the immediate arrest of the accused and compensation for their loss.
This led to an angry mob attacking the police station and going on a rampage.
Hindustan Times
Accused spoke to Badaun girl before murder, says CBI sleuth
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) that is probing the alleged rape and murder of two Dalit girls in Badaun has found that one of the victims had "telephonic contact" with one of the accused hours before she and her cousin were found hanging from a tree last May.
A CBI source associated with the case told HT that call records showed that the accused, Pappu Yadav, and the victim in question had contacted each other "around 300 times over their mobile phones since 2013." Yadav is one of five people arrested in this case.
The CBI has come to these conclusions after going through call detail records of the phone numbers that the victim in question and the accused are believed to have owned.
"The night the two girls went missing, Pappu Yadav and one of the victims spoke over the phone after 8.30pm," said the source.
"The telephone records indicate that Yadav was linked to the chain of events before the crime. This could be key in unravelling the conspiracy behind the murders… The probe is still determining who is telling the truth, whole role is what, and all angles are being looked into," the source added.
HT attempted to speak to the family of the victims but wasn't able to contact them on a number they were reachable on before; the phone was switched off.
Yadav's family had left the village after the UP police arrested him and could not be contacted for comment.
The CBI plans to examine Yadav again and also seek clarifications from the family of the victims. The agency will also re-examine the roles of the four other accused — Awadhesh and Urvesh, brothers of Pappu Yadav, and UP police constables Chhatrapal Yadav and Sarvesh Yadav.
The CBI had recovered the victim's mobile phone from her relatives in a "badly damaged state" nearly a month after the murders. It sent the phone to the Delhi-based Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) to retrieve any data that could help it with its investigation. The CBI has already conducted lie-detector tests on all the suspects as well as on four relatives of the victims. The results of these tests are awaited.
News Updates 24.07.14
Dalit woman sarpanch not allowed to hoist flag- Hindustan Times
Hindustan Times
Dalit woman sarpanch not allowed to hoist flag
A dalit woman sarpanch has been deprived of the honour of hoisting the national flag on the Republic Day and the Independence Day at her village in Morena district in the past four years. Reason: A former sanpanch who belongs to upper caste has not allowed the woman to do so. Instead, he hoists the flag on these two occasions.
Badami Devi, sarpanch of Puravas Kalan recently staged a dharna in Bhopal fighting against upper caste lobby domination in the village, said, "The upper caste lobby led by the former sarpanch has deprived me of my right to hoist the national flag. It is they who have also got opening of a middle school in our harijan basti stalled. And unfortunately the administration is supporting them."
However, a resident of the village Mohan Singh who is also from upper caste has lent support to the lady.
He said, "We are disappointed that some people belonging to our community still believe in untouchability.
For the last four years, the sarpanch was deprived of her right to hoist the national flag on the Independence Day and the Republic Day and even if she attends the programme, she is not offered a chair to sit on."
The husband of the woman sarpanch Chiman Jatav said they had lodged a complaint before commissioner of Chambal division Shivanand Dubey about the upper caste lobby not allowing his wife to hoist the national flag.
Talking to HT the divisional commissioner said, "The sarpanch has lodged a complaint about flag hoisting but it is not true that she was restrained from hoisting the flag. In fact, there is no gram panchayat bhavan in the village. The primary school is the only government building in the village.
The school employees invite the former sarpanch instead of the present one for hoisting flag. However, I will look into the complaint personally and if there is any discrimination or any wrong practice I will take action against the people responsible for it."
However, Jila Panchayat chairman in-charge Mohan Lal Yadav said, "As the head of the gram Sabha, it is the right of sarpanch to hoist the national flag on August 15 and January 26. Hoisting flag has nothing to do with an invitation as in most gram panchayats the Independence Day and Republic Day programmes are held in schools only."
News Updates 25.07.14
Dalit Girl Found Hanging- The New Indian Express
http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/Dalit-Girl-Found-Hanging/2014/07/25/article2347504.ece
The New Indian Express
Dalit Girl Found Hanging
http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/Dalit-Girl-Found-Hanging/2014/07/25/article2347504.ece
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A 16-year-old Dalit girl, who was allegedly a victim of sexual exploitation, was found hanging from the ceiling of her house near Vembayam late on Wednesday.
The deceased was a native of Muthipara near Vembayam. According to Venjaramood police, she was in love with Manilal, 20, who is now in prison on charges of raping the minor. According to the police, the deceased and Manilal, who was her neighbour, were involved in a physical relationship for nearly a year.
Earlier this month, the girl's parents came to know about their relationship, owing to which they filed a complaint before the Venjarammoodu police, which resulted in Manilal's arrest 10 days ago.
The police charged Manilal with rape and committing atrocities against a person from the Dalit community.Though police have only registered a case of unnatural death in connection with the incident, they are exploring the possibility of booking the girl's parents for not reporting the suicide to the police.
News Updates 28.07.14
LUCKNOW MAIL: State officials cover up rape cases in UP- MOI
MOI
LUCKNOW MAIL: State officials cover up rape cases in UP
It's no secret that under the stewardship of Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, law and order has become a nightmare in Uttar Pradesh.
What's worse is that top officers and politicians in the state are believed to be increasingly interfering in many of these cases, often asking police officers to undermine the seriousness of a crime.
In a horrific incident, a married Dalit woman in Sikandararau area of Hathras district was abducted from her marital home and allegedly gang-raped by seven youths.
Sources said she recognised three of her captors, and they, fearing she would reveal their identity, set her on fire.
Despite mob fury over her killing, sources claim the case was stalled because of the intervention of an IAS officer. The officer has allegedly requested the police to cast aspersions on the woman's character and claim she had illegitimate relations with the accused.
This is just one such incident. In May this year, two minor Dalit girls were gang-raped and hanged from a mango tree in Badaun. Sources claimed that the CBI probe revealed that the older of the two girls was in a relationship with the main accused, Pappu Yadav, and had gone to meet him along with her sister on the day of the incident.
The family refuted these claims and said that evidence like broken bangles and beer bottles had been planted by the police to frame the family.
Such cases should have generated a public debate on the safety of women in Uttar Pradesh. But instead, both the Yadavs - Akhilesh and Mulayam - have been strangely silent on the issue, giving rise to talk that the government machinery is involved in the cover-ups and is trying its best to shift the blame on to the girl and the family.
Nothing can illustrate this better than the latest incident. A laboratory technician at Lucknow's Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGIMS) was found killed in Mohanlalganj on July 17. The police claimed that she was on her way to a farmhouse with a stranger at 11pm.
But that is not the only thing. Investigating agencies and all the related wings have proved they too are susceptible. Take the above-mentioned case. A team of six doctors and forensic experts, conducting the autopsy, apparently did not see that the woman had only one kidney, as they wrote both her kidneys were intact.
They also didn't bother to investigate her age and declared her to be 25 years old, which she was not. She was 36 years old. Clearly, there is much cause for concern here.
The same is true of the Badaun case. The CBI, investigating the case, was suspicious of the manner in which the autopsy was conducted. For instance, it came to light that one of the doctors in the team was doing it for the first time in her career.
Secondly, all three doctors apparently did not know that a post-mortem examination is never done after sunset, yet they prepared a report and allegedly changed the incident of gang-rape into "suspected rape".
Insiders claim the lack of knowledge was because it was done by the caretakers of the mortuary, and the doctors later signed it.
Naturally suspicious, the CBI wanted an exhumation and a second autopsy. But what they did not know, though locals did, was that the graves of the two girls would be submerged in flood on July 19 or 20 because of the water released from Hardwar.
This duly happened, ensuring the case remains stalemated and allows the guilty to escape.
If this is the way state machinery handles a case of crime against women, there is little doubt that crimes against women will continue, with the guilty fearing no threat of punishment.
News Updates 29.07.14
Rapists hammer nails into survivor's body- The Times Of India
The Times Of India
Rapists hammer nails into survivor's body
CHANDIGARH: A dalit woman, allegedly gang-raped in April, claimed she was thrashed by one of the accused and his kin at her house in Kalanaur village in Rohtak district on July 25. She also alleged that the accused, who assaulted her in front of her husband, hammered nails into her body.
With injuries on her lower back, she was taken to Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Rohtak. She had stated in her complaint that she was raped by three men in April. A case was registered against the three, including her husband Rajinder and Phool Kumar.
She further alleged that Phool, accompanied by his wife Seema and their relative Rohtash and his wife Meena, reached her house on the night of July 25. She alleged her husband was tied up and the accused stripped her and beat her up. The men, she said, hammered nails into her body.
Kalanaur police filed a case of assault and under SC-ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act against the accused. Those booked include Phool, Seema, Rohtash and Meena, and they have been arrested.
Police claimed the case was registered on the basis of daily diary report and the police were yet to get the medical examination report.
Kalanaur SHO Ramesh Kumar said the rape case filed on the complaint of the victim in April had been cancelled. "According to a medical examination report in that case, the woman had suffered only injuries, not rape. The case seemed an outcome of personal enmity among women," he said. But he confirmed that one of the accused in the case was also named in the rape case.
Rohtak DIG Saurabh Singh said he was monitoring the investigation. "We're going threadbare into the case. The accused have been arrested," said DIG Singh. According to the police, the woman was booked in four cases of kidnapping, abduction, rape and human trafficking in the past three years.
News Updates 30.07.14
17-year-old girl raped by fellow villager in UP- Zee News
Bus rape: Police acted swiftly, says SP- The Times Of India
Dalit couple tortured-Police to re-investigate rape case- The Tribune
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2014/20140730/haryana.htm#25
Zee News
17-year-old girl raped by fellow villager in UP
Gonda: A 17-year-old Dalit girl here was allegedly raped by a man in her village in the Kaudiya area, police said on Tuesday.
In the incident which allegedly occurred two days back, the accused, who belongs to the same village, is said to have raped the girl after entering her residence when her family members were out working in the fields, said SP Bharat Singh Yadav.
The girl's father met him yesterday and complained about the incident following which a case has now been lodged in the matter, Singh added.
PTI
The Times Of India
Bus rape: Police acted swiftly, says SP
MANGALORE: Dakshina Kannada SP SD Sharanappa on Tuesday said that police acted swiftly in the case where a minor girl was raped in a KSRTC sleeper bus.
Sharanappa added that his department launched a manhunt immediately after the kidnap complaint was registered at Vittal police station.
Vittal police had on Monday arrested Nithin, 21, a bus conductor hailing from Punacha village near Bangalore for allegedly raping the dalit girl in a Mangalore-Bangalore KSRTC bus.
Parents of the girl had filed the complaint on July 24 and the girl was traced to Kempegowda bus stand in Bangalore on July 25.
Nithin has been booked under Section 366 (Kidnapping, abducting or inducing woman to compel her marriage, etc), Sections 3, 4 of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act and under the provisions of SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
The SP said that Vittal police neither showed any laxity in registering the complaint nor failed to take swift action. "The case was taken on priority on the same day. We immediately sent a team headed by a PSI and we could trace both of them without any delay," he added.
The bus conductor befriended the girl six months ago. The day on which the girl went missing, she called up her parents at 7pm and said that she was in Kateel and would return the next day.
When cops called her on the mobile number from which she called her parents, the girl said she was with Nithin. The police team went to Bangalore tracing the mobile signal.
The team later apprehended Nithin at Sixth Cross, Malleswaram.
The accused will be produced in court on Wednesday.
The Tribune
Dalit couple tortured-Police to re-investigate rape case
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2014/20140730/haryana.htm#25
Rohtak, July 29
With intervention of the state women's commission, higher police authorities, and the media, the police will reinvestigate the gangrape case of a Dalit woman of Kahnaur village in the district.
The woman and her husband have alleged that they were stripped naked and beaten up by upper-caste residents of their village on July 23. The accused allegedly hammered nails into the woman's body.
The woman, who was allegedly gangraped by Rohtash and Phool Kunwar about three months ago, was being "pressurised" to withdraw the rape complaint. The police had earlier claimed that the rape complaint was baseless. The state women's commission vice-president Suman Dahiya today visited the couple in Rohtak. She assured them of help and said legal opinion would be sought in the matter.
News Updates 31.07.14
10 years RI for rapist- The Free Press Journal
http://freepressjournal.in/10-years-ri-for-rapist/
The Free Press Journal
10 years RI for rapist
http://freepressjournal.in/10-years-ri-for-rapist/
Dewas : Judge of Special Court (SC/ST) Dr SK Mishra ordered 10 years of rigorous imprisonment and fine of Rs 11,500 to Yogesh, who was the accused of kidnapping and raping a minor girl two and half years ago.
Public Prosecutor Ashok Chawla informed the court that on January 3, 2012 a minor (14 years) of Kakadkui village of Khategaon tehsil went in the jungle to relieve her but never came back. Brother of the girl lodged a FIR against the accused Yogesh son of Narayan Deshwali resident of Baurisarai of Harsud Police Station of Khandwa district.
Police started the investigation against the accused Yogesh who is currently a resident of Bolai village of Kalwa Police Station of Thane District (Maharashtra).On August 22, 2013 Police caught the accused and the girl from Mumbai. During the medical checkup it was found that the girl was pregnant. On this basis the accused was charged of kidnapping and raping the girl. After hearing the matter Judge ordered 10 years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 11,500 against the accused.
News Updates 01.08.14
Dalit woman Forced to Clean School Tank for Her Girl's Admission - Kractivist
http://www.kractivist.org/dalit-woman-forced-to-clean-school-tank-for-her-girls-admission-wtfnews/
Dalit woman stopped from hoisting flag, MP govt served notice- Hindustan Times
NHRC notices to DM and SP, Mathura in a case of sexual assault- Business Standard
Kractivist
Dalit woman Forced to Clean School Tank for Her Girl's Admission
http://www.kractivist.org/dalit-woman-forced-to-clean-school-tank-for-her-girls-admission-wtfnews/
MADURAI: A Dalit woman was allegedly forced to clean a tank filled with garbage when she went to the Melur Government Girl's Higher Secondary School seeking admission for her daughter in the science stream of Class XI. While school principal Daisy Nirmala Rani claimed that daily wager Muthupillai had only asked for a job and was paid `250 for clearing the garbage, the woman's daughter said her mother was pressured to do the work.
Some senior teachers in the school said the principal had asked them to admit the 16-year-old girl, who passed out of Al Ammen High School, Melur, with overall 50 per cent marks in Class X, in the science stream and told them that her mother would clean the tank.
Since it was past 4 pm when the admission process was over on July 23, the woman promised to come later to clean the tank. On July 28, when the principal was at the campus to shoot a group picture, she noticed the four feet deep, six feet long and three feet wide tank brimming with garbage and asked the teacher to call Muthupillai immediately.
The teacher spoke to Muthupillai after getting her phone number from her daughter. "Muthupillai came to the school around 4 pm and cleaned the garbage tank, which took nearly two hours. I have been teaching in this school for many years, but I have never witnessed such a degrading incident on the campus," said a senior teacher.
When Chief Education Officer J Angelo Eradiya Swami was asked about the incident, he said: "The principal claimed the woman asked for the job explaining her family situation and so was asked to clean the tank. I have told the principal not to engage in such practices in the future. As I received information that there was groupism in the school, I conducted a detailed inquiry."
Hindustan Times
Dalit woman stopped from hoisting flag, MP govt served notice
The National Human Rights Commission has sent notices to Madhya Pradesh divisional commissioner, Chambal and district magistrate, Morena regarding a Dalit woman sarpanch, who is being denied her right to hoist the national flag.
The commission has issued notices to them calling for factual reports within two weeks.
HT had reported on June 28 that Madhya Pradesh Human Rights Commission had also taken cognizance of the incident.
According to the report, for the past four years, a dalit woman sarpanch has not been allowed to hoist the national flag on Independence Day and Republic Day at her village Puravas Kalan in Morena district. Instead, a former sarpanch, who belonged to an upper caste, hoists the flag.
The woman's husband lodged a complaint before the commissioner of Chambal division. She also staged a dharna in Bhopal alleging that administration was supporting the upper caste lobby.
Business Standard
NHRC notices to DM and SP, Mathura in a case of sexual assault
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report that a teenage Dalit girl was allegedly gang raped by six youths in Pingri village of Mathura District, Uttar Pradesh, on July 19 this year.
Reportedly, she had gone to a temple to attend an overnight religious event. When she went to relieve herself at a nearby field, she was abducted and sexually assaulted.
The commission has observed that the contents of the press report, if true, raise a serious issue of violation of human rights of the victim and issued notices to the District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, calling for a report in the matter within two weeks.
News Updates 02.08.14
Six Men Get 10 Years RI for Raping Dalit Girl- The New Indian Express
Two sentenced for life in kidnapping, rape case- IBN Live
http://ibnlive.in.com/news/two-sentenced-for-life-in--kidnapping-rape-case/489779-3-242.html
The New Indian Express
Six Men Get 10 Years RI for Raping Dalit Girl
VELLORE: Four years after a 20-year-old Dalit girl was gang-raped by a gang of six youth, the District Special Sessions Court on Friday sentenced them to 10 years rigorous imprisonment (RI).
Also, the court slapped a fine of `2,000 on five of them, who belong to the SC community, and `3000 on a youth belonging to an intermediate caste.
The Special Sessions Court Judge R V Deenadhayalan found A Rajan alias Sounder Rajan (27), Boonai alias C Prabhakaran (27), Sathish alias S Saravanan (24) and Kollan alias N Vijaya Kumar (28) of Anna Nagar at Ariyur Malaikodi, M Vaithiyavelan (23) and L Bhuvanendhiran (22) of Periya Sekkanur guilty of abducting, gang-raping and unnatural offence against the victim Rekha (name changed) of Ariyur Malaikodi.
The judge awarded a total of 38.1 years of RI, including three 10 years of RI, to the prime accused Rajan. While Prabhakaran and Kumar were awarded 28.1 years of RI, including two 10 years RI, the three others were awarded a total of 18.1 years of RI under various sections. "The imprisonment awarded to the six under various sections will run concurrently, which means they have to undergo a total of 10 years of RI," said the Special Public Prosecutor V K Jayapal, citing the judgement. The victim's mother Vimala had lodged a complaint with the All Women Police, Vellore, against the six on July 20, 2010. Rekha, according to the complaint, had gone to a shop in Ariyur to recharge her mobile phone about 7.30 pm on July 19, 2010. On her way home, Rajan and five others abducted her and took her to a deserted place. "They raped her repeatedly, besides forcing her into an unnatural sex act," said the government pleader.
The police arrested the six youth and filed a case against them. While sections 147 (rioting), 341, 366 and 376 (2) (g) of IPC were slapped against them, police invoked section 377 (unnatural offence) of the IPC against Rajan, Prabhakaran and Vijaya Kumar. The police also invoked the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act against Rajan of intermediate case, while the five others belonged to the SC community.
A total of 13 out of 18 witnesses had been examined on behalf of prosecution. "All witnesses confirmed the criminal act of the accused. The medical report also proved that the girl was gang-raped," added the Special Public Prosecutor.
On hearing the arguments and verifying the material evidence, the Special Sessions Court judge found the six youth guilty under all sections invoked and pronounced the judgement. They were lodged in Vellore Central Prison for Men.
IBN Live
Two sentenced for life in kidnapping, rape case
http://ibnlive.in.com/news/two-sentenced-for-life-in--kidnapping-rape-case/489779-3-242.html
Two persons have been sentenced to life imprisonment by a local court for kidnapping and raping a girl six years ago.
Special Additional District and Sessions Judge (SC/ST act) S.P Arvind also imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 each on Pradip Verma and Raja on Thursday.
The two had kidnapped the girl while she was on her way to an agriculture field on July 8, 2008 and had raped her for days before she was rescued by the police.
On the complaint filed by the father of the victim, an FIR was filed against the two.
News Updates 03.08.14
Auto driver detained for raping minor girl- The Times Of India
Dalit girl gangraped by three persons, 1 arrested- Business Standard
17-YEAR-OLD DALIT GIRL WAS ALLEGEDLY GANG RAPED JUST UNDER FEAR OF LOSING HER LIFE FOR LAST SEVERAL MONTHS- The Pioneer
The Times Of India
Auto driver detained for raping minor girl
MANGALORE: Bantwal rural police in Dakshina Kannada district has on Saturday detained an auto rickshaw driver for allegedly raping a minor girl four months ago.
The police have detained Samprath Poojari (21), a resident of Kavalapadoor in Karinja village of Bantwal taluk, based on the complaint filed by a 16 year-old dalit girl, who is now a pregnant.
Police sources said that Poojari had lured the girl, raped her at an isolate place near Kavalapadoor four months ago and later threatened not to reveal it to others. Poojari offered the girl to drop her to her house in his auto rickshaw and later raped her even when she opposed it. It is also alleged in the complaint that the accused had lured and raped her on several other occasions at different places.
A case has been registered under section 354 of IPC, under the provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and SC/ST (prevention of atrocities) Act against the accused, police said.
Business Standard
Dalit girl gangraped by three persons, 1 arrested
A 17-year-old Dalit girl was allegedly gangraped here repeatedly since last December by three persons, following which one of them has been arrested, police said today.
The incident came to light yesterday when the girl, a class 12th student, narrated her ordeal to her mother who filed a complaint with the police.
According to the complaint, the victim was first gangraped on December 12 last year when she was returning from school, Additional Superintendent of Police Ramji Singh Yadav said.
The three accused abducted her and gangraped her one by one, Yadav said, adding, they also made a video clipping of the crime.
The accused had raped the girl several times since then on the pretext of uploading the clipping, the ASP said.
The girl eventually reported the incident to her mother yesterday when she started getting renewed threats and when some more youths joined the trio, he said.
One of the youths has been arrested for raping and blackmailing the girl, Yadav said, adding, search is on to nab the other accused and to recover the mobile phone carrying the clipping.
The girl has been sent for medical examination, the ASP said.
The Pioneer
17-YEAR-OLD DALIT GIRL WAS ALLEGEDLY GANG RAPED JUST UNDER FEAR OF LOSING HER LIFE FOR LAST SEVERAL MONTHS
A 17-year-old Dalit girl was allegedly gang raped just under fear of losing her life for last several months. She finally broke up before her parents revealing her trauma on Friday after which local police was informed and one of the accused was arrested.
Reports said that the victim, a class 12th student of local college in Jaunpur, was held by three accused in the second week of December last year. She was taken to a secluded place where she was gang raped by the accused who also made video of the incident. Later before setting her free, the accused not only threatened to defame her by releasing her video but also warned her that she would lose her life if any complaint in this regard will be lodged. Later, the accused blackmailed her and kept her sexually exploiting but the girl finally decided to brought the truth to her parents after finding that the accused would exploit her further. She eventually reported the incident to her mother on Friday after which a case has been registered. While one accused was arrested, efforts were on to nab the remaining culprits.
In another sensational incident reported from Etawah, a jilted lover allegedly threw acid on a woman in civil lines area. Irfan (25), allegedly threw acid on the woman in Kanshiram colony on Friday evening in which she sustained 30 per cent burn injuries, Station House Officer Jasbeer Singh disclosed. He said that the woman, who separated from her husband, was having an affair with Irfan for more than a year.The SHO said that on Friday Irfan called the woman to meet him, but she refused after which he attacked her. The woman has been admitted to Sefai hospital.
Meanwhile in a separate case of mishap reported from Etawah, bodies of six people who were reported missing since past five days, were recovered from a canal along with the car they were traveling in, on Saturday. All the deceased who belong to Kanpur have been identified as Sunil Pandey (38), his wife Sangeeta (35), daughter Madhvi (15), son Rajat (13), brother-in-law Ganesh Chaturvedi (25) and a friend Rahul Dwivedi. One Alto car in which they were travelling was also recovered from the canal in Sarai Bhupat area this morning, SSP Dinesh Kumar said. The incident came to light when a boy taking bath near the canal bridge located the car under water and informed the police. SSP said that it appears that the accident took place last night after the driver lost control and the car fell in the canal. Ever since July 27 when the victims had not returned home, their family had been looking for them and on July 30 had also lodged a case of kidnapping. The bodies have been sent for the post mortem and the matter is being probed.
In a separate case reported from Sultanpur, in which a pregnant woman and her minor son were killed while her husband was injured when their motorcycle was hit by a truck near Badhauti trisection under Dostpur police station area. Shabana Khatoon (26) and her 18-month-old son Ubaidullah were killed when their motorcycle was hit by the truck when they were returning home after visiting their relatives on Friday night. The woman's husband has been admitted to community health centre. Meanwhile, locals staged a protest for over an hour placing the bodies on the road, demanding adequate
compensation for the bereaved family on Saturday afternoon. However, they called off their agitation on assurance of local administration that the issue of compensation will be taken up at the government level.
News Updates 04.08.14
4 BOOKED IN RAPE CASE- The Tribune
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2014/20140804/region.htm
The Tribune
4 BOOKED IN RAPE CASE
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2014/20140804/region.htm
PHAGWARA
4 BOOKED IN RAPE CASE:A Dalit girl was allegedly raped by her employer and others here on July 29.
The victim was admitted to the local Civil Hospital with multiple injuries. She alleged she was drugged by her employer Mandip, who along with others raped her. She also named Kuldip, Raman and Baba in the case. Balbir Singh, SHO, said they had booked Mandip and his aides, but they would arrest them after an inquiry.
News Updates 05.08.14
Dalit farm labourer gang-raped in Gwalior district- The Times Of India
11-year-old raped, killed in Gurgaon- The Tribune
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2014/20140805/haryana.htm#24
The Times Of India
Dalit farm labourer gang-raped in Gwalior district
BHOPAL: Two farm owners barged into a house of a dalit woman and allegedly gang-raped her at Shekhpura village in Gwalior district. The survivor was alone in the house at the time of incident, which took place on Friday night as her husband had gone to his parent's house after the two had argument over some issue.
Taking advantage of situation, accused Ghamandi Baghel and Tulsi Gurjar, also residents of Shekhpura, gang-raped her, police said on basis of statement of the survivor.
The survivor and her husband work as farm labourers, tending agriculture field of accused, police said.
After the incident, the survivor went into shock and could not muster courage to report the matter. When her husband returned on Sunday evening, she told him about the incident and the two reached police station to file a complaint about it.
Besides rape, accused, now on the run, have also been booked under SC & ST Prevention of Atrocities' Act.
The Tribune
11-year-old raped, killed in Gurgaon
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2014/20140805/haryana.htm#24
Gurgaon
Days after a two-year-old was abducted from near her home, raped and dropped back, the body of an 11-year-old was found in an empty plot today. The police suspect she was sexually assaulted, strangulated and dumped at the spot.
The post-mortem confirmed rape following which an FIR was registered against unidentified persons under sections 302 and 376 of the POCSO Act. The girl's family hailed from Rajasthan and stays in Wazirabad village. Her father is a dhobhi in Sector 27.
Around 8.30 pm, she went to deliver ironed clothes to a client in the area and went missing. The family waited for her to return for almost an hour and then began searching for her in the area. They then informed the police.
The police suspects the victim was abducted on her way home, taken to another place, raped and then her body was brought back to the area, sources said. There are unconfirmed reports of a speeding car moving in the area yesterday. The occupants allegedly molested a domestic help, though no such complaint has been received by the police.
The victimïs brother-in-law said they had searched the area where her body was found twice. We last searched the plot at 2 am. Her body was probably dumped there after that. We want the culprits to be nabbed,he said.
The recovery of the girl�s body with grievous injury marks sent the police in a tizzy. Commissioner Alok Mittal and Vivek Sharma, joint commissioner of police (crime), reached the spot. The FSL team took evidence from the crime scene.
The police launched an investigation and all units of crime unit were concentrated to crack the case.
Several suspects, including a local baba in a nearby temple, were rounded up for questioning. The police have announced a reward of Rs 50,000 for information in the case.
News Updates 08.08.14
UP: Dalit Girl Allegedly Gangraped, Two Arrested- Out Look
http://www.outlookindia.com/news/article/UP-Dalit-Girl-Allegedly-Gangraped-Two-Arrested/853911
Out Look
UP: Dalit Girl Allegedly Gangraped, Two Arrested
http://www.outlookindia.com/news/article/UP-Dalit-Girl-Allegedly-Gangraped-Two-Arrested/853911
A dalit girl was abducted and gang raped allegedly by four youth in Bisalpur area of the district, a senior officer said here today.
Additional Superintendent of Police Uday Shanker Singh said that the victim was abducted by four youth and gang raped last night, when she had gone to a doctor for treatment.
On getting the information, police raided a barat ghar from where two youths were caught when they were committing the crime while two others managed to escape, he said.
The ASP said the victim has been sent for medical examination and raids were being carried out for arrest of absconding accused.
News Updates 11.08.14
Girls threatened with acid attack for refusing sex trade- Hindustan Times
Big Jump in Dalit Girls Entering TN Engineering Colleges- The New Indian Express
Hindustan Times
Girls threatened with acid attack for refusing sex trade
About 50kms from Varanasi in Mirzapur, a group of young school-going Dalit girls were threatened with acid attack if they refused to join a sex racket.
The girls in the age group of 14-16 years were followed while on their way to school. A woman -- possibly the kingpin behind the racket -- threatened the girls.
The woman befriended the girls and took their telephone numbers on some pretext. Once she got the numbers she used them to threaten them with acid attacks. The numbers were also passed on to boys who made indecent calls to harass them.
According to the girls, who are obviously scared and don't want to be identified, they were also told their family would be harmed if they didn't join in.
"Often media reports cases of kidnapping as those of elopement," complained a villager insisting they don't have any evidence to prove such crimes.
One of the girls who were harassed mentioned in her written complaint, "The woman approached me promising to place orders for a wedding in the family and took my cell number. Thereafter, I started receiving indecent calls from men."
Initially, the girls went to Vindhyachal Chhanve police station but to no avail. Then they approached social activists and some elders in their villages. City magistrate Gulab Chandra said he has asked the girls cellphones to be put on surveillance.
The New Indian Express
Big Jump in Dalit Girls Entering TN Engineering Colleges
CHENNAI: All their inefficiencies aside, engineering colleges in the State are providing some much needed inclusion in higher education. At least that is what the figures have to say. The number of girls from Scheduled Castes in engineering colleges in Tamil Nadu has increased 4.45 times from what it was eight years ago.
Girls from Scheduled Caste communities have also overtaken their counterparts in the Open Category as far as admissions are concerned.
As per the statistics put out by the Directorate of Technical Education, the number of girl students in the Scheduled Caste category was a mere 2,361 in 2006-07.
By 2013-14, the numbers shot up to 10,505. During this period, the number of SC girls against the number of girls in Open Category reversed. While in 2006-07 the number of girls in Open Category was 4,498, about double their SC counterparts, by 2013-14 the number of OC girls was 6,535, a little over half that of the SC girls.
News Updates 12.08.14
Govt takes 4 years to restore dalit sarpanch's pride- The Times Of India
The Times Of India
Govt takes 4 years to restore dalit sarpanch's pride
BHOPAL: It took the government four years to restore dignity of Badami Devi, a dalit sarpanch of a non-descript village in Morena district. For the first time in these years, she would hoist national flag on August 15 at Purawaskalan, a village nestled in ravines of Chambal.
But she will be able to unfurl the tricolour only in presence of a sub-divisional magistrate, SDO (police) and a tehesildar.
Every year when I went to unfurl the national flag, I was not even offered a chair by school principal and former sarpanch Nathu Singh would perform the job, said Badami, who is currently staying in a dingy lodge in Bhopal told TOI. She was in Bhopal to meet chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
After Chouhan intervened on Sunday, the district administration swung into action and is making necessary arrangements for flag hoisting in her village, which doesn't have a panchayat office of its own.
"I am not the one who is meted out this treatment. There are over 100 dalit women sarpanchs in Morena alone, the government must carry out a random check to find out reality that after 20 years of panchayati raj in MP, how many of them can really hoist national tricolour on August 15," she said.
"Whenever I tried to lodge a complaint, they never received it or gave a receipt," she said.
CEO of Morena district Panchayat Ashish Gupta told TOI over phone, "I came to know about it only few days ago. We never knew that this was happening to her."
Badami also wondered why panchayat secretary of her village was held responsible for this and suspended after she met the chief minister. He was posted in the village after January 26 this year and is innocent, she said.
For last two years she has also been struggling for construction of a middle school. Raising the issue she also staged a dharna in Bhopal. "But the government insists that the school would be constructed on the basis of second gram sabha, which was illegal and convened by ex sarpanch and not by me."
News Updates 14.08.14
Indian woman accused of witchcraft, forced to eat faeces- Daily Times
Group attacks two Dalit women- The Hindu
Daily Times
Indian woman accused of witchcraft, forced to eat faeces
PATNA: A 35-year-old woman in eastern India was dragged out of her home, beaten and forced to eat human faeces by a group of villagers who accused her of being a witch, police said on Wednesday.
Eleven people in Bihar state's Katihar district attacked the woman on Tuesday, while her husband was away, police said. She told police they accused her of causing the death of a 30-year-old villager who died from an illness last week.
Police said the woman, who is from a lower caste or "Dalit" community in Sakrail village, was slapped, punched and force-fed faeces.
"The villagers dragged the woman out of her house and made her consume human excreta, blaming her for the death of the man," Katihar sub-divisional police official Rakesh Kumar told Thomson Reuters Foundation by phone.
"The victim told us the accused persons branded her a witch and said it is because of her that everyone in the village was falling sick," he added.
Police arrested a 60-year-old male villager and charged him with physical assault and wrongful restraint, and are looking for 10 other suspects, Kumar said.
Earlier this month, a 22-year-old man was arrested in the state of Odisha and charged with the murder of a couple he suspected of witchcraft. He said the 65-year-old man and his wife, 60, were responsible for the deaths of his sister and two brothers who had died from various diseases over the previous three years.
The practice of accusing people, mostly women, of being witches and assaulting or killing them is still common is some parts of India, particularly among tribal communities, although it is illegal.
A United Nations official said last year that archaic practices such as lynching women accused of witchcraft, "honour killings" and "dowry murders" persisted in India because they remained socially acceptable. Government statistics show there were 160 cases of murder linked to witch hunts in 2013, and 119 in 2012.
The Hindu
Group attacks two Dalit women
A Dalit woman and her daughter were allegedly attacked by a group of people after the mother questioned about eve-teasing of her daughter, a student of a private teacher training institute, while she was returning home to Indira Nagar Colony in Maravamangalam police limits.
B.Surya, brother of the girl, studying Plus One in a government school, said three boys in the same area eve-teased his sister and his mother questioned the parents of the boys on Tuesday.
A group of eight people came to his house and attacked his mother Regina and his sister.
He said his mother suffered injuries on her head and left eye and her sister on her head. They were admitted to Sivaganga Government Medical College Hospital. The group had left the house only after his sister swooned, he claimed.
Meanwhile, the Tamil Nadu Untouchability Eradication Front district secretary M.Kandasamy and Students Federation of India district secretary Suresh presented a memorandum to the Ccollector and Superintendent of Police, demanding action against the culprits.
They alleged that the Maravamangalam police had refused to register the complaint given by Surya.
When contacted, SP Ashwin M.Kotnis said he would enquire into the matter and take necessary action.
News Updates 15.08.14
Dalit minor raped in Gunga area- The Times Of India
Court declares DySP guilty of minor's rape- The Times Of India
This Dalit Sarpanch in Morena Finally Gets to Celebrate Independence Day- NDTV
The Times Of India
Dalit minor raped in Gunga area
BHOPAL: A dalit girl student of Class VIII was allegedly raped by a youth when she was returning from school in Gunga area on city outskirts on Wednesday.
The accused dragged minor to bushes along roadside and allegedly outraged her modesty. Efforts are made to ascertain identity of accused, police said.
The survivor, a resident of village Barrigujar, comes from a family of snake charmers and studies in village Mohali, which is four km from her village.
She leaves her house for school around 11 am and returns by 6 pm. On the fateful day, when she was coming home with her friends, her friend walked ahead, leaving her behind, police said.
On Wednesday, when she was passing from a culvert between two villages, four youths were lying in wait. One of them started stalking her and after some distance offered her money and asked to come with him.
But when the minor refused, he dragged her to roadside and allegedly outraged her modesty. After hearing the sound of passing vehicles, the accused fled and the survivor went home and told family members about after which the matter was reported to police.
Police suspect the youth is from same area. The minor had told the police she could identify the accused. The survivor would be taken to the area and adjoining villages so that the accused could be nabbed soon, police added.
The Times Of India
Court declares DySP guilty of minor's rape
Kanpur: Specially constituted SC/ST Act court, Kanpur Nagar, on Thursday pronounced DySP Amarjeet Shahi guilty of abducting, raping and intimidating a minor girl. Arguments on the duration of sentence would be heard on Saturday.
Presiding judge Sriprakash pronounced him guilty in a jam-packed court. Shahi was present in the court along with his wife and counsel. The judge asked the 'court moharrir' to take Shahi under custody before pronouncing the verdict.
The prosecution charged him under sections 363/366/376/354/504/506/328/310 of the IPC and Section 3(2) - 5 SC /ST Act. He was pronounced guilty on all count but acquitted from charges of 328/310 of the IPC.
A large number of advocates, social organizations and scribes were present outside the court. While being taken to jail, Shahi was attacked and thrashed by women members of a social organization.
According to prosecution led by Sayeed Naqvi and Ram Bahal Vidyarthi, the first FIR was lodged on March 15, 2012 by Mahesh Chandra Vidyarthi alleging that Shahi came into contact with the victim on Republic Day in 2010. Thereafter, he started visiting her house.
On November 2, 2010, Shahi came to victim's house and asked for tea and snacks. As she went inside to fetch snacks he added some intoxicant into her tea. As the victim fell unconscious after consuming the drugged tea, Shahi physically exploited her and made a video-clipping of it. He later used it to blackmail the victim. The prosecution claimed that Shahi used to call the girl to various places and even took her to Pratapgarh where he was posted at that time.
Victim's father brought the girl from Pratapgarh and lodged a complaint with the IG police who ordered a probe into the allegation by DIG.
On March 13, 2012 Shahi once again visited vicim's house and forced her to go with him. The desperate victim consumed pesticide and fell unconscious. She was rushed to UHM Hospital for treatment.
The prosecution further claimed that on the same night, Shahi forcibly took the girl to the Cantonment police station and got an FIR lodged on her behalf accusing her father and one Shrawan Kumar of physical exploitation.
On March 15, 2012, police registered a case against Shahi and arrested him. The Allahabad High Court granted him conditional bail on October 8, 2013.
The defense battery raised the issue of victim's birth and stressed on it. Defense counsel claimed that the victim was major and she had consented to physical relations. On the other hand, prosecution emphasized that victim was a minor as she was born on September 7,1995. Court considered her birth date as September 7,1995.
During the trial, defense cross-examined the victim for 10 months. On June 4, 2014, while deciding the appeal of victim's father the high court directed the trial court to conduct day-to-day hearing.
There after the defense cross examined the victim for five successive days.
NDTV
This Dalit Sarpanch in Morena Finally Gets to Celebrate Independence Day
Puravas Kalan village, Morena: If it is a "tribute to Indian democracy that a person from a poor family" could address the nation today from the ramparts of the Red Fort, in Puravas Kalan village of Madhya Pradesh, 34-year-old Badami Devi breached a bastion no less formidable.
Today, 67 years after Independence, Badami Devi became the first Dalit sarpanch to hoist the Tri-colour in this remote village of Morena - with some help from Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
Caste discrimination is acute in this village, so much so, that despite getting government land for a school building, no school has been built for four years. The land happens to be close to a Dalit settlement, and people from the upper castes apparently don't want their children to go anywhere near it.
Badami Devi, who has been a sarpanch for four years, was never allowed to hoist the national flag. It was former sarpanch Nathu Singh Tomar, an upper caste man, who had that privilege. Badamai Devi, in fact, was not even allowed to attend the Independence Day function.
"Finally, I met the Chief Minister on August 12 and requested him to end his discrimination," Badami Devi told NDTV. "He ordered that I be allowed to hoist the flag on Independence Day."
"The woman met me and her problem has been resolved. She will definitely hoist the flag in her village this year," Mr Chouhan said.
His word alone, though, was not enough. The Chief Minister also had to send officials to the village to enforce the order.
Nathu Singh Tomar, though, remains defiant. "Badami is lying. I have not been hoisting the flags, she has been doing it," he told NDTV. As for the unfinished school building, he said, "Caste discrimination is not the reason. The location is remote and secluded, so it would be unsafe for our daughters to attend it."
News Updates 17.08.14
Court reserves verdict in DSP rape case- The Times Of India
The Times Of India
Court reserves verdict in DSP rape case
KANPUR: The specially constituted SC/ST Act court on Saturday reserved judgment in DySP Shahi rape case after hearing arguments on point of sentence. Judicial official Sriprakash fixed August 18, 2014 for pronouncement of punishment.
The prosecution argued that the offence committed by accused Shahi was social offence. Therefore, court should not treat it as individual. The offence committed by a senior police official had a vast social impact. It had individual impact also as the future of the girl was now bleak.
There was a vast difference in age and understanding of girl and the accused. The girl was of 15 years while accused was 55 years old. There was much difference in mental level of girl and accused Shahi, even then he had committed a heinous offence. Since accused was a police official, therefore there was no need to take a lenient view.
Prosecution counsels Saeed Naqvi and Ram Bahal Vidyarthi cited a ruling in which Supreme Court had held that there was no room for sympathy when a police official rapes a teenaged girl and punishment in such cases should be exemplary.
They pleaded that accused had tarnished the relationship of uncle and niece by committing such offence and his act indicates that he was disloyal to the family. They submitted before the court that life imprisonment along with a huge fine would be a reasonable punishment. Some part of the fine should be granted to the girl as her future would be depressing.
The defense counsel urged that Amarjeet Shahi had no criminal history. He is well-educated and disciplined and the court should take a lenient view.
Outside the courtroom, women members of various social organizations were present in support of the girl.
The prosecution had charged Shahi under Section 363/3666/376/354/504/506/328/310 IPC and Section 3(2) - 5 SC /ST Act. The court held him guilty under 363/366/376/504/506 IPC and Section 3( 2) -5 SC /ST Act. He acquitted him from the charges of 328/310 IPC.
News Updates 19.08.14
DySP gets 10 years in jail for raping Dalit girl- Business Standard
In Dimple Yadav's UP constituency, Dalit woman raped, stripped and tied to tree- India Today
Dalit women demand compensation- The Hindu
http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Madurai/dalit-women-demand-compensation/article6330954.ece
Business Standard
DySP gets 10 years in jail for raping Dalit girl
A deputy superintendent of police was today sentenced to 10 years in jail for raping a Dalit minor girl in Kanpur two years ago.
SC/ST court judge Shriprakash sent deputy SP Amarjeet Shahi to jail for ten years and charged a fine of Rs 65,000 for raping the girl during his posting in Kanpur in 2012.
Shahi was suspended with immediate effect after the incident. He was lodged in jail for 18 months and later released on bail.
The accused was held guilty on charges of abduction and rape under the SC and SC Act on August 14 and the court had said it would pronounce the quantum of sentence on August 16.
India Today
In Dimple Yadav's UP constituency, Dalit woman raped, stripped and tied to tree
A case of gang rape has come to light in Samajwadi Party MP Dimple Yadav's Lok Sabha constituency Kannauj where the son of a village chief and his two friends sexually assaulted a 32-year-old Dalit woman and tied her naked to a tree.
Police reportedly delayed action against the main accused, Sarvesh Yadav, as his father is the chief of Sukhi village panchayat. The accused is the principal of a government primary school at Kudhina in Kannauj district. He was later arrested late on Monday following the pressure from villagers.
Later, a case was lodged against the trio when a large number of villagers assembled outside the local police station to demand action against the three accused.
The victim claimed that Sarvesh had molested her some days ago after calling her on the pretext of helping her get a lease for farming. "I had told my husband about the incident. But as Sarvesh is well-connected with the politicians, we decided to keep quiet. I had no inkling that Sarvesh and his friends were waiting with a sinister plan in place when I went to the field on Saturday evening. They also stripped and tied me to a tree with my sari," she wrote in her complaint.
When contacted, Additional Superintendent of Police Subhash Shakya said: "The victim has been sent for medical examination and the main accused has been booked. Further action will be initiated once the medical report is submitted." The main accused, meanwhile, claimed that the woman had encroached land of one Arvind Jatav. "She is trying to malign me because I support Jatav," Sarvesh said.
The allegations have been refuted by the victim's husband, who said that the villagers know that the accused is a rogue.
The Hindu
Dalit women demand compensation
http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Madurai/dalit-women-demand-compensation/article6330954.ece
Dalit women from Uthapuram village submitted petitions to District Collector L. Subramanian on Monday seeking immediate disbursal of compensation for violence against their community in October 2008.
More than 100 women from the village, led by members of the All India Democratic Women's Association (AIDWA), took out a procession near the Collectorate before meeting the Collector.
In their petition, the women alleged that though a judgement had been passed in March 2012 ordering compensation to be given to them in accordance with the SC & ST Prevention of Atrocities Act, they had still not received it.
"The judgement stated that we should have received the compensation within 12 weeks, but we haven't yet received it," they alleged.
Collector L. Subramanian received their petition and asked the Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Department to look into the issue.
News Updates 20.08.14
Cops rescue Dalit girl 'sold' in Badaun- The Times Of India
The Times Of India
Cops rescue Dalit girl 'sold' in Badaun
BAREILLY: The furore over the rape-murder case of cousins is yet to die down and Badaun is back in the news again — this time over a case of human trafficking. Local police there on Monday rescued one of the three Dalit girls who were brought there on the promise of a job in a local dance troupe and later on sold for Rs 20,000 each to a local resident.
The matter came to light when one of the girls managed to inform her family after waking up from a drug-induced sleep. The girl's family along with the local police managed to rescue the girl from a house at village Alapur Pathana.
According to reports, three Dalit girls hailing from a small village in Azamgarh district were brought here a few days ago by a youth named Siddharth hailing from Nagariya Chikan village on the promise of getting them a job in a dance troupe.
Instead he allegedly sold one of them to a resident of Alapur Pathana. The other two girls who objected were forcibly administered sedatives to silence them and they were taken away by the youth.
However, the girl who was allegedly sold to a local resident, managed to get hold of a mobile phone on Sunday and called up her family members in Azamgarh, informing them about her plight.
Her family members rushed to Badaun on Monday and with the help of local police managed to rescue the girl, said police.
However the rescued girl was unable to provide any information about the whereabouts of the two girls who were taken away by the accused. On the basis of her statement, police have registered a case under different sections of the IPC against Siddharth.
Talking to TOI, additional SP, Badaun, Man Singh Chauhan said, "The rescued girl has been sent back with her parents to her native village in Azamgarh district and as per my information the other two have also managed to reach home safely. In this connection, we are also in touch with our counterparts at Azamgarh to confirm the news about the other two girls."
News Updates 21.08.14
MINOR RAPED- The Tribune
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2014/20140821/region.htm
Dalit sarpanch not allowed to hoist flag- The Indian Express
http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/ahmedabad/dalit-sarpanch-not-allowed-to-hoist-flag/
Rape of Badaun victims doubtful, says CBI- The Tribune
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2014/20140821/nation.htm#1
School raided after students 'forced' to clean toilet- The Times Of India
The Tribune
MINOR RAPED
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2014/20140821/region.htm
ROHTAK
MINOR RAPED: A Dalit girl of Kiloi village in the district was allegedly raped at her house by an upper-caste youth of the same village. The girl alleged that the youth, Rohit, entered her house and raped her after threatening her with dire consequences. Medical examination of the girl confirmed rape, following which the police registered a case against Rohit. The youth's family members have also been named in the FIR.
The Indian Express
Dalit sarpanch not allowed to hoist flag
http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/ahmedabad/dalit-sarpanch-not-allowed-to-hoist-flag/
A Dalit sarpanch of a village, 25 km from Ahmedabad, was not allowed to unfurl the national flag in a primary school on Independence Day by the upper caste principal of a century old village primary school. The sarpanch, Vinubhai M Makwana of Raska village — which has a population of about 15,000 — was told in public that he might be the sarpanch of the village, but would not be allowed to take the lead in social matters.
"It is our privilege to decide who will do what in this village," Makwana quoted principal Ajit Gopalbhai Patel as having told him. "I told the principal that if that was the case, then what was the need to invite me to the function and humiliate me in such a rude fashion," Makwana told this paper. Makwana has held his post for the past two and half years and has as much time to go before his term ends.
Makwana said he had submitted a written application to the Ahmedabad police station in Kheda about the incident the next day, but the police did not file an FIR. Instead, they accepted a verbal apology from Patel and let him off. The police officer on duty expressed ignorance about any such incident.
Makwana said he had to give the application because Patel had also threatened him against trying to gain social acceptability. "You may become whatever but here, we will decide what will happen in the village, so don't try such things," Patel allegedly told him.
The Raska village primary school is a 105- year old school which was upgraded with 17 teachers in 2010.
Patel, on his part, denied having insulted Makwana or having cast aspersions over his caste.
"Already a compromise has been worked out," he said. "We had invited him to the function but he could not make it on time, so a donor to school, also a Dalit, was requested to unfurl the flag, but he declined so we urged Amrutbhai Patel, who is a farmer," said Patel. As to apologising before the police, he said it was just to avoid any misunderstanding. No government official was present at the function, Makwana said.
Makwana rubbished the claim, saying that Patel might be interested in a compromise but he was not going for one. "I have written to the district education officer who is expected to come to the village in the next two days," he said.
The Tribune
Rape of Badaun victims doubtful, says CBI
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2014/20140821/nation.htm#1
New Delhi, August 20
The rape of two teenaged cousins who were found dead in mysterious circumstances in Badaun seems doubtful, indicates the CBI probe in the infamous killings in May which sparked a nationwide outrage.
After going through the DNA forensic report from the Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics (CDFD) in Hyderabad, the CBI has formed the opinion that the claim that the two girls were raped seems doubtful. Sources in the CBI said on Tuesday that the agency may drop the idea of exhuming the bodies now as the report from CDFD has given them enough forensic evidence which could help them crack the case.
They also said that the report confirms contradictions in the theory of rape. The sources said the five accused Pappu, Awadhesh and Urvesh Yadav (brothers) and constables Chhatrapal Yadav and Sarvesh Yadav � would be allowed to get bail as there are no clear evidence against them.
According to the law, an accused can get bail if the CBI fails to file a chargesheet against them within 90 days that ends on 28 August. The report has been sent to the three-member medical board which has been formed in New Delhi to look into the forensic and medical evidence related to the case.
The board has been asked by the agency to give its opinion this week after which the CBI may announce cracking of the case. Without revealing the findings, CBI sources said the report was a crucial evidence for the investigating team and the case may be cracked anytime now. PTI
The Times Of India
School raided after students 'forced' to clean toilet
AMBALA: A team of child protection officers from the women and child development department raided a government school in Baldev Nagar area of Ambala City to probe into a complaint about students being allegedly forced to clean the toilet. This followed an anonymous complaint that class VII and VIII students of government senior secondary school for boys were allegedly forced to clean the toilet.
"Majority of students confirmed that they were forced to clean the toilet. Students said when they discussed the matter with their families, someone assured them to send a complaint to the department for help," Ankit Ahluwalia, legal officer, who was part of the team that raided the school, told TOI over phone. After recording the statements of students, the team also met school principal Kamlesh Kumari, who denied the incident, saying it was not in her knowledge. "I did not force any student to clean the toilet. It seems some class IV employees would have done it in my name," she claimed.
News Updates 22.08.14
Ostracized sisters raped in Rajasthan- The Times Of India
40-year-old Dalit woman gangraped by 10 men in Uttar Pradesh- DNA
The Times Of India
Ostracized sisters raped in Rajasthan
JAISALMER: Three men gangraped two teenaged sisters while they were returning from their school at Rateu in Rajasthan's Barmer district.
The rape survivors and their family had ostracized after the girls' brother and sister were jailed in a murder case.
Police said they were overpowered and raped after they got down from their school bus a kilometer from Rateu on Saturday.
Barmer SP Hemant Sharma said one of the accused was approached after the girls approached him.
The two have identified Rama Ram (19), Ram Chandra (21), Sawai Ram (23) as their alleged rapists
They had initially lodged a complaint on Monday with Gidan police station, but no action was taken. This forced them to approach the SP.
Sharma said he has ordered an investigation and the duo's medical examination. "Since the girls belong to Scheduled Caste, a deputy SP of SC/ST cell has been directed to record the statements," said the officer.
DNA
40-year-old Dalit woman gangraped by 10 men in Uttar Pradesh
A 40-year-old Dalit woman was allegedly gang raped by ten persons who committed the crime after assaulting and overpowering her husband and son in the Cantonment area here, police said today.
The incident took place late last night when the family, while returning from its field, was overpowered by the accused hiding in a jungle, it said. The accused tied up the victim's husband and son and gangraped her.
They assaulted the family members on resistance, police said. The medical report of the woman today confirmed rape. Senior Superintendent of Police J Ravindra Gaud said an FIR has been lodged against 10 persons in this connection.
He said he has directed action against personnel of the Cantt police station, who allegedly did not take any action after getting information about the incident.
News Updates 23.08.14
5 arrested in Dalit woman rape case - The Times Of India
The Times Of India
5 arrested in Dalit woman rape case
Ankit Yadav,TNN | Aug 22, 2014, 10.02 PM IST
BAREILLY: The city police claimed to have cracked the Dalit woman gang rape case within 48 hours after the incident with the arrest of five people, even as raids were on in neighbouring villages to track down the other accused.
The middle-aged Dalit woman was allegedly gang raped by around 12 people on Wednesday night when she was returning home from the fields along with her husband and son in Umarsiya village under Cantonment police station area.
The incident caused much embarrassment to the cops, and the chief of Bareilly police suspended the police outpost in-charge and four constables on Thursday.
Police said the survivor's medical examination was carried out in the district hospital and the report confirmed gang rape.
Sharing details with TOI, SP, city, Rajeev Malhotra said, "Five people have been arrested and they all have confessed their involvement in the heinous crime. All the 12 accused belong to Bibhiya and Mirazapur villages which are in the vicinity of the scene of the crime. During interrogation, names of some local criminals have also come to light and they too would be nabbed soon."
After the incident, the forensic unit had visited the site and collected the victims' blood samples. The samples have now been sent for DNA testing, said Malhotra.
Earlier, taking serious note of the incident, several top police officials including SSP J Ravindra Gaud, SP city and others visited the crime spot on Thursday.
The 40-year-old Dalit woman had alleged that on Wednesday night, as she was returning home with her husband and teenage son, around 10 people had waylaid them in the jungles they were passing through. The accused had thrashed her husband and son mercilessly till they lost consciousness, she had claimed. After this, the men had looted all their valuables, including gold earrings worn by all three. The woman claimed that the men then took turns to rape her.
The accused fled after committing the crime. It was only after her husband regained consciousness, that he took his wife to the hospital. The doctors provided her first aid and then referred her to the district hospital, where her medical examination was conducted.
The report of the medical examination has confirmed gang rape. After the furore caused by the incident, the Bareilly chief of police had suspended the police outpost in-charge and four constables on duty. Police said a manhunt has been launched to find the remaining accused, who would be nabbed soon.
News Updates 27.08.14
Dalit student alleges sexual harassment - The Times Of India
Five booked for selling Abohar girl - The Tribune
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2014/20140827/punjab.htm#27
Dalit woman not raped, say police - The Times Of India
Bihar: Woman stripped in public goes missing- The Hindustan Times
The Times Of India
Dalit student alleges sexual harassment
TNN | Aug 27, 2014, 08.23 AM IST
BHOPAL: An 18-year-old dalit student has alleged sexual harassment by a youth who works at her college canteen. A case in this regard was later registered in Govindpura police station of the city. Accused is yet to be nabbed. Police sources said the B-com first year student was studying at her home when the accused, Darshan Gupta barged inside and sexually harassed her. The accused fled after the girl raised an alarm.
Hotel manager found dead: A 38-year-old hotel manager at MP Nagar was found dead near Misrod on Tuesday morning. Police sources said Bhupendra Dwivedi, a resident of Shahpura left hotel after duty on Monday night. He had food at a dhaba and was returning back at the time of incident. He was found dead on roadside and his bike was also damaged. It is suspected that a vehicle hit him and sped, police sources added.
Boy missing from Govindpura: A 12-year-old boy has been kidnapped from Govindpura area on August 19. A case in this regard was registered against unidentified accused on Tuesday. Police sources said Harsh, a resident of Vishwakarma Nagar told his mother of coming back home only in a while on the day of the incident, but he has not returned since then.
The Tribune
Five booked for selling Abohar girl
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2014/20140827/punjab.htm#27
Our Correspondent , Abohar, August 26
The Khuyiansarwer police have booked a woman labour contractor and four men for kidnapping and selling a 22-year-old Dalit girl to a differently-abled man in Chotian village of Rampura Phul segment in Bathinda district. The girl was allegedly a victim of sexual assault.
The victim's complaint stated her neighbour Chhinder Kaur sedated her on April 3, 2014. Thereafter, two youths took her away in a mini truck and raped her. She alleged that she was then sold to Nirmal Singh. She then escaped after stealing some money from Nirmal Singh two days ago.
The police got the victim medically examined and booked Chhinder Kaur of Daulatpura village, Jag Singh and Dana Singh of Khuyiansarwer village, Nirmal Singh and his brother Jiwan Singh of Chotian village today. The accused are at large and the police are conducting raids to nab them.
The victim reportedly told the police that Chhinder Kaur had been selling poor girls to people in remote areas.
The Times Of India
Dalit woman not raped, say police
Ankit Yadav,TNN | Aug 26, 2014, 10.07 PM IST
BAREILLY: The case of gang rape of a middle-aged Dalit woman in Umarsiya village has taken a new twist with the medical team which conducted her examination reportedly stating that rape did not take place.
The police had earlier dismissed the 'gang rape' claim of the woman, saying that 12 people had not raped her and instead, just one had raped her, while the other 11 had watched.
Six days after the crime came to light, now the police are saying that the woman's medical examination has not confirmed rape.
Explaining the medical report, Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr Vijay Yadav said, "Medical reports are sent directly to the police department and I too have the same information."
On other hand, talking to TOI, SP, city, Rajeev Malhotra, said, "Medical reports are not confirming rape though sexual assault and other crimes cannot be ruled out. The investigation is under progress as eight accused, including the main accused Vinod, are still to be nabbed."
Four persons have already been arrested in connection with this incident.
The woman had alleged in her police complaint that on the night of August 20, as she was returning home from the field with her husband and teenage son, they were waylaid by a gang of 10-12 persons. The accused had allegedly beaten her husband and son unconscious and then robbed all the belongings.
The woman had claimed that the accused had then taken turns raping her and fled. After regaining consciousness, the woman's husband had taken her to a nearby hospital.
In a press briefing, chief of Bareilly police J S Ravinder Gaud had claimed that the woman was not gang raped and was just raped by one of the accused, assumed to be Vinod, while all others had watched the heinous crime.
The Hindustan Times
Bihar: Woman stripped in public goes missing
IANS Patna, July 21, 2014
First Published: 12:58 IST(21/7/2014) | Last Updated: 13:13 IST(21/7/2014)
A middle-aged woman, who was stripped and assaulted in public for allegedly kidnapping two men, went missing on Monday from a Patna hospital where she was undergoing treatment, officials said.
Sangita Devi, in her 40s, was stripped and assaulted on Wednesday night for allegedly kidnapping two men who were involved in a land deal with her in Nizamuddinpur village, 50 km from Patna, in Jehanabad district.
The bodies of the two men were found Thursday near Sigouri in Patna, police said.
Officials said some people barged into the woman's house and forced her out. They vandalised her house and then stripped and beat her up in the presence of other villagers.
She sustained severe injuries and was hospitalised.
The woman who is also accused of murder of two men disappeared from the hospital early Monday," a police official said.
A first infomation report (FIR) was lodged against her by the father of one of the two men killed.
In fact, three FIRs have been lodged in the case. An FIR was lodged Friday against 600 unidentified people for stripping and assaulting her in public. Another FIR was lodged on the basis of her statement against some four-five people.
Deputy inspector general Pradip Kumar Srivastav visited Jehanabad to inquire into the case.
News Updates 30.08.14
21 Year Old Dalit Girl Raped in Haryana - Out Look
http://www.outlookindia.com/news/article/21-Year-Old-Dalit-Girl-Raped-in-Haryana/857628
Police 'inaction' in rape case of minor girl sparks massive protest - The Times Of India
Out Look
21 Year Old Dalit Girl Raped in Haryana
http://www.outlookindia.com/news/article/21-Year-Old-Dalit-Girl-Raped-in-Haryana/857628
Rewari | Aug 29, 2014
A 21-year-old Dalit girl was allegedly raped by a youth here, police said today.
The incident took place yesterday when the girl was alone at her house in Railway colony, police said.
The alleged accused, indentified as Vijay Gupta, also threatened her of dire consequences if she disclosed the incident to anyone, they said.
Based on a complaint filed by the girl, a case of rape and criminal intimidation under the IPC and also under the SC/ST Act has been registered against Gupta.
The girl was sent for medical examination in the Civil Hospital here today and rape can be confirmed only after the reports, police said.
Efforts were on to arrest the accused, they added.
The Times Of India
Police 'inaction' in rape case of minor girl sparks massive protest
TNN | Aug 30, 2014, 08.14 AM IST
GURGAON: The RWAs of various sectors and washermen, on Friday, held a protest march from Sector 27 to the Sector 29 police station demanding a thorough investigation into the rape and murder of an 11-year-old girl whose body was found dumped in a vacant plot in Sector 27. More than 200 people took part in the march and demanded a speedy investigation in the case. "Even 26 days after my daughter's murder, police are clueless. It seems they have not even started the investigation," alleged Jagdish, father of the victim, a washerman.
He also alleged that police didn't file an FIR in time. "We went to the police station at 9.30pm to report a case of kidnapping. However, police didn't help us. A cop said that investigation would start after dinner time," alleged Jagdish.
"We wrote a letter to the commissioner of police a week ago and got a confirmation from the ACP that police would investigate the matter within seven days. But later he backtracked saying, "I can't give a definite time frame because I can't be sure," said R S Rathee from Gurgaon Citizens' Council, a committee that initiated the protest. "Our team is trying its best to crack the case. Action will be taken within 15 days," said Dalbir Singh, ACP, DLF. However, the agitators continued their protest till late night demanding immediate action.
Police commissioner Alok Mittal told TOI, "The ACP (crime) and ACP (DLF) have told the protesters about the investigation that police have carried out so far and efforts are being made to trace the culprit."
The 11-year-old girl, daughter of a washerman had left home at around 8.30pm on August 5 to deliver ironed clothes to a nearby society in Sector 27. After she did not return home for over half-an-hour, her parents got worried and inquired in the neighbourhood. The next morning, her half-naked body was found dumped in a vacant plot in the same sector.
News Updates 31.08.14
Parents of girl who killed herself refuse to claim body - The Times Of India
The Times Of India
Parents of girl who killed herself refuse to claim body
TNN | Aug 31, 2014, 01.43 AM IST
HISAR: Family members of the 15-year-old girl who committed suicide after being molested by four youths of a Hisar village refused to claim her body after autopsy on Saturday. They have been demanding strict action against the accused. The girl, who belongs to the Dalit community and is a student of Class IX, was found dead under mysterious circumstances after being stalked by some youths of Dhobi village on Thursday.
Activists from various organizations took out a candle march in Hisar on Saturday evening demanding arrest of the accused. Police have also arrested the main accused, Sunil Kumar, besides rounding up three others. Sources said, "The family of the girl and others are demanding strict action against the accused saying they should be booked under the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Family members and other villagers decided not to claim the victim's body till the police registered a case."
Police spokesperson Chander Bhan said, "A case of molestation and abetment to suicide has been registered."
News Updates 02.09.14
Six-year-old girl electrocuted- The Hindu
The Hindu
Six-year-old girl electrocuted
A six-year-old Dalit girl was electrocuted after she accidentally touched a live wire in a textile unit, during the late hours of Saturday.
Tension prevailed at the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital on Sunday as her parents refused to receive her body after post-mortem examination.
Her father B. Balasubramaniam (35) and mother B. Thulasi (28) claimed that they were working in a power loom unit as bonded labourers for three years and sought steps to be taken to free them.
The Karumathampatty police, investigating the incident, said that the victim B. Nadhini (6), a first standard student, lived in a shed with her parents and sister B. Narmadha (8), in the same compound of the power loom unit at Kaduvettipalayam, where her parents worked.
"On Saturday, her parents went to Ponmedu near Sathyamangalam, in Erode. The two sisters were playing in the afternoon when the victim accidentally touched a live wire lying on the ground," Inspector S.A. Sekaran said.
The police said that a case was registered against Shammugam, owner of the spinning mill under section 304(A) (death due to negligence) of the Indian Penal Code. He said that a search was on for the accused.
Nandhini's parents claimed that their daughter was electrocuted because she came into contact with the metal fence that separated the power loom unit and the textile mill. In the police complaint, the girl's father claimed that the fence was connected with a live wire. "That was how she sustained injuries on her forehead and thighs," they added.
M. Thangavel of Vizhuthugal, an NGO working for the cause of bonded labourers said that the couple wanted to take their children with them to Erode. But the owners of the unit (Mayilsamy and Nagaraj) refused to allow them as they feared that the family might not return to work. The girl would not have died, if she was allowed to go with her parents," he alleged.
He urged the police to book the three accused under Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Prevention of Atrocities Act and under the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act. Mr. Thangavel added that they would be petitioning the District Collector in this regard.
The police denied the allegations and added that further inquires were under way. "We have requested Tangedco officials to investigate and find out whether it was an electrified fence" .
News Updates 03.09.14
Minor raped- The Hindu
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/minor-raped/article6374772.ece
The Hindu
Minor raped
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/minor-raped/article6374772.ece
An 11-year-old Dalit girl was raped by a man at a village near Keeranur a few days ago.
On Monday, the Keeranur police arrested K. Vellaisamy, 32, a mason, neighbour of the victim and father of two children.
Police sources said the girl, studying Std. VI in a government school in the village, was playing near her home on Saturday when the man took her to his house and raped her. He also threatened to murder the girl and her mother if she spilled the beans.
However, the girl informed her mother, who lodged a complaint with the All- Women Police Station at Keeranur and admitted the girl to the Government Ranee's Hospital here after she complained of pain on Monday.
He was remanded in judicial custody.
News Updates 05.09.14
Badaun gang-rape of dalit sisters: Three accused get bail- India TV
http://www.indiatvnews.com/crime/news/badaun-gang-rape-of-dalit-sisters-6500.html
India TV
Badaun gang-rape of dalit sisters: Three accused get bail
http://www.indiatvnews.com/crime/news/badaun-gang-rape-of-dalit-sisters-6500.html
Badaun ( UP ) : Three men were arrested in the charge of raping two teenaged dalit sisters in May, 2014. The two girls were found hanging from a tree in a village in Badaun, Uttar Pradesh, have been granted bail by a local court here, today.
Two of the constables in connection with the crime were given bail two days ago.
The CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) that is investigating the case, said that they aren't going to file a chargesheet against the five men, signifying that it would not be against the bail.
The action came three days after the girls were gang-raped and their bodies were found hanging from a tree.
SP Atul Kumar Saxena said the services of two constables Chhatrapal Yadav and Sarvesh Yadav have been terminated.
"One more accused Awadhesh Yadav has been arrested by the police," he said.
Of the seven wanted in the case, three (policeman Sarvesh Yadav and brothers Pappu and Awadhesh Yadav) have been arrested so far, he said.
Sarvesh and Pappu were arrested on Thursday. Four others Urvesh Yadav (brother of Pappu and Awadhesh), policeman Chhatrapal Yadav and two unidentified persons are at large.
Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav has assured action against the guilty in the case, according to Times Now.The two girls, who were cousins and aged 14 and 15, went missing from their house on the night of May 27 and their bodies were found hanging from a mango tree in the village in Ushait area the next morning.
The incident had triggered protests in the area with villagers alleging police apathy, following which an FIR was registered against seven persons.
The postmortem report of the two girls confirmed that they were raped before murder, Saxena had said.
Katra Sadatganj outpost incharge Ram Vilas Yadav, constables Sarvesh Yadav and Chhatrapal Yadav were suspended following the incident.
Of the seven accused, Sarvesh and Chhatrpal have been booked under section 120B (criminal conspiracy) of IPC, while the three brothers — Pappu, Awadhesh and Urvesh — and two others have been booked under Section 302 (murder) and 376 (rape) of IPC.
At this stage clean chit cannot be given to anyone in the case, CBI further added.
CBI has conducted lie-detector tests on the accused men as well as the girls' families have not been spared, who the investigators assert, are also not above suspicion.
The agency is investigating an assertion by the local police that the girls' murder was a case of honour killing.
News Updates 09.09.14
Four-year-old girl raped - The Hindu
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/fouryearold-girl-raped/article6391975.ece
The Hindu
Four-year-old girl raped
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/fouryearold-girl-raped/article6391975.ece
Staff Reporter
A four-year-old Dalit girl was raped allegedly by her 32-year-old neighbour in Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra on September 4. The victim's family has alleged that the police did not lodge the complaint immediately and asked them to wait for the medical report. The complaint was registered three days after the incident.
The incident took place when the girl's parents were away from home and the girl was playing in the neighbourhood.
Gadchiroli Superintendent of Police Sandeep Patil however, said there was a "slight delay" in booking the complaint. "The complaint was registered immediately and we have managed to nab the accused," Mr. Patil told The Hindu.
News Updates 02.11.14
Head-mistress suspended for beating Dalit girl - Business standard
Business standard
Head-mistress suspended for beating Dalit girl
Press Trust of India | Muzaffarnagar
November 2, 2014 Last Updated at 11:45 IST
An eight-year-old Dalit girl was beaten up by a teacher at a government primary school in Jhaberpur village here, following which two teachers, including the school head-mistress, have been suspended.
The incident took place yesterday when the girl was beaten up by her teacher due to which one of her ears was damaged, Basic Education Officer K Kumar said.
Following a complaint by the father of the girl, head-mistress Anita and school teacher Ekta have been suspended, the officer said.
News Updates 04.11.14
Burglars rape newly-married Dalit woman near Pune - The Hindu
AMC peon held for molesting woman staffer - The Times Of India
The Hindu
Burglars rape newly-married Dalit woman near Pune
Shoumojit Banerjee
The incident took place on Saturday evening in Wadki when the 19-year-old victim chanced upon the men attempting to break into her brother-in-law's house.
A newly married 19-year-old Dalit woman was raped by two burglars in Hadapsar, 20 km from Pune, evoking strong condemnation by parties across Maharashtra's political spectrum.
The incident took place on Saturday evening in Wadki near the city's Hadapsar area when the victim chanced upon the men attempting to break into her brother-in-law's house.
"The girl was married barely a year and was celebrating her first Diwali at her husband's house. On Saturday, around 7 p.m., she had gone to light a lamp outside the house when she noticed that the door of her brother-in-law's house right next door was ajar," said Deputy Superintendent of Police (Pune Rural), Dr. Vaishali Kadukar.
According to her, the victim chanced upon men wearing masks inside the house and raised an alarm.
"The girl said she was first threatened at knife-point. Later, one of the men apparently banged her head against the wall and she fell unconscious. She was then raped during a power outage and later discovered by her husband, who works as an electrician, almost five hours later," said Dr. Kadukar, adding that prima facie investigations revealed intent of burglary on part of the duo.
Preliminary assessment of the police is that the crime may not necessarily be a caste-related atrocity.
"We are not ruling out any possibility. At present, we are trying our best to trace the identity of the criminals and have launched a manhunt to nab the duo. We are confident the case will be solved soon," said Manoj Lohiya, Superintendent of Police (Pune rural).
The Loni Kalbhor police have booked a case against unidentified men under sections 376 (g) (gang rape) and section 392 (robbery) of the Indian Penal Code.
On Monday, Shiv Sena leader Neelam Gorhe and Nationalist Congress Party MP Supriya Sule visited the girl's house in Hadapsar.
"I am appalled by this despicable act. The victim, naturally, is in a traumatic state. But she has passed her 9th standard and was able to read and understand the FIR lodged in her case. I hope the government brings pressure on the police to crack the case soon," said Ms. Gorhe, speaking to reporters here.
Demanding a speedy resolution to the case, Ms. Sule called for a fast-track trial of the accused.
"The erstwhile NCP government in Maharashtra had fast-tracked the trial in the shocking gang rape of a photojournalist in Mumbai's Shakti Mills compound. We likewise that demand stern justice be meted out by the newly-elected Bharatiya Janata Party and that the perpetrators be hanged," said Ms. Sule.
The Times Of India
AMC peon held for molesting woman staffer
TNN | Nov 4, 2014, 10.12 AM IST
AURANGABAD: Following the arrest of a 35-year-old employee of the Aurangabad civic body on Saturday on charges of outraging the modesty of a woman colleague, the municipal administration on Monday said that it would suspend the employee. The accused, Anwar Khan Dadamiyan, has been remanded to judicial custody till November 14.
Deputy municipal commissioner Ravindar Nikam said that the administration would take action against Dadamiyan if he remains in custody for over 48 hours. "The police arrested him on Saturday and thus we may initiate action on Tuesday. We will first examine how much time he had spent behind bars," he said.
Earlier, perturbed by the alleged harassment by Dadamiyan, a woman clerk in the Aurangabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) had approached the municipal authorities and filed a written complaint against the accused. The municipal officials forwarded the case to the City Chowk police station, where a formal complaint was lodged on October 30.
The police have registered a case under section 354 of the IPC and under sections of the Atrocity Act, since the complainant belongs to a Scheduled Caste.
Kushalchand Baheti, assistant commissioner of police, said that the woman had lodged a complaint of outraging her modesty. "According to the complainant, Anwar Khan Dadamiyan used to make unwanted moves towards her in the office premises," Baheti said. The accused worked as a peon in the same office where the complainant works as a typist-cum-clerk.
News Updates 20.11.14
19-year-old Dalit girl 'gangraped' by boyfriend, his friends in UP; 4 arrested - The Indian Express
The Indian Express
19-year-old Dalit girl 'gangraped' by boyfriend, his friends in UP; 4 arrested
Written by Manish Sahu | Lucknow | Posted: November 20, 2014 12:18 am
Four youths allegedly gangraped a Dalit girl late on Tuesday night at an under-construction building in Agra, following which the girl, in an attempt to escape her captors, one of whom is reportedly her boyfriend, jumped from the second floor of the building.
The police were called to the spot by locals who spotted the girl around 11 pm screaming for help. The 19-year-old has suffered a fracture in her leg apart from other injuries.
On Wednesday evening, the police arrested Akash, reportedly the girl's boyfriend, and his three friends — Narendra, Chhotu and Monu, all residents of Dehtora — on charges of gangrape and under the SC/ST Act. They will be produced before a court Thursday.
Additional SP, City, Sameer Saurabh said that the medical examination of the girl has been conducted and that the report is awaited.
Station House Officer, Sikandra Police Station, Ashish Kumar Singh said the girl told them she had a heated argument with her parents following which she had gone to her boyfriend's house at around 6 pm on Tuesday.
ASP Saurabh said Akash was alone in the house when the girl reached. Initially, he asked her to go back to her parents but she refused and insisted on staying. After a brief argument, Akash asked her to go the nearby under-construction building and wait for him, the ASP said.
The SO said Akash first joined her there and a few minutes later, his three friends also arrived. They overpowered the girl and took her to the terrace of the building where they allegedly raped her. Based on the details provided by the girl, Akash and his friends were arrested, the ASP said.
News Updates 28.11.14
12-yr-old beheaded after being raped in Bhilwara village - The Hindustan Times
The Hindustan Times
12-yr-old beheaded after being raped in Bhilwara village
HT Correspondent BHILWARA, November 21, 2014
First Published: 16:38 IST(21/11/2014) | Last Updated: 16:41 IST(21/11/2014)
A 12-year-old Dalit girl was allegedly raped and beheaded by an unidentified man in Bhilwara district while she was out with her friends to graze her goats, police said.
The headless body of the girl, a resident of Shahi Pipla village under Kachhola police state area, was found in bushes on the outskirts of the village by a passerby on Thursday morning, police said, adding that her head was lying a few metres away from the spot.
The post-mortem report confirmed rape before the murder, police said. According to police, the girl had left her home around 9am on Wednesday along with three friends and their goat herds to graze them outside the village, but she didn't return till evening.
The family members enquired the friends about her whereabouts, but they didn't have any clue. Her relatives approached police in the night and filed a missing report.
Kachhola police assistant sub inspector Gopal Singh said, "A passerby saw her body near the bushes on the hills outside the village on Thursday morning and informed police as well as villagers... The accused had beheaded the girl and tried to crush her face."
After the body was found this morning, the angry local residents protested against the Kachhola police, demanding the arrest of the accused. Deputy superintendent of police of Mandalgarh circle Jeevan Singh and other police officials rushed to the spot and pacified the crowd.
Police have filed a case under IPC section 302 and 376 besides provisions of the Protection Of Children From Sexual Offences Act.
News Updates 08.12.14
30-year-old sentenced to life term for rape - Zee News
http://zeenews.india.com/news/rajasthan/30-year-old-sentenced-to-life-term-for-rape_1509107.html
Zee News
30-year-old sentenced to life term for rape
http://zeenews.india.com/news/rajasthan/30-year-old-sentenced-to-life-term-for-rape_1509107.html
Last Updated: Thursday, December 4, 2014 - 01:33
Bundi: A 30-year-old man was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Schedule Caste and Schedule Tribe Court on Wednesday.
Kamal Sharma was booked under section 376 (Rape) of IPC and under relevant sections of SC/ST Act in April 2013.
District Judge Ramesh Chand Meena, who is also currently holding the charge of SC/ST Special Court, pronounced the judgement today and sentenced Sharma, a resident of Kaperan town of the district, to life imprisonment.
Sharma was arrested in April last year for raping a married woman of Meena community in the town. He was lodged in the jail since then as he was not granted bail during the trail.
News Updates 09.12.14
13-year-old Dalit girl raped- The Times Of India
The Times Of India
13-year-old Dalit girl raped
TNN | Dec 9, 2014, 12.08 PM IST
ALLAHABAD: A 13-year-old Dalit girl was allegedly raped by one Guddu in Barna Bhari village under Saraimamrej police station on Sunday. The matter has been reported to the police on Monday. The accused has been arrested and an offence under SC/ST Act along with other sections of Indian Penal Code has been registered. The girl has been sent for medical examination.
Father of the victim lodged a complaint on Sunday night. Guddu, of the same village seduced her to a nearby ground where he raped her. Meanwhile, locals alleged that when parents of the girl took her to the police station, they, instead of writing the complaint, tried to hush up the case making the parents and the victim wait for hours.
SP (trans-Ganga) said, the girl has been admitted in a hospital for complete medical examination. The matter is under investigation.
News Updates 10.12.14
Mother of four kids raped by grocery shop owner - Free Press Journal
http://freepressjournal.in/mother-of-four-kids-raped-by-grocery-shop-owner/
Free Press Journal
Mother of four kids raped by grocery shop owner
http://freepressjournal.in/mother-of-four-kids-raped-by-grocery-shop-owner/
— By FP NEWS SERVICE | Dec 10, 2014 01:49 am
Badnawar : A tribal widow was raped by a grocery shop owner for three years on pretext of marriage in a nearby village. The accused is reported absconding.
Police have registered a case of rape and threatening against Mohan Jaiswal, a resident of Ghatgara village at Badnawar police station on Tuesday on the complaint of a 25 years old woman of the same village.
The victim alleged that after untimely demise of her husband, accused Mohan lured her on pretext of marrying and physically exploited her for last three years, police said.
The accused kept the woman at his house with her four kids during this period. Mohan had divorced his wife some years ago and lured the widow victim on promise of wedding her in future, claimed police. However, three months back, the accused thrown out the woman along with her kids and threatened her of dire consequences if she reported the matter to police, they added.
The victim was so scared that she could not muster courage to complain against him for three months.
Meanwhile, the accused married another woman prompting the victim to file a complaint against him. Since, the victim is a tribal, a case under SC\ST Act was also registered against the accused who is still at large.
News Updates 11.12.14
Dalit minor girl raped in Warangal - The Hindu
The Hindu
Dalit minor girl raped in Warangal
Gollapudi Srinivasa Rao
A 17-year-old dumb Dalit girl was allegedly raped by an unidentified person in Inavolu village in Wardhannapet mandal of Warangal district late on Wednesday night.
According to police sources, the minor girl, who resides with her parents in SC colony in the village had ventured out around 11 pm to attend nature's call, when an unidentified person gagged her mouth and alleged sexually assaulted her.
The girl had earlier in the night attended prayers in the colony and returned home. The assailant after raping her fled from the spot. The girl managed to reach the house and informed her father about the incident.
Police said they suspect the involvement of local youth as they had information that some persons were seen consuming alcohol. One of them might have seen the girl going out of the house and followed her.
Wardhannapet police registered a case and shifted the girl to local hospital for medical examination. Manhunt was launched to nab the culprit, police said.
News Updates 13.12.14
Youth gets life term for raping minor, Court seeks action - Business Standard
Business Standard
Youth gets life term for raping minor, Court seeks action
Press Trust of India | New Delhi
December 12, 2014 Last Updated at 18:30 IST A youth has been awarded life imprisonment by a court here for raping a minor girl belonging to Scheduled Caste community as the judge pulled up the Uttar Pradesh police officials for their "inhuman and insensitive" approach and asked the government to take action against the erring policemen.
Additional Sessions Judge Savita Rao came down heavily on UP police personnel for their glaring discrepancies in the probe including that the police had not even lodged an FIR on the day of the incident and the case was registered after the intervention of senior officers.
The case was lodged at Baniyadher Police Station in Sambhal in UP and was later transferred to Delhi on the direction of the Supreme Court.
The court, while sentencing 24-year-old convict Rameez, a resident of Sambhal, observed that everyday
ewspapers are flooded with reports of rape of women because of "the schizophrenic attitude of those who do not give importance to human values and human rights of females in the society.
"This observation is made since the court owes a duty for cherished ideals of the preamble in the Constitution in establishing a just and fair society where everyone is given justice and assuring the dignity of individual and is constrained to call such action in passing appropriate order, having noted the glaring discrepancies, non-action, inhuman, lackadaisical and insensitive approach of the police officials concerned in utter disregard to all the settled cannons of law.
News Updates 15.12.14
Rescued Dalit women labourers' horror tales - Deccan Chronicle
Deccan Chronicle
Rescued Dalit women labourers' horror tales
Uma Kannan | December 15, 2014, 06.12 am
Chennai: It was thanks to an NGO that rescued two teenaged Dalit girls, S. Violet Mary and M. Shanthi, from a life of unremitting labour that they lived to tell their tale at the 15th state-level Dalit women's conference in the city on Sunday.The two girls were sent to a cotton mill in Dindigul district to work so they could return in three years with savings of Rs 30,000. It was a nightmare that the girls from Athoor village went through, working continuously for more than 12 hours.
"About 15 were put in a small room and our day started as early as 3.30 am. An NGO helped us get out of the cotton mill where we were employed," said Violet Mary. Dalit women from various districts narrated their stories, speaking of the discrimination they faced and how they fought for their rights. "There are 199 cotton mills in Dindigul district alone that employ more than 1 lakh women, and of them, 30,000 are Dalits. These mills announce various schemes, like Sumangali, Kanmani, Thirumagal and lure adolescent girls from economically backward sections with the promise of a lump sum payment of Rs 30,000 after three years.
All these women work for hours together and the mills pay them only if they complete the three-year period," said G.F. Viswasam, secretary of the Sirumalai Evergreen Multipurpose Community Development Society.The NGO has rehabilitated 93 women from the Sumangali scheme and has been giving them vocational training. Violet Mary and Shanthi discontinued their participation in the scheme within a month of joining it and are now in a tailoring programme. "As our seniors narrated various stories to us, we told our family and they accepted," they said.
The long working hours were not the only troublesome aspect. The mills selected girls only from families that had three or more children. "They are also subject to sexual harassment by supervisors," said Viswasam. The story of bonded labourers from Maharajapuram, Chittoor district in AP, was even worse as 30 people from 15 families lived as slaves, literally, for 15 long years. Members of the Ambedkar Movement rescued them a few months ago. Kasturi, who still struggles to cope with the atrocities and discrimination she faced at an estate in Maharajapuram, said men and women were beaten up like animals just because "we asked the owner to hike our wages"."We were given only `110 a day for work we did for 18 hours," said Jeeva, another worker.
News Updates 26.12.14
Youth rapes 25-yr old woman with marriage promise, forces her undergo abortion, too - Nagpur Today
Nagpur Today
Youth rapes 25-yr old woman with marriage promise, forces her undergo abortion, too
A 25-year old youth not only raped a woman by doling out a marriage promise but also forced her to undergo abortion. The accused called her by caste and refused to marry as well.
According to police, the 25-year old accused Ram Kishore Satpute, resident of Mohad, Narkhed, District Nagpur lured the Ganeshpeth-based woman (25) with a marriage promise. With this promise, the accused Ram Satpute forcibly established physical contacts with the woman frequently from September 2011 to July 2014. When the woman became pregnant, the accused Ram Satpute forced her to undergo abortion. Later the accused called the woman by her caste and flatly refused to marry with her.
Ganeshpeth PSI Parchake, acting on the complaint filed by the woman, booked the accused Ram Kishore Satpute under Sections 376, 313 of the IPC and Sub-Section 3(1)(12) of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act 1989 and investigating the matter further.
News monitored by Girish Pant & AJEET
Arun Khote
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Dalits Media Watch Team
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Peoples Media Advocacy & Resource Centre- PMARC has been initiated with the support from group of senior journalists, social activists, academics and intellectuals from Dalit and civil society to advocate and facilitate Dalits issues in the mainstream media. To create proper & adequate space with the Dalit perspective in the mainstream media national/ International on Dalit issues is primary objective of the PMARC.
On behalf of
Dalits Media Watch Team
(An initiative of "Peoples Media Advocacy & Resource Centre-PMARC")
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