Dalit girl raped and murdered in Karur
Sangrur, June 24
The Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Ordinance, which was promulgated on March 4 this year, brought crimes like rape, assault and kidnapping under the purview of this act.
Most of these crimes invite punishment of less than 10 years, but following theamendments crimes like these now invite punishment for more than 10 years, adding teeth to the existing Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Act 1989.
The amendments to Section 3 also define new crimes and add some to the list.
Obstructing use of common property, allegations of witchcraft, preventing entry in place of worship, social economic boycott and promoting enmity are some of the changes which have been added to the list. These crimes are now considered as cruelty against SCs and STs.
The measure also establishes special courts for the trial of such offences and the rehabilitation of victims.
The government is likely to bring the bill in the Budget session of Parliament, official sources said.
The UPA government had brought the Bill in the previous Lok Sabha. Since it could not be passed, it had brought an Ordinance.
But it is not yet clear whether the bill will have the same provisions as in the Ordinance.
Demanding the arrest of the Khap Panchayat members who are alleged to have been involved in the case, Kejriwal said, "No action has been taken against the village head even after an FIR was registered. The government has turned a deaf ear to them and is not taking any step against the guilty.”
"Authorities should immediately arrest the culprits and hand over the case to CBI," he added.
AAP claimed that women were being raped and Dalits being harassed by Khap Panchayat members in Haryana's Bhagana, but no action has been taken against the culprits.
Kejriwal along with AAP's in-charge for Haryana Yogendra Yadav demanded a probe under the SC/ST Act into the complaints filed by the protesters.
Kejriwal added that he would write to Congress president Sonia Gandhi on the issue. (JPN-Agencies)
The chief minister also asked the collectors to design such a programme that would benefit the dalits. "He also asked them to come up with ideas and frame broader guidelines specific to their districts."
Dalits Media Watch
News Updates 25.06.14
Dalit girl raped and murdered in Karur - The Hindu
Karur rape: Dalits demand arrest of culprits - The Hindu
ATTACK ON DALITS - The Tribune
Sarpanch’s dismissal sought
NHRC issues notice to MP Govt. on atrocity against a Dalit bridegroom by upper caste people - Business Standard
Bill likely to strengthen law against atrocities on SC/ST - Business Standard
KVPS to launch stir over SC/ST Sub-Plan Act - The Hindu
Kejriwal seeks action against guilty in Bhagana rape case - Jagaran Post
Land for SCs scheme from Aug. 15 - The Hindu
Wage war against poverty in Dalits:Telangana CM KCR asks collectors - Sahara Live
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.
The Tribune
ATTACK ON DALITS
Sarpanch’s dismissal sought
Sangrur, June 24
State Scheduled Caste Commission member Dalip Singh Pandhi today demanded the dismissal of Jora Singh, the sarpanch of Matoi village (near Malerkotla). He condemned the “attack” on Dalits, carried out by Jora Singh and his supporters yesterday. Two supporters of Dalits, Ram Singh and Navdeep Singh, had sustained injuries and were admitted to civil hospital at Malerkotla. The Dalits were attacked after the auction of 17 bighas of panchayat land, reserved for Scheduled Castes, in Matoi village. Pandhi said the police should also add Section 3 (1) of the SC/ST Act to the FIR registered against Jora Singh and others. TNS
Business Standard
NHRC issues notice to MP Govt. on atrocity against a
Dalit bridegroom by upper caste people
ANI | New Delhi
June 25, 2014 Last Updated at 17:28 IST
The National Human Rights Commission has issued a notice to Madhya PradeshGovernment, taking suo motu cognizance of a media report that a Dalit bridegroom while riding a horse in his wedding procession was allegedly forced to get down and beaten up by the upper caste men in Sadwa village of ChhattarpurDistrict.
The incident happened on the June 7 and reportedly, as per the 'village tradition' only upper caste bridegrooms were allowed to ride on a horse while bridegrooms of lower castes had to go on foot to seek the blessings of the village elders.
The Commission has observed that the contents of the press report, if true, are serious violation of human rights of the Dalits in the village. It has issued a notice to the Madhya Pradesh
Government's Principal Secretary and has asked for a report within four weeks.
Business Standard
Bill likely to strengthen law against atrocities on SC/ST
The Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Ordinance, which was promulgated on March 4 this year
Press Trust of India | New Delhi
June 25, 2014 Last Updated at 15:08 IST
The Modi government is likely to bring a bill in the Budget session of Parliament to strengthen a law against atrocities on SCs and STs, a move initiated by the previous UPA government.
The Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Ordinance, which was promulgated on March 4 this year, brought crimes like rape, assault and kidnapping under the purview of this act.
Most of these crimes invite punishment of less than 10 years, but following theamendments crimes like these now invite punishment for more than 10 years, adding teeth to the existing Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Act 1989.
The amendments to Section 3 also define new crimes and add some to the list.
Obstructing use of common property, allegations of witchcraft, preventing entry in place of worship, social economic boycott and promoting enmity are some of the changes which have been added to the list. These crimes are now considered as cruelty against SCs and STs.
The measure also establishes special courts for the trial of such offences and the rehabilitation of victims.
The government is likely to bring the bill in the Budget session of Parliament, official sources said.
The UPA government had brought the Bill in the previous Lok Sabha. Since it could not be passed, it had brought an Ordinance.
But it is not yet clear whether the bill will have the same provisions as in the Ordinance.
The Hindu
KVPS to launch stir over SC/ST Sub-Plan Act
Staff Reporter
The SC/ST Sub-Plan Act was projected as a panacea for all ills afflicting dalits and girijans before its enactment in 2013 by the composite Andhra Pradesh State. With no rules framed by the governments in Telangana and successor State of Andhra Pradesh now, implementation of the Act is in limbo, laments Kula Vivaksha Porata Samiti (KVPS) founder president and CPI(M) Central Committee member Patturi Ramaiah.
“It was after long drawn struggle the SC/ST sub plan came into being but diversion of funds for Outer Ring Road and Hussainsagar lake continued unabated. It is an agonising wait for SCs and STs now even after the Act has been put in place with no rules framed for its implementation after its enactment by the State legislature of composite Andhra Pradesh,” the former CPI(M) MLA told a press conference here.
SC/ST hamlets continue to present a pathetic picture with no proper roads, drains and drinking water, he said. The KVPS would join hands with like-minded organisations to hold massive stirs from July 5 to ensure that diversion of funds earmarked for SCs and STs was put to an end , he added. Lamenting that the SC/ST Commission was dysfunctional, KVPS State secretary A. Malyadri demanded appointment of its chairman and other members so that dalits and garijans could seek remedy.
Jagaran Post
Kejriwal seeks action against guilty in Bhagana rape case
Publish Date: 25 Jun 2014, 02:30 PM
New Delhi: Hitting out at officials for their alleged failure to take any action in the Bhagana rape case, AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal pitched for CBI probe seeking justice in the matter.
Kejriwal met the alleged victims of the Bhagana rape case at Jantar Mantar here where they have been holding a protest against the government's alleged inaction over their complaint.
Demanding the arrest of the Khap Panchayat members who are alleged to have been involved in the case, Kejriwal said, "No action has been taken against the village head even after an FIR was registered. The government has turned a deaf ear to them and is not taking any step against the guilty.”
"Authorities should immediately arrest the culprits and hand over the case to CBI," he added.
AAP claimed that women were being raped and Dalits being harassed by Khap Panchayat members in Haryana's Bhagana, but no action has been taken against the culprits.
Kejriwal along with AAP's in-charge for Haryana Yogendra Yadav demanded a probe under the SC/ST Act into the complaints filed by the protesters.
Kejriwal added that he would write to Congress president Sonia Gandhi on the issue. (JPN-Agencies)
The Hindu
Land for SCs scheme from Aug. 15
Special Correspondent
Chief Minister to launch programme in Karimnagar district
The Telangana government will launch the distribution of three acres of agriculture land to landless poor from August 15.
Chief Minister of Telangana K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Tuesday said that his government would identify one village in each mandal and identify genuine Dalits for land distribution. On a single day, land will be distributed in 500 villages. He will launch the programme in Karimnagar district.
Mr. Rao on Tuesday held a brainstorming session with the Collectors of 10 districts to chalk out an action plan to uplift the Dalits in the State. Stating much hype was created about the welfare of the SCs, but actually very little funding was done for their uplift, he has said that Collectors should lead the war against elimination of poverty from SC colonies in the new State.
Change sought
“There is no visible change in their lifestyle,” Mr. Rao said adding that thousands of crores had been spent on their welfare, but still poverty was visible in the Dalit colonies. “In the next five years, I want complete change in the living conditions of the SCs across the State. I promise to spend 14.5 per cent of the budget exclusively for the welfare programmes of the Dalits,” he added. He said the Social Welfare Department would be henceforth be renamed as SC Development Department. Mr Rao said he had had retained the welfare portfolios with him only to pay more attention to their welfare.
Action plan
The Chief Minister promised to spend Rs. 4,000 crore in the next five years in each district for Dalit welfare alone. He wanted the Collectors to take the initiative in preparing an action plan on SC welfare programmes. He said shortly, a special officer exclusively to deal with the SC welfare programmes would be appointed in each mandals. All the 10 districts would be divided into 510 units for effective implementation of the welfare programmes.
Committees
In a bid to encourage educated SC youth, the Chief Minister said Dalitwada-level committees comprising men and women would be constituted shortly.
The meeting was attended among others by Finance Minister Etela Rajender, Chief Secretary Rajiv Sharma, Principal Secretary (Welfare) T. Radha, Principal Secretary (social welfare) Raymond Peter, advisor to Government (Welfare) Ramlaxman. Mallepalli Lakshmaiah and Ganta Chakrapani were invited as special invitees.
Sahara Live
Wage war against poverty in Dalits:Telangana CM KCR asks collectors
No Dalits are not dependent on BSP chief Mayawati as Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao asked district collectors to work hard to ensure that dalits are lifted out of poverty and that their living conditions are improved.
"When budget is allocated on 15.4 per cent basis, on an average each district is likely to get about Rs 600 crore and to this amount if the government of India funds are added there will be adequate funds for SC development. In the coming five years, the funds for each district may touch even Rs 4000 crore."
The chief minister also asked the collectors to design such a programme that would benefit the dalits. "He also asked them to come up with ideas and frame broader guidelines specific to their districts."
Addressing a meeting of collectors from ten districts of Telangana here, KCR also announced the launch of a special scheduled caste development programme involving ministers, MPs and MLAs on August 15 on a pilot basis.
"Even after 65 years of independence, there has not been a considerable progress and the dalits still remained as the poorest of the poor and the government has to think as to what is to be done at the state level first and go to district level to improve their living conditions," KCR said.
The meeting was also attended by Finance Minister E Rajender and several senior officials, a state government release said.
"A special scheduled caste development programme would be launched onAugust 15 this year in one identified village in one mandal in every district on a pilot basis by involving ministers, MPs and MLAs. The chief minister will launch the programme in Karimnagar district," the release said.
KCR said in the coming five years there has to be a remarkable change towards improving living conditions of dalits.The funds that were allotted for SC welfare on the basis of percentage of population at the rate of 15.4 per cent were never spent as allocated, the release quoted the chief minister as saying.
According to the release, KCR suggested that henceforth 15.4 per cent of the total budgetary allotment will exclusively be spent for the development of SCs and the social welfare department will be renamed as SC development department.
News monitored by Girish Pant- PMARC
.Arun Khote
On behalf of
Dalits Media Watch Team
(An initiative of “Peoples Media Advocacy & Resource Centre-PMARC”)
Pl visit on FACEBOOK : https://www.facebook.com/
..............................
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”)
Pl visit on FACEBOOK : https://www.facebook.com/
..............................
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.
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