Odisha: 2 Dalit men beaten up, tonsured, forced to consume grass, drain water over cattle transport
Berhampur (PTI): Two Dalit men in Odisha’s Ganjam district were tonsured, assaulted and forced to crawl on their knees and consume grass and drain water on suspicion of cattle smuggling, police said.
The incident, which occurred recently at Jahada in Kharigumma village under Dharakote police station limits, has triggered widespread outrage in political circles after purported videos of the assault went viral on social media.
PTI, however, could not independently verify the authenticity of the videos.
The victims — Babula Nayak (54) and Bulu Nayak (42) of Singipur — were transporting two cows and a calf in a vehicle from Hariour to their village when they were caught by a group of self-proclaimed 'cow protectors' at Kharigumma, accusing the two of smuggling cattle, police said.
"The mob allegedly demanded Rs 30,000 from the duo. When the victims refused, they were assaulted and subjected to degrading treatment," a police officer said.
"They were taken to a salon and their heads were tonsured partly. They were then forced to crawl on their knees for over a kilometre, fed grass and made to drink drain water," the officer added.
After managing to flee from the clutches of the mob, the victims lodged an FIR against the accused at Dharakote police station on Sunday evening.
According to the victims, the cattle were meant as a traditional gift for the wedding of Babula’s daughter.
The police on Monday detained six people for allegedly assaulting and partially tonsuring the heads of the two Dalit men.
Ganjam SP Suvendu Kumar Patra said a case was registered, and police detained at least six persons in this case.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the attackers' motive was not animal protection but extortion, police said.
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PM Modi lauds reduction in tuberculosis incidence in India
New Delhi (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday lauded the reduction in the incidence of tuberculosis in India since 2015, which was twice the global rate of decline and credited it to the expansion of treatment coverage.
India's TB incidence, which refers to new cases emerging each year, reduced by 21 per cent, from 237 per lakh population in 2015 to 187 per lakh population in 2024, according to the World Health Organisation's Global TB Report 2025.
The reduction is almost double the pace of the decline observed globally at 12 per cent, the Health Ministry said.
"India's fight against TB is achieving remarkable momentum. The latest WHO Global tuberculosis report 2025 highlights that India has recorded a commendable reduction in TB incidence since 2015 and it is nearly twice the global rate of decline," Modi said in a post on X.
The Prime Minister said the decline in incidence of TB in India was one of the sharpest drops seen anywhere in the world.
"Equally heartening is the expansion of treatment coverage, the fall in 'missing cases' and the sustained rise in treatment success. I compliment all those who have worked towards achieving this success. We remain committed to ensuring a healthy and fit India," Modi said.
