Latest news with #OdishaCongress
The Wire
4 hours ago
- Politics
- The Wire
Odisha: Dalit Men Tortured Over False Accusation of Cow Smuggling; 9 Accused Arrested
New Delhi: Two Dalit men were brutally tortured in Odisha's Ganjam district over false accusations of cow smuggling. The victims were beaten up, half tonsured, allegedly forced to eat grass and drink drain water, The New Indian Express reported. The incident happened in broad daylight on Sunday (June 22) at Kharigumma village under Dharakote block. Eight men have been arrested, while a minor has been detained, in connection to the atrocity, according to Dharakote police. According to the report, the victims, Bulu Nayak (52) and Babul Nayak (43) of Singipur, had purchased a cow and two calves from Haripur for dowry for a family marriage ceremony and were carrying the cattle to their village on a tempo rickshaw when a group of locals intercepted them at Kharigumma. The group accused them of transporting cows illegally, snatched their mobile phones and cash. They reportedly demanded Rs 30,000 to release the animals. As the duo refused, the miscreants tied their limbs and brutally assaulted them. They took them to a local salon where their heads were partially shaved, then forced them to crawl for nearly two kilometres to Jahada village where they were allegedly forced to eat grass and consume drain water. A villager witnessing the incident informed a local leader who reached the spot to release them but demanded Rs 30,000 in return. The two victims somehow managed to escape from the spot and reached their village. They received preliminary treatment at a local hospital, and lodged a complaint with Dharakote police. However, the police were reportedly busy with VVIP duty that day, so the FIR was registered late in the night. Meanwhile, there was growing outrage regarding the incident. The next day, leaders of Dalit Mahasabha in Ganjam reached Singipur to hold a protest meeting and expressed concern over the rise in atrocities against dalits since the BJP came to power in the state. On Tuesday, Dalit Mahasabha in the district staged a demonstration near the revenue divisional commissioner's office demanding strong action against the accused. They also submitted a memorandum to chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi. The accused have been arrested under various sections of Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita, 2023, and Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. Niti Shekhar, DIG southern range, told news agency PTI that the accused will be produced before a court soon. Odisha Congress forms fact-finding team Odisha Congress has formed a five-member fact-finding team, led by Rama Chandra Kadam, leader of the Congress legislature party in the state assembly, to investigate the heinous incident. Leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi condemned the incident, saying such incidents were becoming common in BJP-ruled states. 'This incident is a mirror for those who claim that caste is no longer an issue. Every incident that tramples the dignity of Dalits is an attack on Baba Saheb's Constitution—a conspiracy against equality, justice, and humanity,' he said in a post on X. 'Such incidents are becoming common in BJP-ruled states because their politics is built on hatred and hierarchy. Atrocities against SCs, STs, and women have alarmingly increased, especially in Odisha,' he added, demanding strict punishment for the culprits. 'The country will run by the Constitution, not by Manusmriti,' he said. Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also voiced concern over the brutal assault and described the incident as an "insult to Baba Saheb's Constitution and its high values of equality, justice and humanity".
The Hindu
11 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Congress condemns atrocity against Dalit men in Odisha, seeks action against cow vigilantes
Odisha Congress has formed a five-member fact-finding team, led by Rama Chandra Kadam, leader of the Congress Legislature Party in the Odisha Assembly, to investigate into heinous incident in the Ganjam district. Two Dalit men, accused of cattle smuggling, were tonsured, forced to eat grass, and made to drink waste water. The incident occurred on the afternoon of June 22, when Babula Naik and Bulu Naik were taking three cows from Singipur village, under the jurisdiction of Gangpur police station in Ganjam district, to arrange items for a marriage ceremony. They were intercepted by a group of local youths from Jahada village, under Dharakote police limits, who were reportedly cow vigilantes. 'The miscreants demanded ₹30,000 from the two men to let them go. When the victims expressed their inability to pay, they were humiliated — their heads were forcibly shaved, they were made to eat grass, and forced to drink wastewater,' said Ganjam Superintendent of Police Suvendu Kumar Patra on Tuesday (June 24, 2025). Mr. Patra added that nine individuals, including a minor, were arrested, while three others involved in the brutal act remained absconding. Eight of the accused have been produced before a local court, and the minor before the Juvenile Justice Board. The incident sparked outrage after videos and photographs of the assault surfaced on social media. Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, expressed grave concern, saying such incidents were becoming increasingly common in BJP-ruled States, where the politics of hatred and hierarchy had led to a sharp rise in atrocities against Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and women — especially in Odisha. 'Every assault on the dignity of Dalits is an attack on Baba Saheb Ambedkar's Constitution — a conspiracy against the values of equality, justice, and humanity,' he said. Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also voiced concern on social media, condemning the brutal assault on the two Dalit youths in Odisha as deeply shameful. 'They were forced to eat grass and crawl on their knees — an inhuman act that disgraces all of humanity. This horrific incident is not only an attack on the Dalit community but also a grave insult to the Constitution envisioned by Baba Saheb Ambedkar, which upholds the ideals of equality, justice, and human dignity. The increasing frequency of such incidents in BJP-ruled states is deeply troubling,' Ms. Vadra said, demanding swift and stringent action against the perpetrators. Odisha Congress Legislature Party leader Rama Chandra Kadam said he would visit the victims on Wednesday (June 25, 2025) to gather firsthand information about the atrocity. According to the police, the accused have been identified as Sibasankar Mohanty, Satya Sahu, Bainath Bisoyi, Omm Gouda, Ganapati Polei, Santosh Dakua, Sankar Das, and Narayan Dakua. Another key accused, Raja Samal, is still absconding.
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Hindustan Times
Odisha: 8 arrested for assault of 2 Dalit men over suspicion cow smuggling
Bhubaneswar: The Odisha police arrested eight people on Tuesday in connection with the brutal attack on two Dalit men, accusing them of cattle smuggling, two days ago. Polcie said the main accused Raja Samal is still evading arrest. (Representational image) The two Dalit men were allegedly tonsured, assaulted and forced to crawl on their knees and consume grass and drain water. Police officials in Ganjam said they have identified all the people responsible for the assault of two Dalit men, 59-year-old Babula Nayak, and his cousin brother Bulu Nayak, 54, at the hands of a mob in Jahada of Kharigumma village under Dharakote police station limits on Sunday. 'While the main accused Raja Samal is still evading arrest, we have managed to arrest eight persons who assaulted the Dalit men pretending to be cow vigilantes, made them kneel on ground, move on knees and hands, biting grass, drinking sewage water and tonsured their heads partially. The primary motive was not cow protection or anything like that, but extortion. It seems they were influenced by social media videos and wanted to make quick money,' said Ganjam superintendent of police (SP) Subhendu Patra. Police said based on the report of the victims, a first information report (FIR) has been registered under sections 296/ 126(2)/ 115(2)/ 303(2)/ 508(2)/ 356(2)/ 3(5) BNS read with 3(1)(r)/ (s)/ 3(2) (va) SC&ST (POA) Act 1989. Incidentally, one of the accused is a Dalit man. Those who were arrested are Sibasankar Mohanty, Satya Sahu, Bainath Bisoyi, Omm Gouda, Ganapati Polei, Santosh Dakua, Sankar Das and Narayan Dakua. All the accused persons were forwarded to a court on Tuesday. Police said the mob led by Raja Samal demanded ₹ 30,000 from the duo and when they refused, they were assaulted and humiliated– such as forcing them to crawl on their knees for over a kilometre. A video of the incident went viral on Monday. According to the victims, the cattle were meant as a traditional gift for the wedding of Babula's daughter. Following outrage on social media, Odisha Congress president Bhakta Charan Das on Tuesday sent a five-member panel headed by its legislature party leader Rama Chandra Kadam to investigate the matter. 'The incident shows how Dalits are facing the heat in Odisha after the BJP government took charge. The law and order situation has completely deteriorated in Odisha,' alleged Ramchandra Kadam. In a post on X, opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) said, 'People are becoming increasingly restless. The law and order are collapsing in Odisha.' Ganjam District Dalit Mahasangha president Sangram Nahak, who accompanied the victims to the SP's office on Tuesday, said the accused in the name of cow vigilantism wee actually extorting money.
India Gazette
09-05-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
Odisha Congress organises blood donation camp to honour soldiers
Bhubaneswar (Odisha) [India], May 9 (ANI): Following a failed drone incursion attempt by Pakistan on Thursday night, Odisha Congress President Bhakta Charan Das expressed strong support for the Indian armed forces and condemned the hostile act. In a statement issued today, Das also told that Odisha Congress organised a blood donation camp on Thursday at the State Congress Committee headquarters. 'Pakistan's policies and strength have no stand in front of us... Our soldiers are working to eradicate terrorism forever, and the Congress party is standing with them,' said Das. 'Yesterday, we organised a blood donation camp in the state Congress committee to honour our soldiers. Today, we are organising the Tiranga Yatra all over the country to show respect for our brave soldiers, he added. Earlier, Congress party sources said they will hold a 'Jai Hind Yatra' in all states across the country on May 9 to express solidarity in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor. 'Congress party to hold 'Jai Hind Yatra' in all Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) units across the country tomorrow to show solidarity,' the Congress sources stated. The Congress party extended its full support to the central government during the all-party meeting held to brief political leaders on the ongoing tensions with Pakistan following India's military operation in the early hours of Wednesday. However, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge raised questions on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's absence from the meeting, asking if the PM thought he was above the Parliament. Kharge's comments echo similar criticism he made when PM Modi skipped an all-party meeting following the Pahalgam terror attack. He said that the Prime Minister should have directly heard the viewpoints of opposition members. During the meeting Defence Minister Rajnath Singh briefed political parties on India's action on cross-border terrorism. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Union Minister JP Nadda, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, and Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi are among several other leaders who participated in the meeting. (ANI)
Hans India
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Bhakta calls for protection of Constitution
Angul: Odisha Congress president Bhakta Charan Das on Tuesday called upon every Indian to save the Constitution claiming it is in 'danger'. Addressing the 'Samvidhan Bachao Samavesh' at Angul, Das said India has got freedom after immense struggle and B R Ambedkar framed the Constitution. However, the Indian Constitution is 'undergoing a very bad time and needs protection'. So every Indian should come forward to protect it, he said. Referring to the current situation in the country, Das said the country is facing a war-like situation due to 'failure' of the Central government. He said people are being exploited due to price rise and various 'failures' of the NDA government. Coming down heavily on the State government, the Congress leader said, 'The law and order situation in the State is deplorable while women are unsafe.' He described the 10-month BJP rule in the State as a 'failure'. Das claimed that the people of the State have realised the 'failures' of double-engine (BJP government in Odisha and Centre) government and will reply befittingly to the BJP in future. Former Union minister Srikant Jena said the State has 'failed' to provide justice to the people displaced due to mining activities. Jena alleged that the Centre neglected the State by not enhancing the coal royalty. During the visit, Das, accompanied by Jena, met Angul SP Rahul Jain and demanded strong action on the recent rape and murder of a woman in the district.
