Dalit student forced to beg, beaten with sticks, attacked near hostel in Gujarat
Mehsana, Gujarat: An incident of caste-based violence has been reported from Mehsana district in north Gujarat, an area widely recognised as an educational hub. A Dalit student, hailing from Porbandar and currently studying in Mehsana, and residing in the hostel of a BBA–BCA college, was reportedly assaulted by four individuals following a minor dispute.
According to the victim, who is currently pursuing his studies, the incident originated from a brief verbal exchange inside the hostel on February 3. He alleged that a fellow hostel resident, verbally abused him during a casual interaction. When the student objected, the accused allegedly threatened him with consequences the next day.
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“Their words were more painful than the beating. They abused me using my caste name and tried to humiliate me by forcing me to beg for forgiveness,” the victim told the police, The Observer Post reported.
The complaint further states that on the morning of February 4, as the student was heading to college, he was intercepted near a Hanuman temple close to the hostel by the acused and his three associates. The accused allegedly forced him to apologise by falling at their feet. Upon his refusal, they are said to have hurled caste-based slurs and physically assaulted him using wooden sticks and belts.
The student sustained serious injuries in the attack. He initially received treatment at a university hospital but was later shifted to Mehsana Civil Hospital by ambulance after his condition deteriorated.
Subsequently, the victim, accompanied by his mother, lodged a formal complaint at the Mehsana A Division police station. Police have registered a case under provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, along with sections pertaining to assault and criminal intimidation.
A police official said, “A case has been registered under the SC/ST Atrocities Act and other relevant sections. We are conducting raids to locate the accused.”
Authorities said efforts are ongoing to locate and arrest the accused, who are currently said to be absconding.
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Trump says EU has until July 4 to approve last year's trade deal or it will face higher tariffs
Washington (AP): President Donald Trump has said in a social media post that goods from the European Union would face higher tariff rates if the 27-member bloc fails to approve last year's trade framework by July 4.
The announcement on Thursday appeared to be a deadline extension after the president said last Friday that EU autos would face a higher 25 per cent tariff starting this week. Trump made the updated announcement after what he described as a "great call" with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Still, the US president was displeased that the European Parliament had yet to finalize the trade arrangement reached last year, which was further complicated in February by the US Supreme Court ruling that Trump lacked the legal authority to declare an economic emergency to impose the initial tariffs used to pressure the EU into talks.
"A promise was made that the EU would deliver their side of the Deal and, as per Agreement, cut their Tariffs to ZERO!" Trump posted. "I agreed to give her until our Country's 250th Birthday or, unfortunately, their Tariffs would immediately jump to much higher levels."
It was unclear from the post whether Trump was implying that the tariff rates would jump on all EU goods or the increase would only apply to autos.
His latest statement indicates he might be backing away from his earlier threat on EU autos by giving the European Parliament several more weeks to approve the agreement.
Under the original terms of the framework, the US would charge a 15 per cent tax on most goods imported from the EU.
But since the Supreme Court ruling, the administration has levied a 10 per cent tariff while investigating trade imbalances and national security issues, aiming to put in new tariffs to make up for lost revenues.
