Dalit youth assaulted during religious festivals in Chhattisgarh, police fail to invoke SC/ST Act
Bilaspur (Chhattisgarh): Two Dalit youth, including a minor, were brutally beaten in Bilaspur district on consecutive nights of October 19 and 20. The incidents occurred during Hindu religious festivities in Mahmand and Bharda villages, both within the Torwa police station's jurisdiction.
The first assault occurred on October 19, as reported by Madhyamam on Monday. 16-year-old Ashutosh Barle, a Massorie Shishu Mandir Bhawan student, had gone to a Kali Mata Puja event in his hometown during his school holiday. He was verbally abused by Pradeep Maharaj using casteist remarks. According to eyewitnesses, Pradeep was joined by Deepeshwar and Rahul, who began beating Ashutosh with fists and rods until he lost consciousness.
A local resident alerted his mother, Sarita. She rushed to the spot and took him home. The assailants reportedly followed them and pelted stones at their house. They forced the family to lock themselves inside for safety. Activist Sanjeet Barman later alleged that the police failed to document the incident accurately when the family approached them.
The following evening, during the Laxmi Utsav celebrations, a similar attack was reported in Bharda village. Amit Yadav questioned twenty-year-old Dalit Lokesh Kumar Jangde about his attendance at the public function. Lokesh, who is a farmer and part-time driver, was verbally abused using caste-based slurs. According to witnesses, Amit and others, identified as Roshan and Shiva Yadav, took him from the pandal and assaulted him.
While the police said a First Information Report (FIR) was filed, residents and activists said that the police did not use parts of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act of 1989, allowing the victims an enhanced safety and faster trials.
Activist Barman accused officers at the Torwa police station of mishandling both complaints. He claimed they intimidated the victims’ families and accused the minor of intruding into a “higher-caste festival,” an act he termed as victim-blaming. He further noted that in Ashutosh’s case, provisions under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act were also omitted. “The police must apply the correct legal provisions and ensure justice for both victims,” Barman said.
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2nd WT20I: Shafali, spin trio do star turns in India''s seven-wicket win
Visakhapatnam (PTI): Shafali Verma hit a blistering unbeaten 69 as India made short work of a paltry target to outclass Sri Lanka by seven wickets in the second Women’s T20 International here on Tuesday.
India now lead the five-match series 2-0 after another one-sided victory, having restricted Sri Lanka to a modest 128 for 9 through a collective display of disciplined bowling from the spin trio of seasoned Sneh Rana, ably complemented by young spinners Vaishnavi Sharma and Shree Charani.
During the chase, vice-captain Smriti Mandhana (14) fell cheaply but Shafali, enjoying new found confidence after a stellar show in the World Cup final, sent the bowlers on a leather-hunt during her 34-ball knock, winning it for her team in just 11.5 overs.
The hosts have now completed back-to-back successful chases within 15 overs which speaks volumes about the unit's sky-high confidence.
Shafali's innings had 11 punchy boundaries apart from a maximum.
The floodgates opened when left-arm spinner Inoka Ranaweera bowled a few flighted deliveries and Shafali would step out everytime to hit her over extra cover. Her footwork against slow bowlers was immaculate whether stepping out to loft the ball or rocking back to punch or pull.
Seeing her confidence, the newly appointed Delhi Capitals skipper Jemimah Rodrigues (26 off 15 balls) also attacked as the duo added 58 runs in just 4.3 overs.
By the time Rodrigues was out trying to hit one six too many, the match as a contest was over. Shafali completed her half-century off just 27 balls and completed the formalities in a jiffy.
Earlier, off-spinner Rana, who got a look-in after Deepti Sharma was ruled out due to fever, showed her utility keeping the Lankan batters under tight leash with figures of 1 for 11 in 4 overs, including a maiden which certainly is a rarity in T20 cricket.
Charani, who made an impression during India's ODI World Cup triumph, took 2 for 23 in her quota of overs, while Vaishnavi after an impressive debut in the opening encounter, finished with 2 for 32, not letting the Islanders get easy runs in her second spell.
The last six wickets fell for just 24 runs, but what stood out during India’s bowling effort was their superb ground fielding. After a patchy show in the previous game, the improved sharpness in the field resulted in three run-outs.
Sri Lankan skipper Chamari Athapaththu (31 off 24 balls) looked in good nick as she deposited length deliveries from seamers Kranti Gaud and Arundhati Reddy over the ropes but it was Rana, who kept her quiet by repeatedly pitching on good length.
Unable to manoeuvre the strike and with the big hits suddenly drying up, Athapaththu chanced her arm at another delivery in which Rana had shortened the length slightly.
Not having transferred the weight into the lofted shot, Athapaththu's hoick was pouched cleanly by Amanjot Kaur at long-off.
This was after Athapaththu's opening partner Vishmi Gunaratne (1) had offered a simple return catch to Gaud.
Hasini Perera (22 off 28 balls) and Harshitha Samarawickrama (33 off 32 balls) did stitch a stand of 44 but they could never set the tempo against the Indian spin troika.
Once Hasini offered a tame return catch off a Charani full-toss, Sri Lankans never recovered and lost wickets in a heap towards the end.
