Dalits Media Watch
News Updates 18.06.15
Two youths booked for raping Dalit minor in UP- Mid Day
http://www.mid-day.com/articles/two-youths-booked-for-raping-dalit-minor-in-up/16301173
Dalit's alleged eviction from land sparks protest - The Hindu
Maraikulam Dalits feel threatened - The Hindu
NHRC Seeks Report on Kandhamal Kidney Sale - The New Indian Express
NHRC orders action against headmistress for illtreating dalit girls - The Times Of India
NCSC chairman to visit Balangir today - Nyoooz
http://www.nyoooz.com/bhubaneswar/129802/ncsc-chairman-to-visit-balangir-today
Dalit outfit pays homage to Ashe - The Hindu
Action against attack on Dalits sought - The Hindu
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Mid Day
Two youths booked for raping Dalit minor in UP
http://www.mid-day.com/articles/two-youths-booked-for-raping-dalit-minor-in-up/16301173
By PTI |Posted 2 hours
Ghaziabad: A 16-year-old Dalit girl was allegedly raped by two youths in Modinagar Bhojpur police station area here, police said today.
The incident took place on June 13 in Chudiala village.
The girl had gone to the fields to relieve herself when the two youths Vicky and Atul gangraped her, Bhojpur Station House Officer Dalchand said.
When she resisted and tried to escape, the accused thrashed her, he said. A case has been registered against the duo, who are absconding.
The Hindu
Dalit's alleged eviction from land sparks protest
Ravikumar Naraboli
Hundreds of activists under the banner of Karnataka Rajya Dalit Sangharsha Samiti (Krantikari) staged a protest outside the Deputy Commissioner's office here in Yadgir on Wednesday and demanded to stop the construction of Kittura Rani Channamma Hostel in Kodekal village in Surpur taluk of Yadgir district immediately.
They said that hostel is coming up in the 4.29 acres of land situated in survey number 108/1 in Kodekal village.
The land originally belongs to the State Government and was cultivated by a Dalit farmer, Mallappa Bhimappa Madar for the past four decades. Mr. Madar had submitted an application to the Revenue Department requesting to allot the said land under Akrama-Sakrama scheme, on July 8, 2011 and said that the application is pending with the Department, they said.
Meanwhile, the hostel authorities and district administration have evicted Mr. Madar from the land and commenced the construction of hostel building with a complaint against him and other eight people, including his wife, when they resisted the act, protesters alleged.
The protesters demanded to withdraw the case filed against innocent Dalits and allot the land as requested, at the earliest.
The protestors also said that they would launch an indefinite hunger strike from June 26, if their demand is not met.
Mallikarjuna Kranti, district conveyer of organisation and others were present.
The Hindu
Maraikulam Dalits feel threatened
Special Correspondent
Despite peace committee meetings held thrice in the presence of Arupukottai RDO and two FIRs registered by A. Mukkulam police.
Dalits of S. Maraikulam village in Kariapatti taluk are frightened by the unsavoury acts of some caste Hindu youths.
Despite peace committee meetings held thrice in the presence of Arupukottai RDO and two FIRs registered by A. Mukkulam police, normal life seems to have been by and large disturbed.
While public feel that the lethargy shown by the administrators had let the petty problems snowball into a major controversy, Dalits alleged that lack of firm police action had precipitated anger in the hamlet.
A delegation led by S. Karuppiah of Dalit Liberation Movement submitted a memorandum to the Collector here on Tuesday, praying for speedy action and justice.
Using their clout in the political and administrative circles, some of the caste Hindu youths in the hamlet had not only threatened Dalits with dire consequences but also attacked them with deadly weapons.
For instance, when a Dalit, Karuppu, had let his milch animal graze in a poromboke land, a group chased away the animal and attacked him. Karuppu (47) is convalescing at Arupukottai Government Hospital for the last one week.
Then the attackers went to the hamlet and damaged the dwellings of Amirtham (70) and Josudas (37) for allowing their milch animals graze in the lands.
A primary school run by the CSI in the locality was damaged and the food meant for children at the noon-meal centre was also destroyed by the gang, which identified itself as a caste Hindu group.
In another incident, when a youth, P. Ruparaj, was riding his two-wheeler along S. Maraikulam, caste Hindus objected to his riding the bike on the stretch, where caste Hindus predominantly lived.
Whenever the locals raised issues of discrimination with the district administration, a peace meeting was convened but the decisions taken at the meeting were not implemented due to the non-cooperation of caste Hindus, Mr. Karuppiah claimed, and alleged that Dalits lived with fear for their lives.
A senior police officer said that they had registered cases under SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act against many accused. Similarly, based on complaints from caste Hindus, a case had been booked against Dalits, including Ayyavoo, an AIADMK functionary, who was remanded in judicial custody.
Dalits have demanded quashing of the FIR registered against them as they claimed that it was fake and urged the State government to permit them to graze their milch animals in the hamlet, failing which they have threatened to vacate their dwellings.
The New Indian Express
NHRC Seeks Report on Kandhamal Kidney Sale
By Express News Service
Published: 18th June 2015 06:00 AM
BHUBANESWAR:Taking stern note of rising incidents of kidney sale in the State, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has sought a report from the Government on the latest happening where a poverty-stricken Dalit youth of Kandhamal parted with his organ for money.
The Commission has directed the Collector and the SP of Kandhamal to file their reports within four weeks. The directions came in response to a petition filed by rights activist Akhand demanding action against the people involved and direction to the Government to take strong steps to prevent such illegalities.
Kanhu Behera (20) had sold one of his kidneys to a man in Brahmapur for Rs 3.5 lakh in April this year. The kidney transplant had been done at a hospital in Sri Lanka.
Kanhu has himself admitted to have sold his organ for money to construct a house.
The only son of a daily wage earner Barun Behera of Harijan Sahi of Phulbani of Kandhamal district, he did odd jobs to help his father run the family.
He had to discontinue his studies due to acute poverty and decided to sell one of his kidneys after coming in contact with a broker to make a good house for his family.
"Due to acute poverty, a Dalit poor boy was forced to sell a kidney. His family has no BPL card nor provided with any Government assistance," Akhand alleged.
The State Government has also ordered a Crime Branch probe into the whole incident establishing the entire trail from tracking Kanhu and the recipient, middleman racket, involvement of local hospital or doctor, arranging passport and travel documents and visit to Sri Lanka for surgery.
Right Move
■ NHRC has directed Collector and SP of Kandhamal to file their reports within four weeks
■ The State Government has also ordered a Crime Branch probe into the incident
■ Kanhu Behera had sold one of his kidneys to a man in Brahmapur for Rs 3.5 lakh in April this year
■ The kidney transplant had been done at a hospital in Sri Lanka
The Times Of India
NHRC orders action against headmistress for illtreating dalit girls
TNN | Jun 18, 2015, 03.15 AM IST
MADURAI: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has asked Tamil Nadu government to explain why 25,000 each should not be paid as relief to two girls of a panchayat union middle school in Tirunelveli, who were forced to clean the toilets by the headmistress of the school.
According to the state organiser of the Arundhadhiar Pengal Ezhuchi Iyakkam (APEI), K Maria Selvi, their organisation held regular Sunday classes called Arundhadhiar Ilan Kanal Sirar Mandram. There the school students were asked to give an account of their week's study and also if they had any problems related to it.
"It was there that the two students, Petchiamma, 11, and Sermakani, 12, came forward to tell us about the harassment they faced at the hands of the headmistress of Ettankulam Panchayat Middle School,'' she said. The girls were allegedly forced to scrub and wash the toilet used by the headmistress, Sathya Bama, who was allegedly biased against dalit students. They said the toilet had squirming worms and they refused to clean it, earning the ire of the headmistress.
The APEI staged demonstrations on April 8, 2013 and also sent petitions to the collector, chief educational officer, elementary educational officer and superintendent of police. The CEO conducted enquiries with the students and the teachers and the allegations were confirmed and the headmistress was transferred. Member of the commission, Justice D Murugesan, has recommended that the state government initiate action against the headmistress for her misconduct. Social justice department, which has to take action, should submit a report within six weeks.
Nyoooz
NCSC chairman to visit Balangir today
http://www.nyoooz.com/bhubaneswar/129802/ncsc-chairman-to-visit-balangir-today
NYOOOZ Bhubaneswar Thu,18 Jun 2015
The National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) Chairman Dr PL Punia is scheduled to visit Odisha on Thursday in order to look into the alleged gangrape and murder of a Balangir Dalit girl. NCSC Odisha State Coordinator Haladhar Sethy informed this in a statement on Wednesday. Sethy informed that he had visited Sargipali village under Balangir district's Khaprakhol police station where some youths had gangraped and murdered a matriculate girl of the village on May 22 after abducting her.
The police were yet to arrest the culprits. He said he met girl's father Arta Chhatria and other family members. Later, he met the Balangir SP, the District Welfare Officer and the departmental Director and urged them to take action against the culprits.
The Hindu
Dalit outfit pays homage to Ashe
Special Correspondent
"Ashe ended oppressive measures against us"
For the first time in the history of independent India, a Dalit outfit paid floral tributes to Collector Robert William d' Escourt Ashe, who was assassinated by martyr Vanchinathan at Maniyachi Junction 104 years ago.
"Since this great Briton was against untouchability and recognised the Dalits as human beings even when the caste-ridden society took all-out measures to oppress them, we pay floral tributes to the slain Collector," justified members of Aathi Thamizhar Katchi.
As Ashe's suppressive measures collapsed VOC's Swadeshi Steam Navigation Company that posed a serious threat to the colonial rulers' maritime interests, Vanchinathan shot the then Collector of Tirunelveli point-blank at Maniyachi Railway Junction even as he was waiting along with his wife to board the Boat Mail.
Within the next few minutes, the young assassin sacrificed his life by shooting himself with the Belgium-made pistol.
Since then, a few outfits organise simple functions at Shencottah, the birthplace of Vanchinathan, and also at Maniyachi that was renamed Vaanchi Maniyachi later, remembering the supreme sacrifice. Even as people from various walks of life were paying floral tributes to the statue of Vanchinathan at Shencottah on Wednesday, a group of youths affiliated to Aathi Thamizhar Katchi paid 'veera vanakkam' to Ashe at his tomb on English Church premises opposite St. John's College, Palayamkottai.
"Collector Ashe recognised us and did whatever he could to put an end to the oppressive measures against us. Apart from the Britons, upper caste members were alone allowed to take bath in the Courtallam waterfalls and the idols of deities alone were washed in the waterfalls while all other castes were not permitted.
Ashe, who ensured equality in his office, put an end to this system and allowed everyone to take bath in the Courtallam waterfalls.
K.K. Kalaikannan, Aathi Thamizhar Katchi's Tirunelveli district secretary, led the youths.
The Hindu
Action against attack on Dalits sought
Staff Reporter
The Tamil Nadu Untouchability Eradication Front (TNUEF) demands action by police against those responsible for the attack on a Dalit family in Padmanabhapuram recently.
In a petition submitted to Superintendent of Police N. Manivannan on Wednesday, a team, comprising TNUEF district president K. Ganesan, district secretary Stalin Doss, the victims, alleged that Rajendra Prasad was verbally abused on caste lines by a few caste Hindus when he was about to enter a temple in Padmanabhapuram near Thuckalay.
He was allegedly denied entry into the temple by caste Hindus.
They used abusive language against Prasad's wife and parents, damaged things in their house, and attacked his family members.
Prasad and his family members got admitted to Thuckalay Government Hospital and lodged a complaint. It was alleged that Thuckalay police had registered cases favouring caste Hindus.
The TNUEF demanded the police to take action against the assailants under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
News monitored by Girish Pant & AJEET
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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.