The NewsMinute reported that as per police reports, Praveen and Sharmi chose to marry and officially registered their union in November 2023, even though their families did not approve of their cross-caste relationship. Praveen belonged to the Adi Dravidar community (which is a Scheduled Caste), and Sharmi belonged to the Yadava caste.

On a Saturday evening around 9 pm, at a private bar in Pallikaranai, Sharmi’s brother Dinesh, came by with four friends and confronted Praveen at the place after which a heated argument took place. Thereafter, Dinesh and his associates took out knives that they had brought with them, and brutally attacked Praveen and soon fled the scene after assaulting him.

The Pallikaranai police have initiated legal proceedings by filing a case under the Scheduled Caste and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.

Five men, including the victim’s brother-in-law, have been so far arrested by the police in connection with the crime on Sunday.

The Quint spoke to the 21 year old Sharmi who is a fourth year college student, who told the outlet, “They brutally murdered my husband. Why? Because he belonged to a lower caste, and they didn’t accept our marriage. Who are they to decide who I can marry and who I can’t?”

Similarly, an equally horrifying and tragic event took place earlier this January where a 19-year-old girl was reportedly set on fire by her own family members, including her father, just days after she married her Dalit boyfriend against their wishes. This horrifying event unfolded in the Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu, as revealed by the police.

The victim, Aishwarya, and her 19-year-old boyfriend, Naveen, had known each other since their childhood and had been friends for many years. Both of them had even worked together in Tiruppur where Naveen, a mechanical engineer, secured employment at a hosiery unit in Avarapalayam, Tiruppur, while Aishwarya initially worked at a textile mill in Palladam. Eventually, she joined Naveen at the same firm and became colleagues. Both saw strong opposition from Aishwarya’s family. However, the couple with help from their friends, secretly got married on December 31, 2023, at a temple in Avarapalayam after which, they relocated to a leased residence in Veerapandi, situated in Theni district.

However, on January 2, just days following her marriage to Naveen, Aishwarya was burned alive by her family and succumbed to her injuries. Her husband launched a police complaint following which her father was arrested along with four of his relatives.

Related:

Dalit groom attacked, threatened, and beaten off a horse at his wedding in Gujarat

Assam: After taking an oath to uphold Ambedkar’s Constitution, the BJP CM invoked the Gita to promote caste-based occupation 

Dalits attacked by upper castes at Buddha Katha ceremony in Kanpur

Unveiling hidden divides: caste, gender and the myth of Indian growth 

The post Chennai: Dalit man hacked to death by in-laws due to caste appeared first on SabrangIndia.

On December 16, the niece of

Chhattisgarh’s Drputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma released a video on social media worried for her own safety. She also accused her uncle of threatening her life.

As per a now viral video, the girl in the video is Anjali Sharma, a resident of Kawardha district, is the daughter of Ajay Sharma and the niece of Bharatiya Janata Party leader and Chhattisgarh Deputy CM Vijay Sharma.

In the video, Anjali can be seen pleading for her safety and justice. She states in the video that she has gotten married to a youth from Satnami community and the lives of the couple is in danger from her uncle, Dy CM Vijay Sharma.

She can be heard saying that “If anything happens to us, my uncle Vijay Sharma will be responsible for it.” She can be further heard asserting that she is happy in her marriage, which she has entered into of her own will, and does not want to be harassed by the state. She says “I request the government and administration that I am happy and should not harass us.”

Anjali then shed light on the issue that she had been facing from her family due to the caste difference between the couple. In the video, she says “My family members were refusing to marry me because our caste was different but I loved Aman so I got married as per my wish. I left my house and came and sat in Aman’s house. Here the family got us married because I had said that as soon as I come home, I have to get married because if this marriage did not happen, my life would not have been possible.”

Further in the video, Anjali emphasises on the threats that she has been facing by her family after her inter-caste marriage. She alleges that her uncle, the deputy CM, will be the one to be held responsible for any harm that is caused to her or her husband as he was the one most against the inter-caste marriage.

She further says, “I had received many threats from my family that either they will kill you or your husband’s family members will kill you. If anything happens to me or my husband’s family members, then the full responsibility for it will be on my uncle, Deputy Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh Vijay Sharma because he was the one who was most against our marriage.”

Anjali then re-iterates her happiness and stands by her decision by saying “But I am happy with Aman and will remain happy in future too. My mental condition is fine but attempts have been made to worsen it but I am absolutely fine. My mental condition is absolutely normal because I am an adult. I can take my decisions as per my own wish. I request the government administration and my family members not to harass me. Let me live in peace and you too can live in peace. I want to stay here for the rest of my life and I don’t want to go back home, thanks.”

The video can be viewed here:

छत्तीसगढ़ के डिप्टी CM विजय शर्मा की भतीजी का वीडियो वायरल हो रहा है। अंजली शर्मा ने दूसरे कास्ट के लड़के से प्रेम विवाह किया है। क्या कह रही है अंजली सुनिए। pic.twitter.com/z7QHlQ2fxb

— Ravi Miri ABP News (@Ravimiri1) December 16, 2023

This video, which has caused an uproar on social media, has resulted in people raising fingers against the newly appointed BJP leader, accusing him of promoting casteism. The said leader had already been indulging in making speeches on the issues of conversion and love jihad, as reported by India Posts. The said report of India Posts also stated that Kawardha district Superintendent of Police, Abhishek Pallav stated that he was aware of the video but no complaint has been received from the victim’s side. The SP assured that if any complaint is received, then cognizance will be taken into the matter.

Related:

9-year-old Dalit girl raped and murdered in Ghaziabad by 52-year-old landlord

Dalits attacked by upper castes at Buddha Katha ceremony in Kanpur

From Ayodhya to Trivandrum, are Dalits still unsafe in India?

Standing Strong: CJP aids Dalit woman labelled as ‘Doubtful Citizen’

Continued Surge of Violence against Dalits Spans Maharashtra to Tamil Nadu

Four arrested for kidnapping and beating Dalit boys

The post Casteism and Honour: Niece of Chhattisgarh’s Dy CM alleges threat to life from her family for inter-caste marriage appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Sana Rashid, a 26 year old from Jharkand received protection from the court of Justice Sanjay Kumar Dwivedi who directed that the Senior Superintendent of Police, Ranchi to pass appropriate order so that her dignity and life be protected.

Sana Rashid has claimed in her petition before the high court that she is in friendship with a boy (belonging to a different religion) and her family members are forcibly trying to get her married to a person aged about 52 years and she is not willing to marry that person.  

Further, she stated in her plea that she apprehends that the said boy and his family members may be targeted by others. In view of this, she sought protection from her family members.

The Court took into account both the averments made in the petition as well as representations sent to the higher authorities and found that prima facie, the petitioner is in trouble. Thereafter the court directed protection to the woman (Sana Rashid v. The State of Jharkhand and others).

“Para 4 It has been disclosed in the petition that the petitioner is in friendship with a boy, who is of another religion. The petitioner is major and she is 2 W.P. (Cr.) No. 482 of 2022 residing along with her elder sister and brother-in-law and they are trying to get her married with a person aged about 52 years and she is not willing to marry with that person. It has been disclosed in paragraph 13 of the petition that she apprehends that the said boy and his family members may be targeted by others. The petitioner has represented before the Hon’ble Governor and Hon’ble Chief Minister of the State and Senior Superintendent of Police, Ranchi on 22.09.2022 and brought all these facts before them.

“Para 7 Nowadays, educated younger boys and girls are choosing their life partners which, in turn is a departure from the earlier norms of society where caste and community play a major role. There is every likelihood that this is the way forward where caste and community tensions will reduce by such inter-marriage, however these youngsters face threats by the elders of their own family. The right to marry a person of choice was held to be integral to Article 21 of the Constitution of India where the autonomy of an individual inter alia in relation to family and marriage were held to be integral to the dignity of the individual.”

The entire order of the Jharkand high court may be read here.

The Court made this significant remark that nowadays, educated younger boys and girls are choosing their life partners which, in turn, is a departure from the earlier norms of society where caste and community play a major role. Commenting on this, the court also opined that there is every likelihood that this is the way forward where caste and community tensions will reduce by such inter-marriage, however, these youngsters face threats by the elders of their own families.

Against this backdrop, the Court emphasized that the right to marry a person of choice was held to be integral to Article 21 of the Constitution of India where the autonomy of an individual inter alia in relation to family and marriage was held to be integral to the dignity of the individual.

Consequently, seeing the urgency in the matter, the Court passed the aforementioned order directing the Senior Superintendent of Police, Ranchi to hear the petitioner and to pass the appropriate order so that her dignity and life be protected.

Related

HW: Video of minor Hindu boy being lynched, shared as case of ‘Love Jihad’

Bill against ‘love jihad’ to be tabled in Gujarat Assembly

The post Relief to woman whose parents are forcing her to marry a 52-year old: Jharkand HC appeared first on SabrangIndia.

In a landmark ruling, the Allahabad High Court has empowered interfaith couples by categorically stating that the Registrar of Marriages cannot hold off on registering interfaith marriages just because approval of conversion from district authorities is pending. The court was hearing a batch of petitions from aggrieved interfaith couples facing harassment and intimidation from both, their families and local authorities.

In its order dated November 18, the court said, “The Marriage Officer/Registrar cannot refuse to register a duly solemnized marriage, and/or, insist of a conversion approval of the district authority.” Further treating relationships between consenting adults with the dignity that they deserve, the court also clarified, “The consent of the family or the community or the clan or the State or Executive is not necessary, once the two adult individuals agree to enter into a wedlock which is lawful and legal. Their consent has to be piously given primacy, with grace and dignity.”

The court went on to further clarify, “The factum of marriage and the registration of marriage are entirely distinct and different.” It also emphasised the importance of privacy saying, “The choice of a partner, whether within or outside marriage, lies within the exclusive domain of each individual. Intimacies of marriage lie within a core zone of privacy, which is inviolable. The absolute right of an individual to choose a life partner is not in the least affected by matters of faith.”

Granting relief to the couples who had petitioned the court, it ordered, “The State respondents and the private respondents are restrained from interfering with the life, liberty and privacy of the petitioners to live as man and woman.” It further ordered, “The police authorities of the respective districts shall ensure the safety of the petitioners and provide protection to them, if demanded or needed.”

As far as Marriage Registrars are concerned, the court ordered, “The Marriage Registrar/Officer of respective districts are directed to forthwith register the marriage of the petitioners, without, insisting/awaiting approval of the competent district authority with regard to conversion of faith.”

The Allahabad HC judgment may be read here: 

SabrangIndia has been reporting on how police have been cracking down on interfaith couples, especially in the states of Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat. However, almost every time such a couple has approached the court, they have been granted some degree of respite, their decision as consenting adults respected. Therefore, while the Legislature and the Executive are letting down India’s youth by adding obstacles in the path of true love, it is the courts that have so far played a part in protecting and defending the rights of interfaith couples.

The key reason why there has been an increase in harassment of interfaith couples is the passage of ordinances pertaining to prohibition of “unlawful conversions” that have been passed in four states: Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh. In addition to this, there is also the 2021 amendment to the Gujarat Freedom of Religion Act. The original Act of 2003 prohibited conversion by force or allurement, however the 2021 amendment makes “conversion by marriage” an offence which is one of the many common threads between the anti-conversion laws passed in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh as well.

In fact, in December 2020, Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) had challenged the laws in UP and Uttarakhand before the Indian Supreme Court. Then in February 2021, CJP amended its petition to include MP and HP as well. All four laws have been challenged on grounds that they are discriminatory and anti-women, and that they also contravene the right to privacy and personal liberty of citizens by criminalising inter-faith unions. Thus, CJP has prayed for the Uttarakhand Freedom of Religion Act (2018), Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Ordinance (2020), Madhya Pradesh to Freedom of Religion Ordinance (2020) and Himachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act (2019) to be declared anti-Constitutional and struck down.

Related:

Police cracking down on voluntary interfaith unions in Guj, UP

Anti-conversion law will not apply to inter-faith marriages unless there is force, fraud, allurement: Gujarat HC

The post Conversion approval not required for interfaith marriage registration: Allahabad HC appeared first on SabrangIndia.

The Pew Research Center’s recent survey on India revealed that most Indians prefer to marry a partner of the same religion as them. The report concluded that 99% of the married people surveyed said their spouse was of the same religion. This included “Hindus (99%), Muslims (98%), Christians (95%), Sikhs and Buddhists (97% each)”. However, while Indians didn’t really need such a survey to confirm what they have always known, it was interesting to note that “less than 1% of all Indian marriages are with spouses who were raised in a different religion (but may have since converted).” More alarmingly it added that “most Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and Jains strongly support stopping interreligious marriage” as did some Christians and Muslims.

(table from:pewresearch.org) 

On the ground in India, these numbers translate into something even more dangerous: threats, abuse, attacks, ostracisation, and in many cases murder, often by the family members of one or both partners of a mixed marriage.

To the Pew survey’s question if Indians felt it was  “important” to stop such marriages, an “overwhelming shares of Indians say it is at least “somewhat” important to stop people from entering into interreligious marriages, and most say it is “very” important to stop such marriages,” stated the report with “about two-thirds of Indians (65%) say it is very important to stop men from marrying into another religion, while roughly the same share (67%) say stopping interreligious marriage of women is a high priority.” This was the refrain from the Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Jains and a relatively small number of Christians and Buddhists.

However, in many states in India, especially in Uttar Pradesh where an ‘Anti-Conversion law’ is in place, and communities feel empowered to treat women as community and step in, often violently if she dares to marry outside her faith, or even caste.

Recently, in Gorakhpur, the home of UP Chief Minister Adityanath, the news of the gruesome murder of a Dalit Panchayat officer who had married a Brahmin woman was reported in the local media, however all but missed in the mainstream news media. Was it because such news is nearly normalised especially when it comes from a state like Uttar Pradesh?  However, the victim Anish Kumar Chaudhary, the Dalit man who was murdered on July 24 was an ‘empowered’ citizen. In fact, as seen in some social media photos show him posing with the CM himself. According to news reports, his family has alleged that the family of  Anish’s wife Deepti Mishra who were against  this marriage are behind the murder.

According to BBC Hindi, 17 people have been accused, out of which four have been arrested by the local police. The couple met as post graduate students and were eventually  selected for the post of Gram Panchayat Officers, and a romance blossomed. However, according to Deepti, “As soon as I got to know about this relationship, my family members started harassing me.” However she and Anish decided to get married hoping that her family will stop fixing her match elsewhere. They registered their marriage in court in 2019. However Dipti told the media that her family started torturing her mentally. The couple eventually decided to live together and recorded video statements detailing the harassment they faced from, Deepti’s Brahmin family including filing false allegations of abduction and even rape against Anish. Deepti dismissed all such allegations and in another video statement confirmed that she married and was living with Anish of her own free will. Anish’s family celebrated with a religious ceremony on May 28 this year and hosted a reception too. 

Anish’s family were reportedly affluent in the Unauli Dubauli village of Gorakhpur, which has a high population of Dalits and Backwards according to BBC. His elder brother Anil Chaudhary was the village head for a decade and was succeeded by his wife. However, none of that mattered to Deepti’s family, who only seemed to recognise caste. Anish was hacked to death on July 24 stated in news reports. The local police registered a case under Sections 302, 307, 506 and 120-B of the IPC as well as Section 3(2)(V) of the SC-ST Act. According to a news report the FIR names Deepti’s father Nalin Mishra, brother Abhinav Mishra, among others. However, apart from reports in Amar Ujala and BBC the incident seems to have been missed by the so called prime time ‘news’ debates. The omission is rather telling.

सवर्ण लड़की से शादी करने पर दलित युवा अनीश कनौजिया की गोरखपुर में दिनदहाड़े हत्या। आखिर योगी के राज में दलितों-पिछड़ों का नरसंहार होता रहेगा? कब तक ये जातिवाद वाले आतंकवादी समाज में रहेंगे।#Justice4AneesKanojia

— Prashant Kanojia (@PJkanojia) July 24, 2021

Despite being a Hindu devotee, Yogi’s follower and a staunch supporter of the RSS, Anish Kanaujia (SC) remains a lower caste in Hinduism. He was killed by the brahmins after marrying with a brahmin girl in Gorakhpur. #CrushTheCaste pic.twitter.com/oxeutcr03o

— Mission Ambedkar (@MissionAmbedkar) July 26, 2021

In contrast, what did make recent news from Uttar Pradesh was the forcible halting of an interfaith marriage, by Hindutva mobs. The bride, an 18-year-old woman was then “handed” over to her parents, till she makes a statement in court.

The interfaith wedding was stopped, allegedly by members of Karni Sena, who landed up in a local court in Ballia district. The mob alleged that this was a case of “forced conversion” and so called “love jihad” a term the right wing invokes to harass interfaith couples, especially if the man is a Muslim. While the mob allegedly “forced the woman to go to Kotwali police station”, it was the local police who “handed” the 18-year-old woman over to her parents. 

According to the news report, the Ballia Superintendent of Police, Vipin Tada, told the media that the police had “lodged a case on a complaint from her father that his daughter had been kidnapped. We will present her in a court soon, where she will record her statement. Further action will be taken based on her statement, as the woman is an adult.”

He clarified that while “some people alleged that illegal conversion was taking place but nothing of that sort was found.” When heckled by the mob, the woman was purportedly heard in a video that she was getting married  to Dilshad Siddiqui, 24 willingly, stated a news report. The heckler, a man, who purportedly identifies himself as a Karni Sena worker, was heard asking the woman, “What is your name… What caste are you from? Which caste does the boy belong to? Is he Muslim? Why are you getting married to him?” The woman apparently said that she comes from a Dalit community, is an adult, and is willingly getting married to the man, stated the news report.

Even the Supreme Court has observed that youngsters are choosing their life partners while departing from societal norms of caste and community and perhaps this is the way forward where caste and community tensions will be reduced by such interfaith marriages. However, such reports from the ground seem to show a completely different reality.

Related:

UP: Inter-faith couple found dead in Bareilly
Bill against ‘love jihad’ to be tabled in Gujarat Assembly
Love Jihad bogey derailed in Mangaluru
Intimacies of marriage private, can’t be affected by matters of faith: SC
No central “love jihad” law on the cards: MHA
SC issues notice in CJP’s Love Jihad Petition

The post Till death do us part? appeared first on SabrangIndia.