The recently released World Economic Forum (WEF)’s Global Gender Gap Report 2025 delivers a sobering reality check for India: India ranks 131st out of 148 countries, with a gender parity score of 64.1%, despite global strides elsewhere. Despite slight gains in economic participation and education, India continues to struggle to unlock the potential of half its population. The ranking is not a mere statistic but represents a fundamental economic and social crisis that demands urgent, systemic intervention. Let us examine why: India’s gender gap extends beyond the women workforce participation rate, which stands at a dismal 29.9% in terms of earned income parity. It can be seen embedded deep into institutional frameworks that systematically exclude women from decision-making spheres. Women hold just 13.8% of parliamentary seats and a mere 5.6% of ministerial positions, reflecting the entrenched male dominance in India’s power structures.

The political underrepresentation unfortunately creates a continued cycle of failure to consistently address women and their lived realities. Globally, women constitute 41.2% of the workforce, however they hold merely 28.8% of leadership positions worldwide. In 2024, Indian women occupied 18.3% of senior leadership roles, a slight decrease from the 2023 peak of 18.7%. The issue is not women’s capability or ambition, but an ecosystem that persistently undervalues their contributions.

Beyond Employment: Reimagining Social Architecture

India’s gender parity efforts remain narrowly focused on employment schemes and quotas, missing the broader task of reforming foundational social structures. True transformation requires dismantling the invisible architecture of inequality shaping every aspect of Indian women’s lives right from childhood to leadership. This also requires that we begin from the education systems as well, for example, educational reform must transcend mere access to challenge curriculums that reinforce gender stereotypes. Educational institutions need to proactively counteract societal messaging that limits any girl’s aspirations in Science, Technology, Leadership and Entrepreneurship. This means training educators to recognize unconscious bias, revising textbooks to include diverse female role models, and establishing mentorship programs that steer young women toward leadership. In fact some states like Kerala have already started doing this and we need more states across the country to follow suit.

Urban planning must prioritize women’s safety and facilitate mobility through thoughtful infrastructure. Cities designed with women’s needs in mind that focus on adequate streetlights, accessible public transportation, childcare facilities near workplaces and safe public spaces, often directly impact women’s economic participation. When women feel secure moving through urban environments results in enhanced professional opportunities expand exponentially.

Workplace transformation requires more than maternity leave policies. Organizations need comprehensive support systems including flexible working arrangements, on-site childcare, equal parental leave and zero-tolerance harassment policies. These changes aren’t corporate social responsibility initiatives, rather they are strategic investments in talent retention and productivity.

The Political Will Imperative

Gender parity is not yet treated as the economic emergency it is. Yet research consistently shows that countries with higher gender equality experience faster economic growth, greater innovation, and more resilient societies. India’s demographic dividend—its large young population—remains half-spent when women are systematically excluded from productive participation. The Women’s Reservation Bill passed in 2023 after 27 years of legislative delays, promises change where it states that there will be reservation of one-third of parliamentary and legislative seats, albeit in 2029. Even before WRB’s implementation, political parties can voluntarily field more women candidates—an immediate, tangible show of commitment to equality.

Cultural Reengineering: The Ultimate Challenge

India needs deliberate cultural reengineering that challenges fundamental assumptions about gender roles. Media must evolve beyond glorifying female sacrifice and start showcasing stories of women’s leadership, ambition, and success. Entertainment, advertising and news coverage also shape societal perceptions; all such platforms need to actively counteract stereotypes that limit women’s potential. Family norms, especially those rooted in son preference, demand intentional change.Men must be encouraged to share childcare and domestic duties, support women’s careers, and celebrate daughters as enthusiastically as sons. Not all these changes need legislative influence, most of these require sustained social dialogue and role-modeling by influential figures. When respected voices within communities’ advocate for women’s education, professional participation and leadership, social change accelerates.

The Economic Imperative

India’s goal of becoming a developed economy by 2047 is incompatible with persistent gender inequality. Countries that have achieved sustained prosperity—from Nordic nations to East Asian tigers—prioritized women’s economic participation as a development cornerstone. India cannot afford to waste half its human capital while competing in a knowledge-based global economy. The demographic window is closing. India’s working-age population advantage will diminish within decades. Maximizing this advantage requires full utilization of both male and female talent. Each year of inaction bleeds trillions in lost economic potential.

India’s gender gap demands an ecosystem-wide approach—addressing legal, economic, educational, infrastructural, and cultural systems in tandem. Now we need coordinated action across government levels, private sector leadership, civil society engagement and individual behavior change. Most importantly, we need for gender equality to be viewed not as a women’s issue but as a national economic priority that determines India’s global competitiveness. The choice is clear: India must embrace radical change to unlock its full potential. The demographic dividend is fleeting.

About Author

Dr. Varsha Pillai

Dr. Varsha Pillai, a seasoned communications professional with over two decades of experience, currently leads Gender Diversity and Advocacy initiatives for Women in Manufacturing at Tata Electronics. Her journey is anchored by a PhD from Symbiosis International University (2022), where her research focused on Gender Advocacy in Digital Media. Recognized internationally through prestigious fellowships including the NFAI Research Fellowship, Netherlands Fellowship, and Think Tank Initiative Fellowship in Geneva, she was named a Changemaker by Change.Org India in 2022. Her expertise spans sustainability communications, DEI initiative, and policy advocacy across corporate and nonprofit sectors, where she combines academic insight with practical implementation.

Courtesy: The AIDEM

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Both cases have exposed the terrifying impunity with which caste- and tribe-based violence continues to unfold, and the utter failure of systems meant to protect vulnerable children. As outrage grows, questions are being raised not just about the perpetrators, but about a state structure that remains indifferent to the safety and dignity of its most marginalised.

10-year-old Adivasi girl stripped and burned

Even as outrage over the gang-rape case mounted, another incident emerged from a different part of Andhra Pradesh—this time allegedly involving a 10-year-old tribal girl from the Scheduled Tribe (ST) community. The child was falsely accused of stealing a mobile phone. In a disturbing act of mob violence and humiliation, she was allegedly stripped of her clothes and her body was burned with a hot stick, inflicting grievous injuries.

As per a report of NDTV, the child, Chenchamma, lived with her aunt, Sannari Manikyam, at the Scheduled Tribe Colony in Kuditepalem Kakarla Dibba of the district. Suspecting that Chenchamma stole a mobile phone from a nearby house, the neighbours allegedly burned her body with a hot iron rod and beat her. 

As per the report of the Indian Express, the police in Indukurupet Mandal in Nellore detained at least two people in connection with the alleged torture of the girl. Other neighbours heard the girl’s cries when she was allegedly being burnt with a hot iron rod on her cheeks. They rescued her and called the police before shifting her to a government hospital, where she was given treatment and discharged.

“The girl denied going to the neighbour’s house, let alone stealing a phone, and claimed innocence. We have registered an FIR and detained two people for questioning,’’ an officer from the Indukurupet police station said, as per the IE report.

Two years of silence: Minor Dalit girl raped for two years by 17 individuals

In a case that has exposed the horrific intersections of caste, gender, and institutional apathy, a 15-year-old Dalit girl from Sri Satya Sai district in Andhra Pradesh has been found eight months pregnant after allegedly being gang-raped by 17 individuals over a period of nearly two years. The abuse, police say, began when the girl was just 13 years old and continued in silence—unreported and unchecked—until earlier this month, when her mother finally approached the authorities.

Thirteen of the 17 accused have been arrested so far, including three minors. The main accused, who is believed to have initiated the cycle of abuse, remains absconding. All the adult accused have been remanded to judicial custody, while the minors are under the jurisdiction of the Juvenile Justice Board. A case has been registered under several stringent provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and the Information Technology Act, 2000.

A cycle of exploitation and silence: According to the police investigation, the abuse began when the girl was studying in Class 8. After her father’s death three years ago, she and her mother—belonging to the Madiga (Scheduled Caste) community—had moved to a small village near the Karnataka border. The family, impoverished and socially marginalised, was struggling to survive.

As per the report of India Today, one day, after school, the girl and her SC classmate were reportedly photographed by a member of the local Boya community. The Boyas are a dominant and politically influential caste in the region. The accused used these images to blackmail the girl, threatening to release them on social media. Two men then sexually assaulted her. The incident was filmed and circulated among their acquaintances, leading to a pattern of repeated rape by at least 14 men over two years.

The remand report and survivor’s statement reveal that the blackmail, coercion, and threats never stopped. As per a report of the Indian Express, “It was her age, her caste, and her social vulnerability that made her easy prey,” said District Superintendent of Police V Ratna. “The exploitation was systematic and prolonged. This was not just one incident, it was organised abuse that continued for two years.”

The men who allegedly assaulted her are aged between 18 and 51. Most of them belong to the Boya community, while three others, including her classmate, are from the SC community and are being investigated for failing to report the abuse.

Arrests and charges: On June 9, police arrested six individuals:

• Achampalli Vardhan (21)
• Talari Murali (25)
• Badagorla Nandavardhan Raj alias Nanda (23)
• Arencheru Nagaraju alias Haryana Cheruvu Nagaraju (51)
• Boya Sanjeev (40)
• Budida Rajanna (49)

Seven others were arrested the following day, including minors. The main accused remains at large. Police say several of those arrested already have criminal records. A special investigation team has been formed under Dharmavaram subdivision to trace the absconding accused, as per The Week.

The case has been registered under sections related to rape, gang-rape, criminal intimidation, and the use of technology for exploitation. The police have also sought permission for a DNA test on the unborn child, which will be critical for the prosecution.

Systemic failure at every level

This case has laid bare deep institutional failings. Despite being a government school student, the girl dropped out of Class 10—a critical academic year—without her teachers raising any concern or notifying authorities. “It is unimaginable that a child disappears from school and nobody asks why,” said SP Ratna, as reported by IE. “Even after she became visibly pregnant, nobody in the village reported it.”

Local welfare structures, too, failed to intervene. The Grama Mahila Samrakshana Karyadarsi, a village-level cadre of women volunteers who serve as ‘Mahila Police’, did not conduct any welfare checks. Neither did Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) workers, who are supposed to monitor maternal and child health at the community level.

“We are looking into these failures. These systems are in place specifically to protect vulnerable children. Their inaction has consequences,” Ratna added, according to the IE report.

Caste, power and pressure to stay silent: According to local officials, who spoke with the IE, the caste dynamics in the village were crucial in enabling the silence. The survivor’s family belongs to the Madiga community, a Scheduled Caste group with minimal presence in the village. Of the 17 accused, 14 belong to the powerful Boya community. Police say that when the case began to unravel, Boya community leaders attempted to suppress it by pressuring the girl to marry her SC classmate—one of the minors now under investigation—to give the appearance of consent and close the matter.

“Despite the survivor being visibly pregnant, no one reported the crime. The silence of the village was not accidental—it was imposed through caste hierarchies and social fear,” said a senior official involved in the investigation as per the IE report.

Ongoing care and state protection: As per the report of Deccan Herald, the survivor is now under medical care at the Government General Hospital in Anantapur. Doctors have confirmed that abortion is not an option due to the advanced stage of pregnancy. The girl, who is anaemic and struggling with depression, is receiving counselling, nutritional support, and round-the-clock care.

She will not be sent back to the village after delivery. Instead, both mother and newborn will be shifted to a state-run women’s shelter. “We fear coercion. Even from jail, these men could pressure the family to withdraw the case,” the SP said, as per IE report.

The state has also moved to obtain court permission for DNA testing of the unborn child. Police say this will strengthen the case and help establish individual responsibility among the accused.

Political fallout: The case has triggered political controversy and public outrage. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu expressed shock over the incident, calling for swift investigation, speedy trial, and strict punishment for the accused. “Strong evidence must be collected to ensure that the guilty do not escape justice,” he said in a statement.

Opposition leader and former Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy of the YSR Congress Party, however, accused the TDP government of shielding perpetrators with political links. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Reddy wrote: “As an indicator of Govt’s insensitivity, the state has witnessed 188 rapes and 15 rape-murders in one year. Even recently, an Intermediate tribal student from Anantapur was found murdered and dumped in the woods after a brutal attack.”

He further questioned the TDP’s commitment to women’s safety, calling the situation “disgraceful” and “preposterous”.

Systemic negligence and caste impunity

The intersection of caste, poverty, and gender has made SC/ST girls disproportionately vulnerable to abuse. Both these cases reveal not just individual acts of brutality, but a pattern of systemic neglect, caste dominance, and institutional collapse. In the Dalit girl’s case, school teachers failed to follow up on her sudden dropout in Class 10. ASHA workers, Mahila Police volunteers, and child protection officials did not intervene despite visible red flags. In the tribal child’s case, the violence remained hidden until the neighbours raised an alarm.

The lack of early intervention, social stigma, and fear of dominant caste groups contributed to the silence in both cases. In the gang-rape case, Boya community leaders reportedly tried to pressure the survivor into marriage to close the matter. In the tribal girl’s case, no community elder stepped in to stop the torture or report the crime.

Related:

Rajasthan’s rape crisis: a string of horrific crimes challenges the state’s record on women’s safety

Encroachment or erasure? India’s demolition wave and the law

Mapping Hate: The Pahalgam Attack and its ripple effects

A Pattern of Impunity? This report details horrific crimes against Dalits in UP, Rajasthan, MP and beyond

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Recent months have laid bare a chilling pattern of brutal rapes and assaults across Rajasthan, each incident a stark testament to a deeply entrenched societal malaise.

From the unimaginable violation of a female patient within the sterile confines of an ICU in Alwar, subjected to rape by hospital staff while undergoing treatment, to parallel and equally horrific occurrences echoing from Bikaner, Barmer, and Tonk even in the state capital, Jaipur.

Alwar: Female patient raped inside hospital ICU, fearing Job losses staff, asked for forgiveness

On June 4, 2025, in a deeply disturbing incident, a female patient in the ICU of ESIC Medical College Hospital in Alwar’s MIA area was allegedly raped by a nursing staff member. The incident occurred around 1:30 AM on June 4, 2025. The 32-year-old victim, who had been admitted on June 2 for a tubal operation and moved to the ICU on June 4, recounted the horrifying ordeal to her husband the following day after regaining consciousness.

According to Police, the victim’s husband filed a report stating that a guard had asked him to leave the room around 11 p.m. on June 4, after which the nursing staffer entered. The victim’s husband further detailed that his wife was not fully conscious or able to move, preventing her from resisting the assault by the nursing staff member, who had drawn a curtain around her. The rapist reportedly told her he was a doctor performing an operation.

Accused confessed to the crime in front of doctor

On June 6, the accused nursing staff member, identified as Subhash Gathala from Sikar, confessed to the crime in front of Dr. Deepika. ESIC Medical College Dean Aseem Das confirmed that a case has been registered, and an administrative inquiry team has been formed. The victim’s family registered a complaint at MIA Police Station, and police are investigating.

Alarmingly, hospital staff allegedly attempted to cover up the incident, telling the victim’s husband to “forgive him, or others will lose their jobs.” The husband, however, insisted on going directly to the police. A critical security lapse was also uncovered: the ICU, a highly sensitive area, had no CCTV cameras, as Hindi newspaper Dainik Bhaskar reported

The hospital guard admitted that while shifts change and staff are present, there are no cameras. Police investigation revealed that Gathala, originally posted elsewhere, was temporarily stationed in Alwar on a “diversion.” Police have registered a case and are investigating the matter, taking statements from both the hospital administration and the victim.

State Congress leaders and LoP criticised BJP-ruled state government

Following these alarming incidents, former Chief Minister and prominent Congress leader Ashok Gehlot sharply criticised the BJP-ruled state government.

He took to his social media handle, X, to express his dismay, stating, “During the tenure of the Congress government, the health model of Rajasthan became a topic of discussion in the country and the world, but the BJP government has ruined it. The incidents of rape of a female patient in the ICU of a hospital in Alwar and the incidents of misbehaviour and assault by a doctor on a Dalit Congress leader in a government hospital in Pali are examples of this. The people of the state are regretting that more than half of the tenure of such an inefficient government is still left. How bad will be the condition of the state in this time.”

कांग्रेस सरकार के कार्यकाल में राजस्थान का हेल्थ मॉडल देश-दुनिया में चर्चा का विषय बना था परन्तु भाजपा सरकार ने इसे बर्बाद कर दिया है।

अलवर में अस्पताल के आईसीयू में महिला रोगी से रेप की घटना तथा पाली के सरकारी अस्पताल में कांग्रेस की दलित नेता के साथ डॉक्टर द्वारा बदसलूकी एवं…

— Ashok Gehlot (@ashokgehlot51) June 7, 2025

Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee President Govind Singh Dotasra also targeted the government, posting on social media that “the entire Rajasthan is ashamed by the atrocity committed by the nursing staff against a woman admitted in the ICU of a medical college in Alwar. This incident, which crosses all limits of barbarism, is a blot on humanity.”

He urged the Chief Minister to “wake up from deep sleep and see that every day in the state, innocent little girls are being raped, and the dignity of women is being torn apart. Under your misgovernance, cases of atrocities against minors have increased by over 18% from 2023 till now. It is shameful that everyone from ministers to the Chief Minister is intoxicated with power. There is no such thing as women’s safety, sensitivity, or good governance left. The situation is getting worse, but there is no one to see or listen.”

अलवर में मेडिकल कॉलेज के ICU में भर्ती महिला के साथ नर्सिंग स्टाफ द्वारा की गई दरिंदगी से पूरा राजस्थान शर्मसार है। हैवानियत की सारी हदें पार करने वाली यह घटना मानवता पर कलंक है।

मुख्यमंत्री जी, गहरी नींद से जागिए और देखिए प्रदेश में हर दिन छोटी-छोटी मासूम बच्चियों से बलात्कार… pic.twitter.com/y9hZoyPJYG

— Govind Singh Dotasra (@GovindDotasra) June 7, 2025

Adding his voice to the growing condemnation, Leader of Opposition Tikaram Juli took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his outrage. He wrote that “the heinous incident of rape of a victim woman by nursing staff in the ICU of ESIC Medical College in Alwar has shaken the entire state.”

हाल-ए-राजस्थान | अस्पताल में महिला से दरिंदगी | अलवर में मानवता शर्मसार

अलवर के ESIC मेडिकल कॉलेज की ICU में भर्ती एक पीड़ित महिला के साथ नर्सिंग स्टाफ द्वारा बलात्कार जैसी घिनौनी घटना ने पूरे प्रदेश को झकझोर कर रख दिया है।

यह प्रदेश की शासन व्यवस्था की विफलता है, जहां पीड़िता…

— Tika Ram Jully (@TikaRamJullyINC) June 6, 2025

Governance failure: safety compromised in sanctuaries

Juli further asserted that this incident signifies “a failure of the state’s governance system, where the victim is unsafe even in a place considered most secure.” He emphasised that “such an inhuman act occurring to a woman in a hospital’s ICU is not just an attack on a single woman, but an assault on the soul of the entire society.”

#WATCH | Alwar, Rajasthan: On alleged rape incident in ESIC Medical College, LoP Tikaram Jully says, “This proves that cases like rape under the rule of Bhartiya Janata Party are also suppressed. They remain unresolved, and if any grievant reaches out to the higher authorities… pic.twitter.com/IdmXwGOp7l

— ANI MP/CG/Rajasthan (@ANI_MP_CG_RJ) June 7, 2025

Bikaner: two minor girls raped by self-proclaimed temple priest, govt demolished illegal encroachments of accused

On June 3, 2025, a shocking incident reported in Bikaner district where two minor girls, aged eight and nine, were sexually assaulted by a self-proclaimed temple priest. The girls had visited a temple near their grandparents’ house when the accused, later identified as Shri Bhagwan, lured them with Prasad and promises of new sandals before committing the heinous act. Upon their return, the terrified girls revealed the ordeal to their family, disclosing how the perpetrator had threatened them with a fodder-cutting sickle, warning them of dire consequences if they spoke out.

Accused’s criminal history and demolition of illegal encroachments

The investigation quickly unearthed the shocking antecedents of the 50-year-old accused, Shri Bhagwan. It was discovered that he was a convicted murderer, having served a 20-year prison sentence for the 1993 murder of five people during a robbery in Bidasar. Despite being sentenced to death by lower courts, his sentence was commuted to 20 years by the Supreme Court, leading to his release in 2013, as reported Dainik Bhaskar

Following his recent arrest for the rape incident, authorities moved swiftly to demolish his illegal ashram in Surjansar village. This structure, built on government land, also housed a temple where he reportedly practiced tantric rituals.

Illegal activities and reclamation of land

The demolition drive, led by Sub-Divisional Officer and Tehsildar of area, revealed further illegalities. Opium and cannabis plants were discovered on the premises, indicating cultivation of narcotics. Additionally, Shri Bhagwan was found to be involved in illegal water siphoning and electricity theft. The operation successfully reclaimed approximately 50 bigha of encroached pasture land, returning it to the Gram Panchayat, as reported

The accused, who had misled villagers under the guise of spiritual healing, was also found to be in possession of weapons, highlighting the extent of his criminal enterprise.

Tonk: minor Dalit girl found after sexual assault

Another case of gang rape has surfaced from a village in the Pachewar police station area of Tonk district, Rajasthan. After the brutal assault, the perpetrators allegedly tied the minor Dalit girl’s hands and feet and abandoned her by the roadside. The victim was discovered unconscious on the night of February 28, prompting a police investigation, as NDTV Rajasthan reported

Authorities have since registered a case under the POCSO Act against four young men. It’s alleged that a neighbouring woman assisted the accused in their heinous crime. Police sources indicate that one of the suspects is from the victim’s village, while the other three reside in Kurad village.

FIR registered against four accused

Malpura DSP Ashish Prajapat confirmed that the victim provided a named complaint against four individuals, also accusing a neighbouring woman of aiding them. The police are actively investigating the matter. According to the victim’s statement to the police, around midnight on February 28, as she stepped out of her house for a short while, three or four individuals abducted her after covering her mouth.

The accused then took her to a shed behind a neighbour’s house where the gang rape occurred. When the minor screamed for help, the neighbouring woman allegedly came out but ignored her pleas and went back inside, emboldening the attackers, as reported

They subsequently tied the girl’s hands, feet, and mouth before leaving her near her home. Police have taken cognizance of the case and initiated investigation.

Barmer: a 31-year-old woman allegedly end her life by suicide after being blackmailed with rape threats and obscene videos

A distressing incident has come to light in Barmer’s Girab police station area, where a 31-year-old woman, a mother of three, tragically ended her life by suicide on June 10, 2025. The woman was found hanged at her home, and initial reports suggest she was driven to this extreme step after allegedly being blackmailed with threats of rape and the circulation of obscene videos.

According to police, the woman was reportedly lured, raped, and filmed by a man from her village, identified as Sumar Khan (name changed). He allegedly continued to exploit and threaten her, with the latest pressure on Tuesday causing her immense distress. The woman’s uncle has since filed a formal complaint against the accused. While the family asserts that the husband had reported the matter to the police in September 2024, claiming no action was taken, police officials state they have no record of such a report. A thorough investigation into the matter is now underway, and the woman’s body has been sent for post-mortem, as per a report in the Times of India.

NCW demands immediate action, takes suo moto cognizance

The National Commission for Women (NCW) has taken suo moto cognizance of this grave Barmer suicide case. On Monday, the NCW chairperson, Vijaya Rahatkar, took to X (formerly Twitter) to announce that she has written to the Rajasthan Director General of Police, urging immediate intervention and a swift inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the woman’s death.

The National Commission for Women has taken Suo Moto cognizance of a deeply disturbing case from Barmer, Rajasthan, where a 31-year-old woman allegedly died by suicide after being blackmailed with rape threats and obscene videos.

Hon’ble Chairperson Smt. Vijaya Rahatkar has…

— NCW (@NCWIndia) June 16, 2025

Jaipur: 21-year-old woman gang-raped in Sanganer

This incident, occurring in March, adds to the disturbing pattern of such crimes. On the evening of Holi (March 14) in Jaipur’s Sanganer area, a 21-year-old married woman was allegedly gang-raped in a secluded farmland. The victim, who had recently moved to Jaipur, had reportedly left her home after a domestic dispute. She was accosted by two youths on a motorcycle who forcibly dragged her into a field and gang-raped her. A third person, who arrived later, fled, as reported

As per the Times of India, the survivor promptly lodged an FIR under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Sections 70 (gang rape) and 126 (wrongful restraint) at Sanganer Sadar police station. Medical examinations confirmed injuries. Police swiftly arrested Puran Yadav (22) and Himanshu Choudhary (19), and a 17-year-old boy was also detained. The investigation is ongoing.

Moreover, Rajasthan is facing an escalating crisis of gender-based violence, making women’s safety a critical concern. Recent months have revealed a chilling pattern of rapes across the state, defying belief. From an unimaginable assault on a patient inside an Alwar ICU to minor girls targeted in Bikaner and Tonk, and a tragic suicide in Barmer linked to blackmail, the scale of the problem is alarming. Even Jaipur has witnessed multiple incidents, including a gang rape.

These pervasive crimes, occurring in seemingly secure places like hospitals and homes, highlight a profound societal and governance failure, demanding immediate and decisive action to protect women and ensure safe public spaces.

Related:

A Pattern of Impunity? This report details horrific crimes against Dalits in UP, Rajasthan, MP and beyond

Statewide Attacks: Caste fury unleashes brute violence against Dalit students

Tribal women paraded, assaulted; nationwide outrage follows

The post Beyond belief: rape incidents spiral, from a hospital ICUs to villages, exposing widespread gendered crimes across Rajasthan appeared first on SabrangIndia.

In Uttar Pradesh, a disturbing trend of sexual violence against Dalit women and minor girls has emerged, with numerous cases of rape, gang rape, and brutal assault being reported. These crimes are often marked by extreme cruelty and are frequently followed by police inaction or alleged bias, leaving victims and their families feeling helpless and unsafe.

Simultaneously, states like Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh are witnessing rampant public discrimination. Dalits in these regions face social boycotts and are often denied basic rights, such as access to public water sources or the right to perform last rites at communal cremation grounds.

Incidents of Dalit grooms being attacked for riding a horse during their wedding processions have become distressingly common, highlighting the deep-seated feudal and casteist mind-sets that persist. This pervasive atmosphere of fear and oppression underscores a systemic failure to protect the country’s most vulnerable citizens, with violence and humiliation being used as tools to enforce archaic social hierarchies. The recurring nature of these crimes across these states points to a crisis that transcends isolated events, indicating a significant challenge to the rule of law and the constitutional promise of equality and security.

Uttar Pradesh

Rampur: Deaf and mute Dalit girl raped, private parts brutally injured, April 15

On April 15, 2025, a horrifying act of brutality unfolded in Uttar Pradesh’s Rampur district, where an 11-year-old Dalit girl was assaulted so violently by 24-year-old Dan Singh that she remained unconscious for three days. She is currently receiving intensive medical care at Lala Lajpat Rai Medical College in Meerut.

The ordeal began on the evening of April 15, when the young girl, from the jurisdiction of Saifni police station, vanished after going to a field with her sister. A frantic all-night search by her family ended in tragedy on the morning of April 16, when she was discovered senseless in a field. Her body was covered in bite marks, and she was suffering from severe bleeding from her private parts. Rushed to a local government hospital, her condition necessitated a referral for more specialised treatment.

Police utilised CCTV evidence to apprehend Dan Singh, a resident of the same village, who sustained a leg injury during a police encounter. A medical professional on the case remarked, “The girl’s clothes were stained with blood. We completed the medico-legal examination and referred her to a higher centre. She was terrified and unable to explain anything. It is one of the most horrific sexual crimes I have seen.”

Child’s screams drowned out by threshing machine noise

Speaking to Dainik Bhaskar, the victim’s uncle shared his belief that the search until midnight was fruitless because the perpetrator had likely assaulted her elsewhere for the entire night before leaving her in the field.

He explained that wheat threshing operations were active in adjacent fields that night, and he speculates that the loud noise from the machinery would have muffled any screams for help. The uncle believes the attacker deliberately exploited this circumstance, rendering his crime utterly unforgivable.

Three police officers deployed for security

Since her admission on April 16, the victim has been under constant watch in the labour room of LLRM Medical College in Meerut. A security detail of three Rampur police officers is present around the clock, with visitation restricted to immediate family members. Her mother and uncle are serving as her main caregivers. The girl’s mother is reported to be in a state of inconsolable grief, finding it unbearable to witness the brutal marks of the assault on her daughter.

LOP Rahul Gandhi and Nagina MP Azad slammed the UP Government

The incident drew sharp criticism from the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, who questioned, “How long will daughters continue to be victims of brutality?” He took to X to condemn the Uttar Pradesh government, writing, “The brutality and cruelty against an 11-year-old Dalit girl in Rampur, Uttar Pradesh, is extremely shameful and shocking. Such continuous crimes in UP clearly prove that Dalits, and especially daughters, are completely unsafe under the BJP government.”

उत्तर प्रदेश के रामपुर में 11 वर्षीय दलित बेटी के साथ हुई दरिंदगी और क्रूरता बेहद शर्मनाक और झकझोरने वाली है।

UP में लगातार ऐसे अपराध साफ़ तौर पर साबित करते हैं कि BJP सरकार में दलित, और विशेष रूप से बेटियां, पूरी तरह असुरक्षित हैं।

ये BJP की दलित और महिला विरोधी मानसिकता का…

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) April 17, 2025

He further stated, “It is a result of BJP’s anti-Dalit and anti-women mind-set that criminals are fearless of law and order, and victims are helpless. After all, how long will the daughters of Uttar Pradesh continue to be victims of such brutality? There is a direct demand from the administration: take strict action against the perpetrator and ensure justice for the victim and her family as soon as possible.”

In a similar vein, Nagina MP Chandrashekhar Azad posted on X: “In Rampur district, a missing 10-year-old mentally challenged Dalit girl was found naked and unconscious in a field the next morning. There are bite marks on every part of her body. Her private parts are bleeding profusely.”

Calling the incident “a disgrace to humanity and proof of lawlessness in the state,” he prayed for the child’s recovery. He demanded, “I demand from the UP government that the culprits be arrested promptly. The case should be tried under strict sections of POCSO and the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act. The trial should be held in a fast-track court. The victim child should receive the best treatment. The family should be provided permanent government protection.”

Dalit minor suffers double gang rape, police apathy, and arson in Unnao

Another shocking case has emerged from Uttar Pradesh where a Dalit minor girl was allegedly gang-raped twice by the same individuals within 44 days, followed by a retaliatory arson attack on her home. The first horrific incident occurred on December 31, 2021, when five men allegedly assaulted her. Despite the gravity of the crime, the Uttar Pradesh Police reportedly delayed registering a First Information Report (FIR) for over a year, only doing so in May 2023 after the victim’s family approached the POCSO court in Unnao.

Lingering injustice and further attacks

Compounding the initial injustice, the victim delivered a child in September 2022, conceived from the first alleged gang rape. The case gained renewed attention in April 2023 when one of the accused, out on bail, allegedly set fire to the minor’s house in Laad Kheda village. This act of retaliation resulted in severe burn injuries to her infant son and three-year-old sister, highlighting the perilous situation faced by the family.

Critics point to the police’s alleged failure to act on crucial evidence, including medical reports confirming pregnancy that pre-dated the second rape, and their inability to ensure the family’s safety even after the initial incidents. The victim’s lawyer highlighted the systemic failures, including issues with bail for the accused and insufficient protection for the vulnerable family.

Dalit girl gang-raped on way to school in UP’s Sultanpur, May 16

On May 16, another disturbing incident was reported from Sultanpur, where a 14-year-old Dalit girl was allegedly gang-raped by three youths, one a minor, as she headed to school on May 16, 2025. Police stated the crime occurred Friday morning when the Class X student was offered a ride by the 15-year-old accused. Instead of taking her to school, he and two accomplices, Pradeep (18) and Saurabh (18), took her to a room where she was bound, gagged, and raped, The Hindu reported.

After she regained consciousness an hour later, she called for help and informed her aunt. A case was registered under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the POCSO Act, and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Police subsequently arrested two accused and detained the minor.

TMC criticised UP CM Adityanath, alleges systemic failure

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) has fiercely condemned Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, calling his administration an “UNMITIGATED DISASTER” for the state. This censure followed the gang rape of a 15-year-old Dalit girl in Sultanpur. The TMC declared that “Crimes against women have taken on EPIDEMIC PROPORTIONS” and accused the Uttar Pradesh Police of inaction that essentially provides criminals with a “free pass.”

CM @myogiadityanath has been an UNMITIGATED DISASTER for Uttar Pradesh. A 15-year-old Dalit girl was gang-raped on her way to school in Sultanpur.

Crimes against women have taken on EPIDEMIC PROPORTIONS, while @Uppolice looks the other way, effectively giving criminals a free… pic.twitter.com/B7NXoGfYr8

— All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) May 18, 2025

The party also drew attention to the apparent silence from the ‘Beti Bachao’ campaign, the National Commission for Women (NCW India), and what it termed the ‘Godi Media’, suggesting a widespread systemic breakdown in protecting women from marginalised communities.

Moradabad, UP: 12-year-old Dalit girl gang raped, filmed by 5 schoolboys, May 8

The spate of sexual violence continued in Moradabad, where five schoolboys allegedly gang-raped a 12-year-old Dalit girl in a school principal’s office after giving her a drugged beverage. The assault, which happened on May 8, 2025 was recorded on video, and the perpetrators threatened the victim to ensure her silence before sharing the clip online. Following an FIR from the survivor’s mother, all five accused were arrested.

यूपी में स्कूल प्रिंसिपल के ऑफिसमें 12 साल की दलित बच्ची से 5 स्कूली छात्रों ने किया गैंगरेप, घटना मुरादाबाद की है…#DalitTimes | #Dalitlivesmatter | #UttarPradesh pic.twitter.com/oEsyYuJCE7

— Dalit Times | दलित टाइम्स (@DalitTime) May 23, 2025

The accused, who are also Dalits and aged between 12 and 15, were neighbours of the girl. The mother learned of the assault after a neighbour showed her the video.

She told police her daughter had seemed depressed. When confronted with the video, the girl recounted how the boys lured her to a school, drugged her, and then assaulted her, as reported by TOI

SSP Satpal Antil told TOI that a case had been filed and the minor accused would be presented before the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB).

Similarly, Moradabad Police issued a statement on X (formerly Twitter) regarding the case. They confirmed that an FIR has been officially registered at the Civil Lines Police Station and five minor accused individuals have been taken into police custody and presented before court (JJB).

प्रकरण के संबंध में थाना सिविल लाइन्स पर सुसंगत धाराओं में मुकदमा पंजीकृत है,05 नाबालिग आरोपियों को पुलिस अभिरक्षा में लेकर माननीय न्यायालय के समक्ष भेजा जा चुका है।

— MORADABAD POLICE (@moradabadpolice) May 23, 2025

Bulandshahr, UP: 14-year-old Dalit girl raped for 7 months, April 28

A case of prolonged sexual abuse and official negligence emerged from Bulandshahr, where a station house officer was moved to police lines and a sub-inspector was suspended. This action came after they had turned away the parents of a 14-year-old Dalit girl who had been raped for months by a 50-year-old villager and was subsequently discovered to be pregnant.

The situation surfaced on April 28 when the girl’s pregnancy was confirmed at a hospital. She then disclosed that a local man had been raping her for seven months, threatening her family to maintain her silence, the TOI reported.

Her family alleged that when they approached the local police station, they were dismissed and pressured into signing an affidavit. After the family escalated the matter to Bulandshahr SSP Dinesh Kumar Singh, an investigation was initiated, leading to the officers’ suspension and the registration of an FIR.

UP, Mainpuri: Dalit woman raped at gunpoint in front of 4-year-old son, April 17, 2025

Further highlighting the vulnerability of Dalit women, a 40-year-old from Mainpuri district was allegedly raped at gunpoint before her four-year-old son on April 17, as per a report by the Times of India.

The crime took place after the woman sought a Rs. 20,000 loan from a man of another caste.

A 40-year-old #Dalit woman was allegedly raped at gunpoint in front of her four-year-old son in #UttarPradesh‘s Mainpuri district, police said.

Know more https://t.co/hDIRHPMZPD pic.twitter.com/sLhGkLatel

— The Times Of India (@timesofindia) April 22, 2025

An FIR has been lodged, and the investigation is in progress. SHO Anuj Kumar informed TOI that a case for rape under the BNS and the SC/ST Act has been registered. The victim’s complaint details how the accused offered her a loan, convinced her to ride on his motorcycle with her son, and then took them to a secluded area where he assaulted her, threatening to shoot her child if she resisted.

Kaushambhi, UP: 16-year-dalit minor girl gang raped, April 24

From Kaushambi district came another report of the alleged gang rape of a Dalit minor. Police confirmed on Tuesday that a case has been filed against three young men based on a complaint from the victim’s father.

According to Additional Superintendent of Police Rajesh Singh, a missing person report for the 16-year-old was initially filed on April 24. However, on April 27, her father submitted an application alleging that his daughter had been gang-raped and threatened by Shailendra Saroj (alias Zahid), his friend Sheru (alias Nazar Ahmed), and an accomplice, NDTV reported.

Mr. Singh confirmed that a case has been registered under the BNS, POCSO Act, and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, and two police teams have been assigned to apprehend the suspects.

Rampur, UP: 12-year-old Dalit girl kidnapped from home, raped by neighbour, April 15 onwards

Echoing the horror from Rampur, a similar crime was reported from Agra’s Kheragarh area. A 12-year-old Dalit girl was allegedly abducted from her home as she slept and subsequently raped by a neighbour in the early hours of the next day i.e. April 21, 2025. Police stated the suspect, a local sweets vendor, entered the girl’s home, carried her to a secluded area, and assaulted her.

The girl courageously returned home to inform her father, a daily wage worker, who promptly reported the crime. An FIR was filed under Section 64(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for rape, alongside provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and the POCSO Act, as reported by the Observer Post.

CCTV footage was instrumental in identifying the accused.

A police officer told the media, “Bloodstains were found at the crime scene. The accused, who lives nearby, fled with help from his community members. Further probe is underway.”

Etah, UP: 10-year-old boy brutally murdered, eyes gouged out, head crushed, May 14, 2025

Violence against Dalits has not been limited to sexual assault, as a gruesome murder of a 10-year-old boy in Etah sent shockwaves through the district. As per a report in Dainik Bhaskar, Anuj was with two friends when a man emerged from a cornfield and brutally attacked him with a knife on May 14, 2025 (Wednesday). His friends, who witnessed the horror, recounted how the attacker repeatedly stabbed Anuj before gouging out his eyes, mutilating his genitals, and crushing his head with a stone.

#Horrific A 10-year-old minor Dalit boy was brutally murdered, his eyes were gouged out and genitals were chopped off, this tragic incident took place in Etah, Uttar Pradesh. Atrocities on Dalits have become common in India…#DalitLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/AIbbX6DyQz

— The Dalit Voice (@ambedkariteIND) May 16, 2025

Anuj died from his injuries before reaching the hospital. His father alleged police inaction and pressure to conduct the funeral quickly. The family suspects the caretaker of a nearby orchard, who they claim has a history of violence. The post-mortem examination confirmed 13 severe injuries. Local authorities have assured a swift investigation, as reported by Dainik Bhaskar.

BJP leader accused of abusing, threatening Dalit research scholar; case filed, May 21

In a case of alleged political intimidation, a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader has been accused of verbally abusing and threatening to kill a Scheduled Caste research scholar from Lucknow University. Police reported on Tuesday that an FIR has been filed. The complaint was lodged by Deepak Kanojia, who alleged that BJP leader Alok Singh called him on May 21, 2025 used caste-based slurs, and made death threats, as reported by Mooknayak

According to the complaint, Singh dared Kanojia to record the call, stating his lack of fear of the state’s law enforcement. Kanojia also claimed a history of political dispute and harassment by Singh, which he believes contributed to his father’s death from a heart attack.

Superintendent of Police Omveer Singh confirmed that a case has been registered against Alok Singh under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

Dalit groom beaten, forced off horse in Agra; wedding guests injured, groom walks to venue, April 16, 2025

Caste-based violence during wedding celebrations continued with an incident in Agra on April 16, where a Dalit groom’s procession was attacked by a group of dominant caste men wielding sticks, rods, and swords. The conflict on Wednesday night was reportedly ignited by the playing of DJ music.

उत्तर प्रदेश में फिर दलित दुल्हें पर बरसा जातिवादियों का कहर, आगरा में दलित दुल्हें की बारत पर ठाकुरों ने लाठी डंडों से किया हमला, दुल्हे को बुरी तरह पीटा…@Uppolice | @agrapolice | #DalitLivesMatter | #Video pic.twitter.com/5g2i7UcJoO

— Dalit Times | दलित टाइम्स (@DalitTime) April 17, 2025

The assailants allegedly pulled the groom from his horse, beat him, and stole his gold chain. Several wedding guests who tried to intervene were also injured. The attackers, identified by the bride’s family as members of the Thakur community, allegedly continued their assault even after police arrived. A case has been filed against 20 individuals.

The incident was condemned by Former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and BSP Chief Mayawati, who posted on X: “The recent incident of violence against a Dalit wedding procession by casteist and feudal elements in Agra…is extremely worrying.” Bhim Army activists are now demanding the immediate arrest of those responsible.

Minor Dalit girl brutally thrashed on moving bus for opposing molestation in Lakhimpur Kheri

A public display of brutality occurred in Lakhimpur Kheri when a 16-year-old Dalit girl was mercilessly beaten on a moving bus after she resisted harassment from a group of men. The bus driver and conductor were also assaulted when they attempted to help her. A video of the assault, showing the girl being slapped and her hair being pulled, quickly went viral. The incident took place in the Padhua police station area, where, shockingly, about 50 other passengers reportedly witnessed the attack but did not intervene.

The Uttar Pradesh Congress shared the video and criticised the government on May 2, 2025.

लखीमपुर खीरी में चलती बस में मनचलों ने दलित नाबालिग लड़की के साथ छेड़छाड़ की, जब उसने विरोध किया तो उसे बेरहमी से पीटा।

मनचलों के हौसले इतने बुलंद थे कि बीच बचाव करने आए ड्राइवर और कंडक्टर को भी नहीं बख़्शा और उन्हें भी बुरी तरह पीटा।

बाबा जी के शासन में हर दिन सत्ता संरक्षित… pic.twitter.com/dsGfUDlGF3

— UP Congress (@INCUttarPradesh) May 2, 2025

In response, the Lakhimpur Kheri Police issued a statement confirming that a case has been registered and the named accused have been arrested.

प्रकरण के सम्बन्ध मे थाना पढुआ पर समुचित धाराओं मे अभियोग पंजीकृत है l नामजद आरोपियो की गिरफ़्तारी कर चालान किया जा चुका है l अग्रिम विधिक कार्यवाही प्रचलित है।

— KHERI POLICE (@kheripolice) May 2, 2025

Dalit women were brutally beaten by male police officers, 5 cops removed from their posts, May 11

An instance of alleged police brutality against Dalit women was reported from Meerut on May 11, where five policemen were taken off duty after videos surfaced showing them assaulting the women during a land dispute. The incident on Sunday afternoon in the Incholi area sparked public outrage and protests from political organisations.

#Horrific Dalit women were brutally beaten by male police officers, incident is from Meerut, Uttar Pradesh.#DalitLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/tXEdjej2f0

— The Dalit Voice (@ambedkariteIND) May 10, 2025

The video footage shows a police team entering a residence and striking the women with sticks. One of the victims, Kavita Devi, stated, “police stormed into our home and beat us brutally with sticks.”

As per a report in the TOI, the incident led to demonstrations by groups like the Bhim Army Sena. Meerut SSP Dr. Vipin Tada confirmed that five policemen, including the local SHO, were moved to police lines pending a departmental inquiry.

Dalit couple brutally attacked in Bhadohi: abused, dragged by hair, clothes torn; 6 booked, May 23, 2025

In Bhadohi, a dispute over cattle led to a violent assault on a Dalit couple on Friday (May 23) morning. The farmer and his wife were beaten and subjected to caste-based insults in Anaich village. Police have since booked six individuals in connection with the attack.

जातिसूचक गालियां, बाल पकड़ कर घसीटा, कपड़े फाड़ने की कोशिश — भदोही में दलित दंपति पर कहर! पुलिस ने 6 पर दर्ज किया केस

रिपोर्ट- @EditorRajan #DalitLivesMatter #bhadohi #UttarPradeshhttps://t.co/HxCfIKebSe

— The Mooknayak (@The_Mooknayak) May 26, 2025

The conflict began when the complainant, Deepak Kumar Pasi, a landless Dalit farmer, complained that his landlord’s cattle had destroyed his crops. The landlord, Rajaram Yadav, allegedly became enraged, hurled casteist slurs, and, with his associates, assaulted Deepak with sticks and iron rods, Mooknayak reported.

The complaint further alleges that Deepak’s wife, Sumitra, was dragged by her hair and her clothes were torn. The couple sustained serious injuries requiring hospitalisation.

19-year-old Dalit student brutally murdered in Saharanpur; two accused arrested, May 25, 2025

A fatal shooting outside a college in Saharanpur claimed the life of a young Dalit student on May 25, 2025 (Sunday). Ashutosh Singh, a 19-year-old B. Pharma student, was attacked by a group of masked assailants with sticks and rods. When other students tried to help, one of the attackers shot Ashutosh in the face. He died while being transported to the hospital, as per a report in Mooknayak.

Following protests by the Bhim Army and other groups, police launched an investigation. Saharanpur SSP Rohit Singh Sajwan indicated the attack was motivated by personal enmity. After a police encounter, two suspects, Udit Road and Ayush Kumar, were arrested. An FIR has been registered for murder and under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

Casteist slur found on wall at medical college, targets SC community, May 28, 2025

An act of caste-based harassment was reported from a medical college where the derogatory slur, “Chamar teri ma,” was found spray-painted on a wall. The graffiti, allegedly written by two students from the MBBS Batch of 2023, Shivam Chaudhary and Keshav Goel, specifically targets the Scheduled Caste (SC) community.

#Casteism In AIIMS Raebareli
Uttar Pradesh,

A derogatory and casteist slur “Chamar teri ma” was written on the wall using blue-colored spray paint, by shivam chaudhary and keshav goel from mbbs batch 2023.

Directly targeting the Scheduled Caste (SC) community. This act is… pic.twitter.com/MRMSEGhEbL

— The Dalit Voice (@ambedkariteIND) May 28, 2025

Such an act represents a severe violation of human dignity and contravenes the legal and constitutional protections afforded to SC/ST students.

Over the incident, Raebareli Police responded on X that, “The Station House Officer (SHO) of Bhadokhar has been directed to take necessary action.”

थानाध्यक्ष भदोखर को आवश्यक कार्रवाई हेतु निर्देशित किया गया है ।

— Raebareli Police (@raebarelipolice) May 28, 2025

A Dalit minor girl studying in 8th class was kidnapped and gang-raped for 3 days, June 14, 2025

From Fatehpur, a deeply tragic case emerged involving an 8th-grade Dalit minor girl who was reportedly kidnapped and then subjected to a brutal three-day gang rape. Her ordeal concluded when she was left, severely injured, at a hospital, where she tragically succumbed to her injuries.

Her grieving family members maintain that her life might have been saved if the local police had acted with greater urgency and diligence.

Casteist mob attacks Dalit family at wedding hall in UP, May 30, 2025

Wedding celebrations for a Dalit family in Rasra, Uttar Pradesh, turned violent when a mob of men attacked them with sticks and rods on Friday night. The assailants allegedly shouted caste-based insults, expressing anger that a Dalit family was using a marriage hall.

According to the Observer Post, the brother of one of the injured men filed a police report, stating, “We were celebrating happily when suddenly a group of men stormed in and shouted, ‘How can Dalits hold a wedding in a hall?’ Then they started beating everyone.” The attack at the Swayamvar Marriage Hall left two people hospitalised. Rasra Police have registered a case, which includes charges under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

Dalit groom attacked over car reversing in wedding & robbed in Aligarh, May 28, 2025

Another wedding-related assault occurred in Aligarh on May 28, when a Dalit groom was reportedly attacked and robbed. The incident took place in Atrauli as the groom’s procession arrived in Kazmabad village. The groom, Karan, explained that as his driver was backing up their car, a group of 20-25 men from the Lodhi Rajput community assaulted them.

उत्तर प्रदेश : अलीगढ़ में दलित दुल्हे की बारात चढ़ने से रोकी, मारपीट की, पीड़ित का आरोप, पुलिस ने नहीं लिखी लूट की FIR, SC, ST एक्ट भी नहीं लगाया. वीडियो सुनिए… @Uppolice | @aligarhpolice pic.twitter.com/In6UmRQsWK

— Dalit Times | दलित टाइम्स (@DalitTime) May 31, 2025

They allegedly stole the groom’s gold chain, a cash garland, and Rs. 50,000 from his pocket while preventing the procession from continuing. According to BSP District President Suresh Gautam, women in the vehicle were also harassed, and the Station House Officer on scene allegedly failed to intervene. Police later ensured the wedding ceremony was completed and have registered a case based on the family’s formal complaint.

Bihar

Dalit woman dragged by hair during police raid, casteist slurs hurled, May 18

In Bhagalpur district, a police raid in the Nathnagar Pasi Tola area sparked massive local outrage after a Dalit woman was allegedly dragged by her hair by officers. The raid was conducted without the presence of any female police personnel. The incident occurred on May 18, when 52-year-old Jyothi Bharti was with her sick mother. Police officers allegedly entered the home and began shouting casteist slurs.

When Jyothi asked them to stop, the officers reportedly retorted, “How dare people from a lower caste question us?” They returned an hour later, dragged Jyothi to the police station by her hair, and tore her clothes, holding her there overnight. Her sister, Rajni, told the media that police have since filed an attempted murder case against Jyothi. “My sister is still in police custody.

Police have also arrested 15-20 other people from the Dalit community,” Rajni said, as reported by the Siasat.

Villagers alleged the officers were from the Bhumihar caste and had assaulted residents without provocation.

Rajasthan

Dalit youth in Rajasthan sexually assaulted, beaten, urinated on; accused used caste slurs, April 8

In Rajasthan’s Sikar district, a young Dalit man was reportedly subjected to a humiliating assault where he was beaten, sexually abused, and urinated upon by two men who also used caste-based slurs. The perpetrators threatened to release a video of the attack if he went to the police. The crime, which took place on April 8, was not reported until April 16. A case has since been registered under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

According to the Observer Post, the survivor stated in his complaint, “They were drunk. They hit me with a bottle, urinated on me, and used casteist abuses.”

The incident has ignited a political controversy, with former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot noting that the victim’s trauma was so profound he could not file a complaint for eight days.

Dalit Youth Beaten for Drinking Water from Grocery Shop Pot in Rajasthan’s Nagaur, June 1, 2025

A Dalit youth named Omprakash Meghwal was allegedly physically assaulted and verbally abused with casteist slurs in Kantia village, Nagaur district. The confrontation happened after he drank water from a pot that was placed outside a grocery store on June 1, 2025 (Sunday evening). The shop owner, Kaluram Jat, and two others reportedly demanded his name and caste.

Upon learning he was from a Scheduled Caste, they allegedly beat him and threatened him. Even after Omprakash tried to pacify them by cleaning the pot, the abuse continued, forcing him to flee. Later that night, the accused allegedly drove around the area, intimidating residents.

According to the Observer Post, a police complaint was filed the next day, and the three suspects were eventually detained. Nagaur Superintendent of Police Narayan Togas confirmed that the accused have been booked under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

Dalit woman sarpanch, husband attacked over MNREGA Work, June 8

A Dalit woman sarpanch and her husband were assaulted with an axe on June 8 in Kharesh village, Didwana district. The couple was overseeing a road construction project under the MNREGA scheme at the time of the attack.

Dalit Woman Sarpanch, Husband Attacked With Axe Over MNREGA Road Work in Rajasthan; Caste Slurs Hurled

Read:https://t.co/ZNMjbm0AYD

— The Observer Post (@TheObserverPost) June 11, 2025

The accused, Bhanwar Singh, allegedly attacked them because he believed the construction was encroaching on his property. Didwana SP Hanuman Prasad stated, “The issue was a land dispute.” Singh reportedly used casteist slurs and pursued the couple with an axe. A video captured several women attempting to disarm him. The SP confirmed the couple was not seriously injured and a case has been registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Bhanwar Singh remains at large.

Dalit nurse dies by suicide after assault and alleged police indifference in Rajasthan, May 2, 2025

A 26-year-old Dalit nurse took her own life on May 2, 2025 after she was brutally assaulted, molested, and subjected to caste-based humiliation by her upper-caste neighbours in Jodhpur district of Rajasthan. Her suicide note expressed her despair, stating she could no longer live with “casteism and people’s filthy gazes.” The incident, which began on April 30 over a minor water dispute, escalated into a targeted attack where she was reportedly clawed on her chest and face, an act of deliberate humiliation, the Observer Post reported

The family claims that despite the assault, they were made to wait for over nine hours at the local police station, where only minor charges were filed, allowing the accused to be released immediately. Overcome with hopelessness, the victim hanged herself on May 2. Her death prompted widespread protests in Jodhpur, eventually pressuring the police to register a case of abetment to suicide against four individuals.

Madhya Pradesh

Dalit groom’s procession stoned in Tikamgarh: woman attacks groom on horse, April 25, 2025

An act of caste-based aggression marred a wedding in Mokhara village, Tikamgarh district, where a Dalit groom’s pro        cession was pelted with stones. The event took place within the Baragaon police station area during the pre-wedding rituals for Jitendra Ahirwar. As Jitendra was riding a mare through the village for a traditional ceremony, a woman began throwing stones at him.

राजस्थान के टीकमगढ़ में दलित दूल्हे जितेंद्र अहिरवार की बारात को रोक कर महिला ने किया पत्थरों से हमला…

◆ महिला के घर के सामने से निकल रही थी दलित दूल्हे की बारात…बारात में शामिल दलित महिलाएं हाथ जोड़कर करती रहीं मना, मामले में 3 पर FIR दर्ज, महिला गिरफ्तार …. pic.twitter.com/lyICpBcuCZ

— Dalit Times | दलित टाइम्स (@DalitTime) April 26, 2025

The incident was captured on video by onlookers. Following the disruption, Jitendra and his family lodged a formal complaint with the Baragaon police. Station House Officer Narendra Verma confirmed that a case has been registered against three individuals: Bhan Kunwar Parmar for throwing stones, and her relatives, Drig Pal and Surya Pal, for assaulting the groom’s family. The woman has been taken into custody, while a search is on for the other two accused.

Dalit man denied cremation in Sheopur; family protests with body on road, April 28, 2025

A disturbing incident of caste discrimination unfolded in Leelda village, Sheopur district, where a Dalit family was prevented from performing the last rites for a family member. The body of Jagdish Jatav, who had died in an accident, was brought to his village, but members of the Rawat community blocked his cremation.

The Jatav community’s usual cremation ground had been acquired for a railway line. When they attempted to use a government-allotted plot for the funeral, they were met with resistance.

Reported the Mooknayak, Rawat women declared, “We will not allow bodies to be cremated in our fields.” In response, the enraged Jatav community blocked a major road with the body, which led to stone-pelting. This act is a punishable offense under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The incident was sharply condemned by Congress leaders, who demanded strict action.

Tribal woman raped, tortured with iron rod, bleeds to death before help arrives, May 24, 2025

In a case of extreme brutality, a 45-year-old tribal woman died in Madhya Pradesh’s Khandwa district after being raped and tortured by two men. Police have arrested two suspects who were last seen with the victim. The savage nature of the assault, which occurred in a village about 170km from Indore, has drawn comparisons to the 2012 Nirbhaya gang rape.

#Horrific Tribal woman was gang-raped and then her intestines were pulled out by inserting hands in her rectum, incident happened in Khandwa city of Madhya Pradesh. pic.twitter.com/uAkSVRZi0d

— The Dalit Voice (@ambedkariteIND) June 4, 2025

The woman had returned from a wedding with one of the suspects. Investigators believe she went to the suspect’s house, where the assault took place. A family member of the suspect found the victim bleeding and in pain in the courtyard. Instead of being taken to a doctor, she was taken to her own home nearby, where she succumbed to her injuries, reported the Times of India.

Dalit man’s cremation halted in MP’s Sheopur, sparks caste clashes, April 28

A similar incident of a cremation being obstructed occurred on April 28 in Leelda village, where an upper-caste group allegedly blocked the cremation of a Dalit man on government land. This led to stone-pelting and a road blockade. The deceased’s family had attempted to use a plot they claim was designated for cremations after their original ground was acquired for a railway project. However, the land is reportedly encroached upon by some upper-caste residents.

An argument escalated into violence, and in protest, the Dalit community placed the body on the main road. Senior officials intervened to manage the tense situation, which underscores the persistent caste discrimination and land disputes in the area, reported the Observer Post.

Dalit youth murdered over ration dispute in MP; accused absconding, June 9, 2025

A dispute at a government ration shop in Bilhari village of Chhatarpur district turned fatal when a 19-year-old Dalit youth, Pankaj Prajapati, was shot and killed in broad daylight. His brother was also injured in the altercation, which reportedly stemmed from an argument over the distribution of ration supplies. One of the accused opened fire, and Pankaj died from his injuries while being transported for medical care.

Three individuals have been booked for the crime under the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita, the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, and the Arms Act. All accused are currently on the run. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi condemned the murder, linking it to systemic caste oppression and alleging official delays in the investigation.

Gujarat

Dalit activist alleges casteist abuse on Instagram after protest in Amreli, May 18, 2025

A Dalit social activist, Naresh Vala, has lodged a police complaint in Amreli, stating he was subjected to casteist abuse on Instagram post on April 25. The harassment allegedly began after he participated in a protest concerning the movement of heavy vehicles for a wind turbine project through village roads.

Vala’s complaint with the Amreli cybercrime police identifies the Instagram user as Raol Vanrajsinh Chavda, who is now facing charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the IT Act, and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The issue started in December after Vala discussed villagers’ concerns on Facebook Live, after which he started receiving abusive and caste-based insults on his Instagram account.

Dalit man found dead, partially burnt and cross-dressed, in Patan; murder suspected, May 27, 2025

The body of a 60-year-old Dalit man, Harji Solanki, was found under highly suspicious circumstances near a pond in Jakhotara village. Police sources indicated the body was partially burned and was oddly attired in women’s clothing, including a ghaghra and anklets.

Vadgam MLA Jignesh Mevani confirmed the victim’s identity as a Dalit and voiced serious concern over the state of the body. The initial police assessment suggests murder. The Patan Local Crime Branch has started an investigation, and the body has been sent for a post-mortem to determine the cause of death and shed light on the bizarre circumstances.

Dalit man dies after brutal assault in Gujarat over alleged casteist “Beta” remark; nine arrested, May 16

A 20-year-old Dalit man, Nilesh Rathod, died from his injuries six days after being brutally assaulted. The attack allegedly occurred because he addressed a teenager from another caste as “beta” (a term for son) at a shop on May 16. The initial confrontation at a bhajiya stall in Jarakhia village escalated when Rathod’s uncle confronted the shop owner, leading to a mob attack on the family with sticks and sickles while shouting casteist slurs.

Nine of the eleven individuals allegedly involved have now been arrested and face charges including murder under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. In response, Congress MLA Jignesh Mevani protested with Rathod’s family, denouncing the “deeply rooted casteism” in Gujarat and demanding government compensation for the victim’s family.

गुजरात के अमरेली जिले के लाठी तहसील के जरखिया गांव का दलित युवान नीलेश अपने 3 साथियों के साथ एक दुकान पर नमकीन का पैकेट खरीदने गया था।

दुकान पर बैठे छोटे बच्चे का हाथ पैकेट तक पहुंच नहीं रहा था तो दलित युवकों ने कहा “बेटा, हम खुद पैकेट उतार ले क्या?”

यह सुनते ही दुकान मालिक… pic.twitter.com/d1NS1uE5fE

— Jignesh Mevani (@jigneshmevani80) May 23, 2025

Himachal Pradesh

Dalits are not allowed to enter the temples or touch the deity in Himachal Pradesh, May 13

Allegations of severe caste-based discrimination have surfaced from the Parashar Rishi Mandi in Himachal Pradesh, following the emergence of a recent video. The footage indicates that Dalits are systematically prevented from entering the temple and are forbidden from touching the deity, confining their worship to areas outside the main sanctum.

#Untouchability This video is of Parashar Rishi Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, where Dalits are not allowed to enter the temples or touch the deity, they are stopped outside, even the offering money is taken from a distance, it is a common practice in Himachal Pradesh… #Casteism pic.twitter.com/W9NdcA9apC

— The Dalit Voice (@ambedkariteIND) May 13, 2025

It is also alleged that their offerings are collected from a distance, reinforcing a rigid social hierarchy. This visual documentation of untouchability in a religious space has ignited outrage and highlighted the ongoing struggles of marginalised communities to exercise their right to worship with dignity in the region.

Karnataka

Dalit youth barred from temple entry in Karnataka; case registered amid tensions, May 10, 2025

A 26-year-old Dalit youth was allegedly denied entry into the Rama Anjaneya temple in Kavandala village on Saturday (May 10, 2025), an incident that has led to a police case and heightened caste tensions. The conflict began when Swaminath tried to enter the temple to pray.

He was reportedly blocked by two individuals from the Vokkaliga community, who allegedly informed him that his community “traditionally does not enter the temple and should not do so even now.”

A video of the ensuing argument, where Swaminath questioned the denial of his constitutional rights, went viral. After initially withdrawing his police complaint under village pressure following a peace meeting, he re-filed it on Monday. A case has now been registered against the two accused under the Scheduled Castes and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

Dalit woman attacked and verbally abused over payment dispute, CCTV footage viral, June 10

A disagreement over a Rs. 500 note escalated into a casteist assault on a Dalit woman at a medical shop in Udupi district. The victim, Lakshmi, was allegedly attacked and verbally abused by a customer named Yasmeen.

According to the Mooknayak, the incident was captured on CCTV, showing Yasmeen becoming enraged when Lakshmi suggested a digital payment because she lacked change. The altercation turned physical, with Yasmeen allegedly using casteist slurs.

कर्नाटक में दलित महिला पर हमला, ग्राहक ने की जातिसूचक गालियों की बौछार – सीसीटीवी फुटेज वायरल

रिपोर्ट- @EditorRajan #DalitLivesMatter #karnatakahttps://t.co/IXvYJbkTaZ

— The Mooknayak (@The_Mooknayak) June 10, 2025

The viral footage has caused widespread anger. Lakshmi was hospitalised with injuries. Udupi District SP Hariram Shankar has assured that strict legal action will be taken. Dalit organisations are demanding stringent punishment under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

Andhra Pradesh

Dalit engineering student kidnapped, tortured, and forced to drink urine in Tirupati, May 16, 2025

A shocking case of abduction and torture involving a Dalit engineering student in Tirupati has reverberated across Andhra Pradesh.

The victim, 22-year-old A. James, a final-year B.Tech student, was allegedly kidnapped along with his friend. In a subsequent video statement, James described his harrowing experience. “They brutally beat me for three to four days,” he recounted, alleging that he was targeted with casteist slurs and forced to drink urine. “They said – ‘How dare you, being from an SC caste, be so courageous?’ I was beaten badly. I want justice,” he stated, as per a report in the Mooknayak

According to police, the accused held James and his friend captive in a hotel room, assaulting them with belts and iron rods. The victims eventually escaped. Tiruchanur police have registered a case for kidnapping, grievous hurt, and caste-based assault under the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita. Former Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy condemned the incident, blaming the state’s deteriorating law and order.

3-year-old Dalit girl raped, murdered in Kadapa district; accused arrested, May 23, 2025

A horrifying crime has come to light from Kadapa district, where a 3-year-old Dalit girl was allegedly raped and then murdered by a 25-year-old Muslim man, Rahmatullah, on Friday, May 23, 2025. District police confirmed the incident on Saturday.

Additional Superintendent of Police Prakash Babu identified the accused as a resident of Kambaladinne village. The victim’s parents were visiting the village for a relative’s wedding. Police stated that the accused lured the child away with sweets while she was playing, then led her behind the wedding hall where he allegedly raped and strangled her. Rahmatullah is in police custody and has been charged under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and the POCSO Act.

Dalit minor raped by 13 Youths in Satya Sai District, pregnancy reveals horrifying ordeal, June 5, 2025

In another case of extreme sexual violence, a Class 9 Dalit girl’s pregnancy in Edugurralapalli village revealed she had been repeatedly assaulted by her boyfriend and 12 other youths. The truth emerged when her parents took her for treatment for frequent illness and an RMP discovered she was six months pregnant.

The minor girl told Ramagiri police that her boyfriend, Abhishek, had initiated the assaults. He later shared details with a friend, who also raped her and recorded the act. The video was then used to blackmail her as 11 other youths sexually assaulted her.

#Horrific In Andhra Pradesh, a Dalit minor girl was raped multiple times by 13 people, leaving her pregnant…#DalitLivesMatter #DalitMinorGirl pic.twitter.com/czPQG6P4Uq

— The Dalit Voice (@ambedkariteIND) June 9, 2025

Despite the video circulating, some community elders reportedly attempted to force a monetary settlement. Satya Sai SP P.V. Rathna intervened to ensure a case was registered. Cases have been filed under the POCSO and SC/ST Atrocities Acts against the 13 youths and two village elders accused of trying to cover up the crime.

Telangana

NCSC seeks report on IAS Officer’s ‘Dalit Students Must Clean Toilets’ remark, June 3

The National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) has demanded a report from Telangana’s top officials after an audio clip surfaced, allegedly featuring IAS officer S. Alagu Varshini. In the clip, the officer, who is the Secretary of a society running residential schools for Scheduled Caste children, is purportedly heard instructing school principals to have students clean their own toilets, classrooms, and hostels daily. She reportedly justified the directive by stating that students from poor backgrounds must learn self-care.

The alleged remarks sparked outrage, with BRS leaders condemning them as discriminatory and indicative of the current government’s “anti-poor attitude.” While Varshini defended her comments as promoting self-reliance, the incident has fuelled a debate on student dignity and caste bias. The NCSC has requested an action-taken report within 15 days.

Maharashtra

Dalit man brutally attacked for aiding teenager in Maharashtra; family alleges police bias, June 4, 2025

A Dalit man, Vaibhav Khandagale (32), and his family were viciously assaulted by upper-caste individuals in Shirapur Gat village on June 4. The attack was reportedly an act of retaliation because Vaibhav had helped a sick Dalit teenager by taking him to the hospital. Later that evening, a group of 10-12 upper-caste men ambushed Vaibhav, verbally abusing him with casteist slurs like, “Are you too arrogant because of money? These Mahars (Dalits) have become very proud.”

They beat him with iron rods, stole his wallet, and took gold ornaments from his mother’s home. He was dragged and beaten on the street in front of over 200 villagers.

The Mooknayak spoke with Vaibhav’s brother, who claimed villagers blocked their path to the hospital and that police assistance was delayed. The family alleges police bias, stating they had to wait for hours at the police station before an FIR was registered under pressure, and that a counter-case was filed against them as a tactic to undermine their complaint under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. They are demanding a prompt and impartial investigation.

Examining the persistence of caste-based crimes

The continuation of serious crimes against Dalits, despite constitutional safeguards and specific laws like the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, raises significant concerns. The frequency of these incidents, often with a perception of impunity for the accused, challenges the fundamental principles of equality and dignity for India’s vulnerable communities. This situation prompts an examination of underlying systemic issues that allow such violence and discrimination to persist beyond isolated events.

This pattern points to the need to address the root causes of continued caste-based violence, including enduring social hierarchies, allegations of police inaction or bias, and other potential pressures on the justice system. The recurring nature of these incidents—from violent crimes like rape and murder to social boycotts and the obstruction of basic rights—highlights a significant challenge to the rule of law. Rigorously addressing these deep-rooted issues and ensuring accountability are critical to breaking the cycle of violence and upholding the constitutional promise of equality.

Related

Statewide Attacks: Caste fury unleashes brute violence against Dalit students

Caste Cloud Over Ambedkar Jayanti: From campus censorship to temple exclusion

Tribal women paraded, assaulted; nationwide outrage follows

The post The cost of being a Dalit: Rapes, murders, and public humiliation plague communities across the states appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau

URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/taliban-tried-employing-afghan-women/d/135873

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The Taliban Tried To Stop Lida Mangal From Employing Afghan Women

By Isabella Ross

15-06-2025

Lida Mangal says her Afghan garment business in Western Sydney is a form of “resistance and representation”. (ABC News: Jack Ailwood)

———

LidaMangal vividly remembers the “golden years” of her childhood in Afghanistan.

Decades on, Ms Mangal has found freedom in Australia — though her country of origin and the “very strong” women who remain there never leave her thoughts.

“I thought how could I provide a means of income to these women? They had experience in tailoring and textiles. Some were widowed or without a male companion … Afghan women deserve freedom.”

Photo shows A woman wearing a blue burqa covering shields her eyes from the sun and camera while she walks in the streetA woman wearing a blue burqa covering shields her eyes from the sun and camera while she walks in the street

Virtue laws introduced by the Taliban ban women from speaking or showing their faces in public as a senior UN official called it an extension of the “already intolerable restrictions” on Afghan women.

That same year, Ms Mangal founded her business, Ghan Fashion, where she brings traditionally designed dresses from Afghanistan to Australia.

Initially, she was able to openly hire women who were still working in Afghan textile factories, but in recent years, the “barbaric regime’s agenda” has made that effort extra difficult.

“I’ve got 20 women who are working now from home, because of the restrictions of the current regime. They have their own materials and equipment they use. I explain my designs … and they prepare and make it,” she said.

A former refugee and now Australian citizen, Ms Mangal works full-time in a separate occupation, as well as running her fashion business from her Western Sydney home.

The garment transportation process is a challenge — the Taliban use sharp tools to check packages for anything being smuggled out of Afghanistan, meaning some of Ms Mangal’s dresses arrive ripped and damaged.

“This new chapter has allowed me to reclaim my voice and write a story that I choose — one filled with hope, ambition and determination.”

Kabul Social is run predominantly by female refugees from Afghanistan, notes Shaun David-Christie (far right). (Supplied: Kabul Social/Kitti Gould)

Kabul Social, founded by Plate It Forward director Shaun Christie-David, is run by a team of predominantly female refugees from Afghanistan, bringing their country’s flavours to Sydney’s CBD.

It was predated by Colombo Social, which has the same intention of celebrating culture and cuisine while employing migrants and refugees.

“What truly humbles me is seeing our refugee workforce and their families thrive, building a legacy of generational change,”  Mr Christie-David said.

Mr Christie-David said his aim was to “give people a chance that wouldn’t get one otherwise”, given the challenges of having international qualifications recognised in Australia.

Marjorie Tenchavez is the founder and director of Welcome Merchant, a social enterprise that elevates refugee and people seeking asylum entrepreneurs.

“Often they [refugees] have family members relying on them in their home countries as well. Refugee merchants also don’t have mainstream access to much support, such as borrowing from the banks, given many are on bridging visas.”

“It’s now more important than ever to give them a platform because there has definitely been a waning interest in the refugee space.”

Adama Kamara, deputy chief executive officer of Refugee Council of Australia, said the event was a way to champion the resilient nature of many refugees.

“Refugees are among Australia’s most entrepreneurial newcomers … this incredible drive, often born out of necessity and a desire to contribute, adds significant economic and social value,” she said.

Later this year, the 1 millionth permanent refugee visa will be issued since Australia’s post-war resettlement program began in 1947, according to the Refugee Council.

Source: www.abc.net.au

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-06-15/former-refugee-helps-women-in-afghanistan-via-sydney-business/105365380

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‘I Wish I Weren’t A Girl’: 700,000 Women Struggle For Menstrual Hygiene In War-Torn Gaza

By Supratik Das

15 Jun 2025

Representational Image | Credit: Reuters

———–

At the centre of an relentless humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, an often overlooked crisis is unfolding with quiet urgency, that is women’s and girls’ menstrual well-being. During Israel’s months-long siege and heavy shelling, close to 700,000 menstruating women and girls are finding it difficult to cope with their periods with dignity and safety. The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has cautioned that lack of access to essential hygiene products, clean water, and safe facilities has converted a normal biological process into a deep humanitarian and public health emergency.

According to UN global data, 1.8 billion people menstruate worldwide, but in conflict areas like Gaza, menstruation becomes far more than a monthly inconvenience, it becomes a human rights concern. In overcrowded displacement shelters and temporary tent camps, girls getting their first period are doing so in unimaginable conditions. They have no sanitary pads, no soap, and no private toilets. “I only had one pad, so I wrapped it in toilet paper to make it last. I couldn’t wash, and the pain was horrible. I sat in silence crying until the end of the day,” a displaced teenage girl told UNFPA. These stories are no longer isolated. Since March, the blockade of humanitarian relief has severely limited the introduction of hygiene material. While a partial suspension of the ban allowed for some relief, distribution of aid which is now organised by channels outside the UN system is still woefully insufficient. Current levels of delivery are far below the colossal demand, with only a small portion of more than 10 million sanitary pads needed monthly reaching Gaza’s displaced persons. “This crisis is not just about hygiene; it is about dignity, health, and the protection of basic human rights. “Food keeps us alive, but pads, soap, and privacy let us live with dignity,” a displaced woman from Khan Younis, said in a UNFPA statement.

With over 90 per cent of the region’s water and sanitation infrastructure destroyed and water pumping fuel out of reach, the hygiene crisis is assuming a deadly dimension. Women are resorting to makeshift substitutes such as worn-out clothing, used cloths, or sponges which are often unclean and unsuitable for prolonged use heightening the threat of urinary tract infections, reproductive disorders, and long-term health impairment. A father of four girl child from Jabalia recounted his sorrow, “I ripped my single shirt apart so my daughters could wear it as an alternative to pads,” he explained to UNFPA. Another girl admitted, “Every time my period comes, I wish I weren’t a girl,” she said to the UN agency. A local physician recounted how normal phenomena like menstruation, pregnancy, and giving birth are becoming traumatic because of the absence of essential materials. “These should be routine experiences. But now, I witness pain, humiliation, and desperation in women’s eyes on a daily basis,” she said to UNFP

While the health of menstruation has gone disastrous, the overall situation for women in Gaza is equally bleak. As per UNFPA, food insecurity is catastrophic, with one person out of every five starved. For approximately 55,000 pregnant women, every skipped meal increases the likelihood of miscarriage, stillbirth, and giving birth to underweight infants.

According to UN nearly 17,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women are projected to require urgent treatment for acute malnutrition in the coming months. Gaza’s already fragile health infrastructure is on the brink of collapse after prolonged bombardment of hospitals and healthcare facilities. Healthcare workers do not have the medicines and equipment they need.

Source: www.Thedailyjagran.Com

https://www.thedailyjagran.com/world/i-wish-i-was-not-a-girl-women-struggle-for-menstrual-hygiene-in-war-torn-gaza-heres-what-report-says-10245149

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TikTok Murder Sends Chill Through Pakistani Influencers: ‘Every Woman Knows This Fear’

15 Jun 2025

Since seeing thousands of comments justifying the recent murder of a teenage TikTok star in Pakistan, Sunaina Bukhari is considering abandoning her 88,000 followers.

“In my family, it wasn’t an accepted profession at all, but I’d managed to convince them, and even ended up setting up my own business,” she said.

Then last week, Sana Yousaf was shot dead outside her house in the capital Islamabad by a man whose advances she had repeatedly rejected, police said.

News of the murder led to an outpouring of comments under her final post – her 17th birthday celebration where she blew out the candles on a cake.

In between condolence messages, some blamed her for her own death: “You reap what you sow” or “it’s deserved, she was tarnishing Islam”.

Yousaf had racked up more than a million followers on social media, where she shared her favourite cafes, skincare products and traditional shalwarkameez outfits.

Source: Www.Scmp.com

https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3314505/tiktok-murder-sends-chill-through-pakistani-influencers-every-woman-knows-fear

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UN Human Rights Council to spotlight rights of Afghan women at 59th Session

by Milad Sayar

June 15, 2025

The United Nations Human Rights Council is set to open its 59th session on Monday, June 16, in Geneva, where delegates will consider an agenda that includes the worsening rights crisis in Afghanistan, particularly the treatment of women and girls under Taliban rule.

According to the Council’s official schedule, the session will run through July 9 and will feature reports and interactive dialogues addressing human rights violations in more than a dozen countries, including Sudan, Myanmar, Iran and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Among the most closely watched items will be a presentation by Richard Bennett, the UN special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan.

Bennett’s report, titled “Access to Justice and Support for Women and Girls and the Impact of Multiple and Intersecting Forms of Discrimination,” concludes that the restrictions imposed by the Taliban on women and girls amount to a system of gender apartheid. It calls on the international community to recognize such policies as crimes under international law.

“The Council must take urgent and decisive action,” said Sima Nouri, a human rights activist who is among those calling for an independent fact-finding mission. “We need a mechanism to document the full scope of Taliban abuses — from gender-based discrimination and ethnic killings to the violent suppression of peaceful protests. Afghanistan’s case should be referred to the International Criminal Court.”

Since retaking power in 2021, the Taliban have barred most Afghan women and girls from work, education, and even freedom of movement without a male escort. MasoudaKohistani, another rights advocate, called the situation “a human rights emergency that demands global attention.”

Though Afghanistan will be discussed on the opening day, it is one part of a broader session that includes topics ranging from the human rights impacts of climate change to racial discrimination, digital rights, and the situations in Palestine, Venezuela and Belarus. No general debates are scheduled this session, but several high-level interactive dialogues will take place throughout the four weeks.

The Human Rights Council, which meets three times a year, is the UN’s primary intergovernmental body dedicated to the promotion and protection of human rights around the world. Its 59th session will include reports from special rapporteurs, commissions of inquiry and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Rights advocates say they hope the international community will not lose focus on Afghanistan amid competing global crises. “This is a pivotal moment,” Nouri said. “The world must not abandon Afghan women.”

Source: amu.tv

https://amu.tv/180591/

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Pakistan names women’s squad for AFC qualifiers amid bid to elevate football’s profile

Arab News Pakistan

June 15, 2025

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) on Saturday unveiled its squad for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers, as the country seeks to uplift its women’s football program and strengthen its profile in a sport where its men’s team has also struggled to gain traction.

Pakistan’s men’s national team, briefly competitive in regional tournaments in the decades following independence, has long languished near the bottom of Asian rankings amid administrative issues and lack of sustained investment.

In contrast, women’s football in Pakistan began to take shape in the early 2000s, with the formation of the country’s first women’s football clubs in 2002 and the launch of the National Women’s Football Championship in 2005.

“The Pakistan Football Federation has named a squad for the upcoming AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers, set to take place in Jakarta, Indonesia from June 29 to July 5,” said the PFF in a statement.

Placed in Group E, the team will open its campaign on June 29 against Chinese Taipei, confront host Indonesia on July 2 and conclude the group stage against Kyrgyzstan on July 5.

Athletes have recently expanded into Olympic swimming and achieved international success in javelin, demonstrating a broader ambition to elevate sports beyond one stronghold.

Pakistan will be seeking its first-ever Women’s Asian Cup appearance, while the men’s side continues to fight for relevance amid FIFA rankings that reached a historic low before recent suspensions were lifted.

Pakistan’s national women’s football team was officially formed in 2010 and has yet to qualify for a Women’s Asian Cup or World Cup, but played in multiple SAFF Championships and remained a bright spot in domestic football.

Source: Www.Arabnews.com

https://www.arabnews.com/node/2604523/pakistan

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‘Pakistan-born’ woman booked in UP’s Bareilly for procuring fake Aadhaar, ration card

by Manish Sahu

June 15, 2025

The Uttar Pradesh Police on Friday booked a 68-year-old woman of Pakistani origin in Bareilly for allegedly obtaining an Aadhaar card and ration card through fraudulent means. The woman has been residing in India for nearly six decades on a long-term visa.

The police said that during a campaign to spot Bangladeshi and Pakistani nationals staying illegally in the district, they received a tip-off about a Pakistan-born woman allegedly availing of benefits of government schemes using forged documents.

The case has been filed against the woman, identified as Farhad Sultana, under relevant sections of the Citizenship Act and for cheating at the Baradari police station, said a police officer.

The police learned that Sultana, born in Karachi, arrived in India in 1965 at the age of eight with her mother and sister, on a long-term visa.

Source: Indianexpress.Com

https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/lucknow/pakistan-born-woman-booked-in-ups-bareilly-for-procuring-fake-aadhaar-ration-card-10067350/

Courtesy: New Age Islam

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This order was passed by a division bench of justices G R Swaminathan and V Lakshminarayanan on a habeas corpus petition (HCP) filed by the woman’s partner, hailing from Tirupattur district, praying for an order to liberate the woman from being illegally detained by her parents at Gudiyatham in Vellore district.

The bench also pulled up the police for failing to respond to the urgent messages sent by the petitioner and forcing the woman to go with her parents. Further, the bench slammed police attached to Gudiyatham in Vellore district, Reddiyarpalayam in Puducherry and Jeevan Beema Nagar in Karnataka for failing to respond to the SOS messages sent by the petitioner and forcing the woman to go with her parents. Going further and expressing disappointment that no action was taken by the Inspector of Police in Gudiyatham, the DSP and Vellore SP despite a complaint being lodged, the bench said only after the HCP was filed, the police woke up.

We hold that the government officials, in particular the jurisdictional police, have a duty to respond whenever complaints of this nature are received, the bench noted.

The Order also observed that the Supreme Court’s order in the Supriyo @ Supriya Chakraborty v/s Union of India case may not have legalised marriage between same sex couples but they can very well form a family.

Mother of lesbian detenue is no Leila Seth, says Madras HC

“We have come to the conclusion that the detenue is entitled to go with the petitioner (female partner) and that she cannot be detained against her will by her family members,” the bench said.

It restrained the woman’s natal family members from “interfering with her personal liberty”. It also issued a “writ of continuing mandamus” to the jurisdictional police to provide adequate protection to the woman and her partner as and when required.

“Marriage is not the sole mode to found a family. The concept of a ‘chosen family’ is now well-settled and acknowledged in LGBTQIA+ jurisprudence,” the bench stated. It explained, citing the NALSA and Navtej Johar cases, that the SC has declared that sexual orientation falls within the realm of personal liberty guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution of India.

Dealing with the statement of the lesbian woman’s mother that the petitioner had led her daughter “astray” and turned her into a “drug-addict,” the bench said it could see that the detenue is a perfectly normal-looking young woman.

The bench pointed out that the petitioner has not mentioned anywhere about the true nature of their relationship but called herself as a close friend. “We can understand the hesitation on her part. Our society is still conservative, notwithstanding (the judgment in) NALSA and Navtej Singh Johar,” it said,

The bench recalled the heart-rending letter written by Leila Seth when the Delhi HC decision to decriminalise the same-sex relationship in the Naz Foundation case was reversed by the Supreme Court. Unfortunately, she was not alive to see homosexuality be decriminalised via the historic judgment in Navtej Singh Johar Vs Union of India case, it said.

“The mother of the detenue is no Leila Seth. We could understand her feelings and temperament,” the bench said in the order. Stating that it had endeavoured in vain to impress upon her that her daughter is entitled to choose a life of her own since she is an adult, the bench noted that the law is clear and the precedents are clearer on the issue.

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All of a sudden, a strange scenario creeps in. You hear voices surrounding you, shouting in an unfamiliar way. You step out, worried, and see your fellow villagers in a rage. Before you can comprehend what’s happening, a hand reaches out from the crowd, grabs your hair, and drags you down. Countless sticks and feet start hitting you, your breath slowing, but you still don’t know why. You see your family being pulled out too, despairing, begging for your life, trying to protect you.

An aunt, who once sang you lullabies, pulls out a knife and cuts your hair with anguish. And amidst that disbelief, you hear a familiar voice, filled with disgust, shouting, “Daini (Witch), go away and die!”

“Burn her down!” the mob screams.

Eyes that once smiled at you now burn with hatred. Neighbours. Friends. People you once trusted are now a seething mob, armed and bloodthirsty, closing in.

They hang you in the middle of the village and burn you alive—reason— Superstitious belief.

This is not a fictional narrative but rather an outline of real-life cases of more than 2,500 innocent souls who died miserably, being vulnerable victims of ‘Witch-hunting’ at the hands of their people. According to the National Crime Report Bureau’s Crime in India Report 2022, nearly 85 individuals were murdered in witchcraft-related incidents in that year alone. Alarmingly, between 2012 and 2022, a total of 1,184 people lost their lives to witch-hunting violence across India.

Killing based on (superstition) suspicion has been practised in rural India for a very long time. It has been believed that any distress that takes place has to have been transcendental. Anyone with a distinctive characteristic was seen as dubious. Women have always been an easy target for this. Change in positive essence was upheld as a blessing, but a negative repercussion was a curse by someone. Many voices were cut down without justice based on intuition, and some with an underlying intention. Women are pestered more, be it to seize land, extract personal revenge, or legitimise acts of violence. Prime outrage of misinformed minds when given a false push can be tremendously harmful, and this has resulted in the deaths of many. All these would have been a part and parcel of our daily newspapers even today if not advocated by some strong leaders bearing the torch of light. One such inspiring being was ‘Birubala Rabha’.

Hailing from the village of Thakurvila in Goalpara district, Birubala Rabha lived her life as a fighter. With her father passing away when she was barely six years old, she dedicated her early years to helping her mother out. Once her son got immensely sick, and with the lack of access to healthcare, she was bound to visit a local quack healer. The sham made up some delusive story and declared her son to be dead in no time. Birubala Rabha, who was once a believer of such claims, was terrified by his remarks, but to her surprise, her son’s health improved. That is when she realised the misbelief that had been deceiving her and many others for ages.

Not letting her anguish go in vain, she tried to accumulate as many people as she knew to be vigilant. Formed the Thakurvilla Mahila Samiti, where the women of that village were entrusted to eradicate social evils from their district. More than 50 women were saved under her leadership. Seeing its pace, she insisted on taking the movement further by initiating Mission Birubala in 2012. This intent was a landmark movement to not only save girls from falling prey to social evils but also rehabilitate them with proper legal aid.

Though successful in her mission, it wasn’t an easy path for her. Large sections of people still condemned her for trying to break societal norms. Daini Hatya,(“Witch crafting”) has a mixed level of unfortunate acceptance in a very conservative society. A report on Contemporary Practices of Witch Hunting 2015, cited by the New York Times, states that the victims may be subjected to horrific abuses such as being forcibly stripped, paraded naked in public, having their head shaved off, faces blackened, teeth pulled out to “defang” them, eyes gouged, whipped and even gang raped, or forced to consume human excreta. In the most extreme cases, they are killed by hanging, hacking, lynching, or even being buried alive.

Birubala was herself branded a witch for forging her way out of repressive custom towards justice, her character questioned. But Birubala Rabha was determined to fight against all odds. She continued her work and, without any fear and hesitation, openly delivered speeches on social evils. Her persistence gained significant recognition, attracting notice of the powerful. Former Assam DGP Dr. Kuladhar Saikia joined forces with her in the campaign, lending a strong and authoritative voice to the movement against witch-hunting across the state. In recognition of her extraordinary contributions, she was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by Guwahati University and in 2021, she received one of India’s highest civilian honours—the Padma Shri. In 2017, she was also invited to speak as a panelist at the Witchcraft and Human Rights Experts Workshop hosted by the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva. The following year, in 2018, she was honoured with a cash award by the Women’s World Summit Foundation in recognition of her efforts.

Birubala Rabha’s impact transcended grassroots activism. She became a catalyst for legislative reform in Assam. Her relentless advocacy was instrumental in the enactment of the Assam Witch Hunting (Prohibition, Prevention, and Protection) Act, 2015, a watershed decision that firmly criminalises the inhumane practice of witch-hunting. Under this stringent legislation, branding someone a “witch” can result in imprisonment of up to seven years and a fine reaching five lakh rupees. This powerful legal framework stands as one of the most robust measures in India against witch-hunting, a testament to Birubala Rabha’s unwavering courage and commitment to justice.

Unfortunately, last year, on May 13, 2024, this unprecedented warrior took her last breath battling cancer, but she left a legacy of successful deliberation towards women’s empowerment that lives on in every victim. What she did back then is today’s beacon of curbing social evils. Superstitious acts reduced significantly in Assam post her endeavour. Her fearless battle against the deep-rooted evil of witch-hunting not only led to historic legal reforms but also sparked a broader movement against superstition and ignorance at large. In her honour, the Assam Government has declared May 13 of every year to be observed as Anti-Superstition Day, a powerful reminder of her mission for all, to eradicate ignorance through awareness and empathy.

Though the shadow of witch-hunting still lingers in pockets of our society, we must not and never turn a blind eye or fall silent. Statistics do show a decrease in cases, but many evils go unreported in rural India. Birubala Rabha showed us that the fight against injustice begins with one brave voice and that voice can echo across generations.

As Birubala herself once said, “My mission is to end the menace of witch-hunting,” let us honour that, not just in words, but in action, so that no one has to wake up tomorrow and endure pain and fear at the hands of their own people.

(The author is an independent writer and research scholar focusing on rural India)

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Brief facts

The case involved a series of incidents occurring on November 5 and 6, 2014. These included an initial altercation, followed by a criminal trespass, where a woman (the prosecutrix/primary victim) and her male companion (second victim) were assaulted, and a friend (third victim) who came to help was also attacked. During the trespass, the primary victim and the third victim were forced to strip and were videographed in compromising positions. Subsequently, the primary victim and the second victim were abducted. The second victim was taken to railway tracks, assaulted, and left for dead but managed to escape. The primary victim was then taken to multiple locations where she was subjected to gang rape by three individuals (two appellants and a juvenile tried separately).

Charges and initial convictions

Multiple accused faced charges including criminal trespass (Sections 450, 452 IPC), grievous hurt (Sections 324, 326 IPC), sexual harassment (Sections 354A, 354B IPC), voyeurism (Section 354C IPC), violation of privacy under the IT Act (Section 66E), abduction (Section 366 IPC), attempt to murder (Section 307 IPC), robbery (Section 394 IPC), gang rape (Section 376D IPC), and harbouring offenders (Section 212 IPC). The trial court convicted several accused on various counts, handing down severe sentences including life imprisonment. The accused appealed to the High Court.

High Court’s decision on appeals

The High Court upheld convictions for several appellants for offences including criminal trespass, assault (altered from grievous hurt to simple hurt by dangerous weapon in some instances), sexual harassment, voyeurism, IT Act violations, abduction, attempt to murder, robbery, and significantly, gang rape against two appellants.

One appellant was acquitted of all charges due to insufficient evidence placing him at the scene of the crime inside the room.

Sentences were modified for several convicts: life imprisonment for attempt to murder was reduced to 10 years rigorous imprisonment for two appellants; life imprisonment for the remainder of natural life for gang rape was reduced to 20 years rigorous imprisonment for the same two appellants. The sentence for harbouring an offender was reduced to the period already undergone for one appellant.

The Court on consent and sexual history

The High Court addressed the issue of consent, particularly in response to defence arguments that attempted to question the primary victim’s character and suggest that her alleged past relationships or sexual history, including a prior acquaintance with one of the accused, might imply consent or make her testimony unreliable. The Court emphatically rejected these notions, reinforcing the principle of “No means No.”

The judgment stated

• “NO means NO”: A woman who says ‘NO’ means ‘NO’. There exists no further ambiguity and there could be no presumption of consent based on a woman’s so called ‘immoral activities’. (Para 85)
• Irrelevance of past relationships or character: The Court made it clear that even though there may have been a relationship between the prosecutrix and [one of the accused] in the past but if the prosecutrix was not willing to have sexual intercourse with [the accused], his colleague… and the juvenile in conflict with law, any act without her consent would be an offence within the meaning of Section 375 of the IPC. (Para 85)
• Consent is instance-specific: The court stated that a woman who consents to sexual activities with a man at a particular instance does not ipso facto give consent to sexual activity with the same man at all other instances. (Para 85)
• Character and number of sexual partners are not determinative of consent: The court stated that a woman’s character or morals are not related to the number of sexual partners she has had in wake of Section 53A of the Indian Evidence Act. This section of the Evidence Act restricts evidence of the victim’s character or previous sexual experience in prosecutions for sexual offences. (Para 85)
• Primacy of consent over perceived morality: The Court addressed attempts to question the primary victim’s morals due to her being estranged from her husband and living with another man, or suggestions of a prior intimate relationship with one of the accused. It emphasized that even if such circumstances were true, “a person cannot force a woman to have intercourse with him without her consent.” (Para 84)
• Rape as aggression, domination: The Court described rape not merely as a sexual crime but as “a crime involving aggression which leads to the domination of the prosecutrix. It is a violation of her right of privacy. Rape is the most morally and physically reprehensible crime in society, as it is an assault on the body, mind and privacy of the victim, the court added. (Para 85)

In essence, the High Court’s judgment strongly affirmed that consent must be explicit and contemporaneous for each sexual act. A victim’s past sexual history, choices in relationships, or perceived character are not relevant to determining whether consent was given for a specific instance of sexual intercourse. The Court underscored that the absence of consent makes any sexual intercourse an offence, irrespective of the victim’s background or previous associations with the accused.

The judgement reinforced the evolving jurisprudence that centres the victim’s agency, making it unequivocally clear that consent must be specific, informed, and ongoing—regardless of any prior associations or societal judgments about the victim’s morality. In doing so, the Court not only delivered justice in a deeply disturbing case but also contributed meaningfully to the broader fight against rape culture and victim-blaming narratives in India’s criminal justice system.

(The author is part of the legal research team of the organisation)

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The post Rape is aggression, domination, consent must be instant specific, not dictated by morality tests: Bombay High Court appeared first on SabrangIndia.

However, the arrest failed to pacify public outrage. By Wednesday night (April 30), around 9:30 PM, a group of men gathered near the market area where the accused had an office and began targeting businesses owned by members of the Muslim community. Videos later circulated on social media showed shops being vandalised, staffers slapped, and stones hurled at a nearby mosque. Several shops and eateries were damaged, and incidents of assault were reported. Though police intervened to de-escalate the situation, their response was widely seen as inadequate.

Right-wing outrage targets Muslim businesses in retaliatory fury

Fuelled by the accusation against the elderly Muslim man, Hindu nationalist organisations swiftly mobilised, broadening their focus from the individual to the entire Muslim community in Nainital. These groups, often operating under the banner of protecting Hindu interests, engaged in a campaign of collective punishment. Their actions extended beyond mere condemnation of the alleged crime, manifesting in direct attacks on Muslim-owned businesses and the physical assault of Muslim individuals.

Despite the prompt arrest of the accused and the completion of the minor’s medical examination – steps indicating the legal process was underway – these right-wing outfits continued their aggressive actions. Their demands often included handing over the accused to their custody, bypassing the judicial system entirely, and further inflamed the communal tensions by propagating a narrative of collective guilt and demanding discriminatory actions against the Muslim population of Nainital

Public reaction escalates into mob violence

The violence on Wednesday night appeared to be part of a broader, emotionally charged backlash. Despite assurances from law enforcement that the accused had been arrested and was facing severe charges, a large crowd moved through the central town area, launching coordinated attacks. Most of the affected establishments belonged to Muslims, heightening communal tensions. Shopkeepers and local residents described the scene as chaotic, with shutters broken, staff beaten, and customers fleeing. Among the worst affected was Monish Jalal, a restaurant owner in Gadi Padaw, who condemned the assault on his livelihood, saying, “We want justice for the girl, but what connection do we have with the accused?” reported the Times of India.

Others, like Bimla Devi, a senior resident running a family tea stall since the British era, described the damage to her stall as “complete destruction.” Both expressed dismay at the lack of timely police action and called for justice — both for the victim and for innocent business owners caught in the crossfire, as reported

Against the tide: Hindu woman stands up for Muslim community

In a striking display of moral courage amidst the rising communal frenzy, a Hindu woman emerged as an unexpected beacon of reason. As a rally of Hindu nationalist supporters marched through Nainital, their chants laced with anti-Muslim slogans in response to the alleged sexual assault, she bravely stepped forward to confront them. Her act was a powerful testament to shared humanity, as she challenged the very premise of their collective blame and the injustice of targeting the entire Muslim community for the alleged actions of one individual. Undeterred by the charged atmosphere and the potential for backlash, she directly rebuked the mob for their indiscriminate attacks on innocent Muslim shopkeepers, emphasising their lack of connection to the alleged crime.

Furthermore, she vocally condemned the abusive and derogatory language employed during the rally.

BJP leader threatened Muslim food vendors

In a video that quickly circulated on social media, BJP leader Vipin Pandey openly threatened to Muslim food vendors, insisting that their shop names must explicitly reflect their Muslim identity. Pandey warned that if the vendors failed to comply within a day, they would face physical assault. The remarks have drawn sharp criticism from various quarters, with many calling them inflammatory and divisive.

Civil society groups and political opponents have condemned the threat as a blatant attempt to stoke communal tensions and marginalise minority communities.

Meanwhile, local authorities have yet to take official action, prompting concerns over law enforcement’s response to hate speech and intimidation.

Political and community demands mount

The unrest prompted swift political and administrative responses. A group of residents submitted a memorandum to Kumaon Commissioner Deepak Rawat, making wide-ranging demands. These included a comprehensive verification of all “outsiders,” especially those belonging to the minority community working as tenants, daily wage earners, or small business owners. They also demanded the seizure of the accused’s property as a deterrent, an inquiry into property acquisitions by individuals from the minority community in commercial areas, and the establishment of a monitoring committee to oversee regional activity.

The memorandum also called for prioritising employment opportunities for local youth, and for Nainital to be declared a “sensitive cultural zone,” complete with special policy safeguards to preserve the town’s heritage and demography.

Administrative response: crackdown on encroachments and security measures

District Magistrate Vandana took immediate administrative action by appointing magistrates to sensitive locations, including the market and mosque premises. She instructed the Nainital District Development Authority to resume its anti-encroachment drive and ordered the completion of pending hearings on illegal constructions within 15 days. On Thursday, authorities carried out marking operations at multiple locations in the city, issuing 150 challans — 100 by the Municipal Council and 50 by the Development Authority — for unauthorised structures, encroachments on public infrastructure, and unapproved construction, according to the Indian Express.

Additionally, a notice was served to the accused, stating that his property was illegal and granting him three days to present his case before further legal action. Police presence was bolstered in sensitive zones, especially around religious sites, ahead of Friday prayers. The district also increased surveillance and verification of taxis, rental services, and roadside vendors to ensure tourist safety amid the turmoil.

Strikes, closures, and tourist disruption

According to reports, the violence and growing unrest had immediate consequences for daily life in Nainital. Schools remained shut on Thursday, and traders in the town centre observed a strike, partly enforced by local right-wing organisations. Amandeep Singh, general secretary of the Nainital Vyapar Mandal, said the strike symbolised collective anger at the crime, while also noting that food arrangements were made for stranded tourists. Police checkpoints were established along major roads, and tourists reported a curfew-like atmosphere, with most shops and restaurants closed.

“The tourism business has been severely affected,” said Nainital Hotel Association President Digvijay Singh Bisht, as Indian Express reported.

Local lawyers boycott case, demand inquiry into Nainital’s changing demographics

The case also resonated within the legal community. In a strong display of protest, district court lawyers unanimously decided to withdraw legal representation from the accused. Advocate Daya Joshi stated that the local bar had also requested an investigation into the recent influx of residents in Nainital. “No lawyer from our bar council will represent this man.”

Similarly, as the Indian Express reported that Protesters have demanded strict punishment for the accused, including the confiscation of their property. They also called for thorough verification drives targeting outsiders—particularly tenants and temporary workers from a specific community—and the identification and deportation of any foreign nationals residing illegally.

Muslim organisations submitted a memorandum to DGP

Simultaneously, Muslim organisations reacted strongly to the targeted violence. In a memorandum to DGP Deepam Seth in Dehradun, they condemned both the heinous crime against the minor and the subsequent attacks on innocent community members. “We too want justice for the girl,” said Naeem Qureshi, president of the Muslim Seva Sangathan. “But the collective punishment of unrelated individuals through violence and arson is unacceptable” as reported in the Times of India.

Uttarakhand High Court takes suo moto action

Taking cognizance of the volatile situation, the Uttarakhand High Court initiated suo moto proceedings. During the hearing, government counsel J.S. Virk informed the bench that heightened security measures were in place, including vehicle checks at key entry points into Nainital — Haldwani, Bhavali, and Kaladhungi. The court, comprising Justices Manoj Kumar Tiwari and Vivek Bharti Sharma, directed authorities to maintain strict law and order, prohibit large gatherings, and monitor social media to prevent misinformation and incitement.

As reported, the bench emphasised the importance of sustained patrolling to ensure that similar unrest does not spread or recur in other sensitive regions like Haldwani. It also called on citizens to cooperate with the administration to restore peace and communal harmony.

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