Chhattisgarh: Scheduled Caste pastor’s burial blocked by villagers, son moves Supreme Court
Bastar: A farmer in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar region has been unable to bury his father for the past 12 days due to opposition from villagers. The deceased, Subhash Baghel, a pastor from a Scheduled Caste (SC) community, had wished to be buried alongside his relatives in the village graveyard in Chhindawada. However, some residents opposed the burial, citing the family’s conversion to Christianity.
Ramesh Baghel, the pastor’s son, initially moved the Chhattisgarh High Court for permission to carry out the burial, but his plea was rejected on January 9, with the court citing potential law and order concerns. Following the setback, Baghel approached the Supreme Court, which has now sought a response from the state government by Monday.
“This is a clear case of religious discrimination,” said lawyer and human rights activist Degree Prasad Chouhan, who is assisting Baghel. He highlighted the increasing instances of discrimination against Christians in the Bastar region, particularly after the introduction of the Chhattisgarh Panchayat Provisions (Extension of the Scheduled) Rules, 2021.
Baghel recounted the challenges his family has faced over the past two years, alleging that a political group has been inciting villagers to socially boycott Christians. “We have been denied work, my shop has been boycotted, and now we are not even allowed to bury our loved ones,” he said.
Despite the fact that Baghel’s grandfather and other relatives are buried in the same graveyard, the High Court suggested that the family use a Christian burial ground located 20–25 km away in Karkapal to avoid unrest. Baghel has also accused local police of siding with the villagers, further complicating the situation.
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Three die in accident after car collides with truck in Kalaburagi
Kalaburagi (Karnataka), Jan 20 (PTI): Three people died and equal number of them were injured after the car they were travelling in allegedly collided head-on with a truck here on Monday, police said.
The incident occurred around 12.30 pm in Magadhampur village, Chincholi taluka, in this district, they said.
According to the police, the car was coming from Bidar to Dharur in Telangana when it collided with a truck.
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The deceased have been identified as Avinash (24), Abhishek (26), and Sanjeev (40). They were traveling in the car, and three others who were with them sustained injuries. They were immediately shifted to the nearest hospital, where they are undergoing treatment.
A case of the accident has been registered, police said, adding that further investigation is underway.
