Dalit's beating clip goes viral as Gujarat celebrates Founding Day
Devbhoomi Dwarka, May 1: About a year and a half after the infamous Una Dalit flogging case, an assault on a Dalit villager in Saurashtra region of Gujarat went viral on the social media on Tuesday, the Founding Day of the western state.
In the video clipping, Devshibhai Roshiya of Surajkaradi village in Devbhoomi Dwarka district, can be seen lying on the ground and three persons beating him with sticks. He was later saved due to the intervention of an elderly person.
Police identified the two accused as Sikandar Pir Khan and Salman Pir Khan while one remained unidentified. One of the accused is a son of the victim's neighbour Pir Khan Umarkhan Pathan, whose family lives opposite Devshibhai Roshiya's house in Surajkaradi.
Police sources said an FIR was got registered by Devshibhai on April 26 under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act against 17 named members of the Pathan family, including women and children, and five unnamed persons for barging into his house, snatching money from him and using abusive language.
When the accused came to know about the FIR, they caught hold of Devshibhai and thrashed him in front of his house.
Devbhoomi Dwarka Superintendent of Police Rohan Anand said: "The incident occurred in Surajkaradi in Mithapur area around 9.30-10 a.m. on April 28. The Local Crime Branch is looking for three accused, who are neighbours of the victim. The investigation is being carried out by Deputy Superintendent of Police (SC/ST Division) R.K. Patel."
"In the past too, both sides were involved in altercations and lodged complaints against each other. As soon as we came to know about the crime, we registered a complaint."
Police security has been provided to Devshibhai, who is admitted in a hospital.
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UCC only targets Muslims while other personal laws remain unaffected: Tushar Gandhi
Mangalore: Tushar Gandhi, the great-grandson of Mahatma Gandhi and a prominent social activist, expressed strong concerns over the current political environment in India, stating that it deviates from the vision of the nation's founders. Speaking at a seminar in Mangalore on Monday, Gandhi emphasized that the unity that earned India its liberty has been overshadowed by divisive politics focused on caste and religion.
He was addressing a gathering at a one-day seminar and book release event organized by the Karnataka Gandhi Smaraka Nidhi, Bangalore, in collaboration with Mangalore University, Mangala Gangotri, National Service Scheme (NSS), and the Kumbra Jathappa Rai Prasthistana, Puttur. The seminar was aimed at discussing the relevance of Gandhi’s ideology for today’s youth.
In his special address on the topic “Relevance of Gandhi’s Ideology to Today’s Youth,” Gandhi lamented how today’s political leaders have realized that dividing and ruling the electorate is the way forward. He expressed frustration that the electorate is often left to choose between poor political options, with no ideal candidates in sight. "We are in a zone where we have to elect from all the bad options. No ideal options are left when it comes to politics. We elect people who should be nowhere in public life," he said, underscoring the decline in political integrity.
Gandhi also criticized the ongoing discussions surrounding the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC). He argued that the code disproportionately targets Muslims, while other personal laws remain unaffected. He pointed out that the current political regime’s push for UCC reflects an attempt to alter the Constitution through indirect means, calling it “changing the Constitution through the backdoor.”
In a pointed remark about the current atmosphere for minorities, Gandhi questioned whether a person from a minority community would feel comfortable or confident seeing an individual in an RSS uniform working at a government office. He asserted that this discomfort is exactly what the present regime seeks to instill in minorities, furthering their marginalization.
Gandhi’s remarks resonated with the audience, drawing attention to the stark contrast between the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi and the prevailing political discourse. He warned that the political and social divisions seen today were far from what the nation's founders had envisioned, calling for a return to the principles of unity and secularism.
The seminar also featured notable speakers and dignitaries. Nadoja Dr. Wooday P. Krishna, President of the Karnataka Gandhi Smaraka Nidhi, delivered the keynote address. Dr. Shantaram Shetty, Pro Vice Chancellor of Nitte University, Mangalore, was the guest of honor, releasing two books authored by Pramod Kumar Rai, founder of Kumbra Jathappa Rai Pratistana, Puttur. The books titled "On the Trail of Gandhi’s Footsteps" and "Before I Return to the Soil" reflect on Gandhi’s ideology and its impact on society.
Presiding over the event was Prof. P.L. Dharma, Vice Chancellor of Mangalore University, who praised the significance of such discussions in today’s context. Dr. Sheshappa K, NSS Coordinator of Mangalore University, and Prof. Ganapati Gowda, Principal of University College, Mangalore, were also present during the seminar.
