Caste-based discrimination found at IIM Bangalore; K'taka govt calls for action against officials
Bengaluru: An inquiry by the Directorate of Civil Rights Enforcement (DCRE) has uncovered evidence of caste-based discrimination at the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIM-B), prompting the Karnataka Department of Social Welfare to recommend action against six senior officials, including the institute’s Director, Dr. Rishikesha T Krishnan.
The investigation revealed that Dr. Gopal Das, an associate professor of marketing from a Scheduled Caste (SC), faced public humiliation, workplace exclusion, and denial of equal opportunities. It also highlighted the institute’s failure to implement mandatory grievance redressal mechanisms for SC and Scheduled Tribe (ST) employees.
The inquiry detailed incidents where Dr. Krishnan allegedly disclosed Dr. Das’s caste in a mass email and, along with Dr. Dinesh Kumar, the Dean (Faculty), denied him professional opportunities. The allegations were first raised in January 2024, when Dr. Das wrote to President Droupadi Murmu during her visit to IIM-B, accusing the institution of systemic exclusion and caste-based discrimination.
Following a directive from the President’s office, the DCRE initiated an inquiry in March 2024. The investigation culminated in a report submitted by Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Arun Chakravarthy to the Social Welfare Department on November 26.
The findings named other senior officials, including renowned cardiologist and Board of Governors Chairman Dr. Devi Prasad Shetty, along with Professors Sreelata Jonnalagedda, Rahul De, Ashish Mishra, and Chetan Subramanian. Dr. Shetty obtained a stay on the inquiry proceedings from the Karnataka High Court.
In response, the Karnataka Social Welfare Department directed the Bengaluru Commissioner on December 9 to initiate action against the remaining six officials under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 2015.
IIM-B issued a statement asserting that it had cooperated fully with the DCRE inquiry but had not received a copy of the report. The institute described the media reports as "unfortunate" and highlighted its support for Dr. Das since his recruitment in 2018.
The institute also countered allegations of discrimination, noting that Dr. Das’s claims arose only after his promotion application was delayed due to complaints of harassment filed by doctoral students. An internal inquiry reportedly found the complaints against Dr. Das to be valid.
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South African police arrest suspect in mass shooting that killed 12, including 3 children
Johannesburg (AP): A 32-year-old suspect has been arrested in connection with a mass shooting which claimed the lives of 12 people including three children at an unlicensed pub earlier this month, South African police said on Monday.
The man is suspected of being one of the three people who opened fire on patrons in a pub at Saulsville township, west of South Africa's capital Pretoria, killing 12 people including three children aged 3, 12 and 16.
At least 13 people were also injured during the attack, whose motive remains unknown.
According to the police, the suspect was arrested on Sunday while traveling to Botlokwa in Limpopo province, more than 340 km from where the mass shooting took place on Dec 6.
An unlicensed firearm believed to have been used during the attack was recovered from the suspect's vehicle.
“The 32-year-old suspect was intercepted by Limpopo Tracking Team on the R101 Road in Westenburg precinct. During the arrest, the team recovered an unlicensed firearm, a hand gun, believed to have been used in the commission of the multiple murders. The firearm will be taken to the Forensic Science Laboratory for ballistic analysis,” police said in statement.
The suspect was arrested on the same day that another mass shooting at a pub took place in the Bekkersdal township, west of Johannesburg, in which nine people were killed and 10 wounded when unknown gunmen opened fire on patrons.
Police have since launched a search for the suspects.
South Africa has one of the highest homicide rates in the world and recorded more than 26,000 homicides in 2024 — an average of more than 70 a day. Firearms are by far the leading cause of death in homicides.
The country of 62 million people has relatively strict gun ownership laws, but many killings are committed with illegal guns, according to authorities.
According to police, mass shootings at unlicensed bars are becoming a serious problem. Police shut down more than 11,000 illegal taverns between April and September this year and arrested more than 18,000 people for involvement in illegal liquor sales.
