Anger over Dalit teen's death spills over in Haryana, Rahul slams ‘BJP-RSS's Manuwadi ideology'
The Hisar episode from the night of 7 July has drawn sharp criticism from Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, who condemned the Nayab Saini-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government.
Gurugram: Protests are spreading across Haryana in the wake of a Dalit teenager's suspicious death in Hisar, with angry family members ignoring the police's 12-hour deadline to conduct the last rites.
While an First Information Report (FIR) was lodged against 10 people, including the Dalit teenager, an Special Investigation Team (SIT) has already started probing the case.
The family of Ganesh Valmiki and Hisar police have different versions of the events that unfolded at Hisar's 12 Quarter area. They, the police said, were called to stop the loud music being played late at night in a birthday party, leading to a confrontation with Ganesh and his friends.
According to the police, the situation escalated when the group attacked officers with stones and sharp weapons, injuring a sub-inspector and another officer. Ganesh and Akash jumped from a rooftop while fleeing, resulting in Ganesh's death and injuries to Akash, they added.
A post-mortem, conducted by a medical board, supports the police's version that Ganesh's death was due to the fall.
However, Ganesh's family and Dalit outfits accused the police of pushing him off the roof. The police fabricated the story of a fall to cover up their brutality, they alleged.
They have refused to claim the body, staging a dharna outside the civil hospital for over nine days, demanding justice and the suspension of the 'guilty' officers. The family further alleged that when they sought accountability from the police, they faced harassment and brutality, including attacks on women.
At a mahapanchayat held Wednesday, the Dalit community formed a 21-member committee that set a three-day ultimatum to the police to carry out action against those responsible for Ganesh's death. They warned that if the police forcibly cremate the body, the family will launch a nationwide agitation, including a permanent dharna at the office of the Hisar deputy commissioner.
The unrest has spilled beyond Hisar, with demonstrations in Bhiwani, Karnal, and Jhajjar. In Bhiwani, a memorandum was submitted to the chief minister demanding action. The Youth Congress workers protested alongside the teenager's body in Karnal, while the Valmiki community in Jhajjar staged a sit-in, amplifying the call for justice.
Tensions remain high as the police prepare to forcibly cremate the body. The incident has reignited debates on police accountability and the treatment of marginalized communities in Haryana, with the opposition vowing to escalate the fight for justice.
In a press conference Thursday, Hisar Range Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) K.K.Rao released two CCTV footage showing the youths setting up a cot in the middle of the street, playing loud music, and arguing with officers who attempted to intervene.
Rao said the youths tried to snatch a policeman's mobile and attacked the team, forcing officers to seek refuge in a house. The police were only there to stop the disturbance and were willing to undergo a lie detector test to prove innocence, he asserted.
Also Read: Nasir-Junaid murder: Accused gau rakshak who 'killed self' named Bajrang Dal Haryana chief in 'last video'
Oppn cranks up pressure
Punjab's former chief minister and Congress' Dalit leader Charanjit Singh Channi visited the dharna site at Hisar's civil hospital on Thursday and condemned the police action. Former minister and Dalit leader Raj Kumar Verka told the people that Rahul sent Channi to Hisar, and added that he would submit a report to the LoP to ensure justice to Ganesh.
Joined the protesting family of Ganesh Valmiki in Hisar, Haryana. A young Dalit boy was brutally dragged and beaten to death by the police; several others were seriously injured. Instead of delivering justice, the BJP government has filed an FIR against his grieving family. For… https://t.co/8HVlCT5o4g pic.twitter.com/gXA9haa9xp
— Charanjit Singh Channi (@CHARANJITCHANNI) July 17, 2025
In his speech, Channi said that the incident reminded him of the old 'Manuwadi Soch' against the Dalits. 'Earlier, they didn't allow us to visit temples or take water from the village well. Today, they can't tolerate a Dalit celebrating his birthday by playing a DJ,' he said.
Channi also took to X in which he alleged that a Dalit boy was brutally dragged and beaten to death by the police. 'Instead of delivering justice, the BJP government has filed an FIR against his grieving family. For 11 days, they have been waiting to cremate his body. The anti-Dalit Haryana government remains silent and is protecting the culprits,' he added.
Before Channi's visit, Congress MP Kumari Selja visited the dharna site on Wednesday, expressing solidarity with the grieving family. 'This is not just one family's fight but a question of the dignity and justice for the entire society. When the police and administration, under BJP's patronage, become perpetrators, it is an assault on the Constitution and social justice. Congress will fight for Ganesh Valmiki's justice from the streets to Parliament under Rahul Gandhi's leadership,' the Dalit leader from Haryana said on X, condemning the police's alleged brutality.
(Edited by Tony Rai)
Also Read: 'Ladki Beautiful' to Lok Sabha polls—Rahul Fazilpuria, Haryana rapper who survived Gurugram gun attack
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hans India
a minute ago
- Hans India
Operation Sindoor' Succeeded with Mahadev's Blessings: Narendra Modi
Justice for Pahalgam incident fulfils my promise to Kashi's daughters: PM If Pakistan repeats its mistakes, UP-made missiles will wipe out terrorists: PM When faced with terror, India becomes fierce like Shiva: PM on 'Operation Sindoor' New India will hunt down enemies even in the Netherworld: PM Modi Terror camps in Pakistan reduced to ruins; many airbases still in ICU: Prime Minister Success of Operation Sindoor giving some people a stomachache: PM Terror kingpins cry, so do Congress and SP over terrorists' fate: PM Modi New India worships Bholenath, turns Kaal Bhairav against enemies: PM Modi Varanasi, August 2 Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing a massive public gathering at Banauli village in Sevapuri on Saturday, dedicated the success of Operation Sindoor to Lord Mahadev. Marking his first visit to Kashi since the operation, he said the mission succeeded only with Mahadev's blessings. Recalling the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 innocent lives, PM Modi said the grief of the victims' families, especially their daughters and children, deeply moved him. He shared that he had prayed to Baba Vishwanath for strength for the bereaved families and had vowed before the people of Kashi to avenge their pain—'the sindoor of our daughters'—a vow he now considers fulfilled. During his address, PM Modi also hit out at the Congress and Samajwadi Party for their "baseless statements" on the operation, asserting that such actions only strengthen the resolve of a united and self-reliant India. Amid chants of 'Har Har Mahadev', Prime Minister Narendra Modi began his address with 'Namah Parvati Pataye Har Har Mahadev' before a massive crowd in Kashi on Saturday. Speaking in Bhojpuri, he said, 'In the holy month of Sawan, I am blessed to meet my Kashi family. I salute every family of Kashi.' Highlighting the significance of the occasion, he noted that Kashi is today connected with lakhs of farmers across the nation, and there can be no greater fortune than addressing them from such a sacred land during this auspicious month. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Lord Shiva represents welfare, but assumes a fierce form when faced with terror and injustice. 'The world witnessed this fierce form of India during Operation Sindoor,' he said, warning that 'whoever attacks India will not survive—even in hell.' Prime Minister Narendra Modi credited the success of Operation Sindoor to the unity of 140 crore Indians, calling it the foundation of India's strength. 'This unity sparks a new consciousness each time,' he said, asking the crowd if they weren't proud of India's might and the operation's success. He highlighted the precision strikes by Indian drones and missiles that reduced terror hideouts to rubble, adding that many of Pakistan's airbases 'are still in the ICU.' Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a sharp attack on the opposition, saying some in the country are having a 'stomach ache' over the success of Operation Sindoor. 'Congress, its allies, and friends can't digest that India destroyed Pakistan's terror bases. Pakistan's sorrow is understandable—but why are Congress and SP sharing their grief?' he asked. He added, 'On one side, the king of terror cries; on the other, Congress and SP weep over the condition of terrorists.' Accusing Congress of insulting the armed forces, he said the party is calling Operation Sindoor a 'tamasha'. 'Tell me—can sindoor ever be a tamasha? Calling our army's valour and our daughters' honour a spectacle is shameful and will not be tolerated,' he asserted. Prime Minister Narendra Modi took a sharp dig at the Samajwadi Party, accusing it of indulging in vote bank and appeasement politics. Referring to SP leaders' remarks in Parliament questioning the timing of action against the Pahalgam terrorists, he said, 'Should I call them and ask—should we kill terrorists or not? Should we wait to eliminate them?' He reminded the public that during SP's rule in Uttar Pradesh, the party had withdrawn cases against those accused in bomb blasts and given clean chits to terrorists. 'They have a problem with the killing of terrorists and even with the name—Operation Sindoor,' he ad Announcing from the sacred land of Kashi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, 'This is a new India—one that worships Bholenath, but turns into Kaal Bhairav when faced with the enemies of the nation.' Highlighting India's growing self-reliance in defense, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the world witnessed the strength of indigenous weapons during Operation Sindoor. 'Our air defense systems, missiles, and drones have showcased the power of a self-reliant India,' he said, adding that 'the fear of BrahMos has shaken every enemy—its sound keeps Pakistan awake at night.' Expressing pride as an MP from Uttar Pradesh, the PM announced that BrahMos missiles will soon be manufactured in Lucknow. 'Weapons made in the UP Defense Corridor will become the backbone of India's military strength,' he said, asking the crowd if they felt proud of India's self-reliant defense capabilities. Issuing a stern warning, he declared, 'If Pakistan dares to repeat its mistakes, missiles made in UP will wipe out terrorists.'
Indian Express
a minute ago
- Indian Express
Koregaon Bhima violence: Sharad Pawar seeks six weeks time to reply on Ambedkar's application
Senior politician and NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar recently sought six weeks from the Koregaon Bhima Commission of Inquiry for replying to an application filed by Dalit leader Prakash Ambedkar in connection with a letter that he had given to former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray in January 2020. In his application before the commission filed in February this year, Ambedkar claimed that on January 24, 2020, Sharad Pawar had given a letter to then Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray stating that the violence that broke out in Koregaon Bhima was a conspiracy hatched by the previous government under the leadership of Devendra Fadnavis. Along with his application, Ambedkar had attached a news report, which stated that Pawar's letter to Uddhav Thackeray demanded the formation of a special investigation team (SIT) to probe the Koregaon-Bhima violence and accused the Fadnavis government of protecting the conspirators. Ambedkar had requested the commission to pass an order asking Pawar to submit a copy of this letter that he had given to Uddhav Thackeray, along with related documents. Ambedkar had also requested the commission that if required, Pawar should be called again to depose as a witness. On April 23 this year, advocate Kiran Kadam, on behalf of Ambedkar, filed an application at the Commission, with a request to issue a notice to Pawar for producing the documents related to the letter. The commission had then twice sent a letter to Pawar, requesting him to submit the 'documents in question', either personally or through his attorney. When contacted, V V Palnitkar, commission's secretary, confirmed that on July 24, Pawar had through his lawyer sought six weeks time to file his reply in this matter. Special Public Prosecutor Shishir Hiray had opposed Ambedkar's application to call Pawar again for deposing as a witness. Hiray had claimed this was an attempt (by Ambedkar) to create 'sensationalisation' for political purposes and delay the commission's work. Hiray stated that Sharad Pawar had deposed before the Commission in Mumbai on May 5, 2022, and was examined by different lawyers. Hiray also said that Pawar had himself never mentioned about a letter that was sent to Uddhav Thackeray — as claimed by Ambedkar — before the commission. Meanwhile, the state government has granted yet another extension to the Commission till October 31 this year. An order in this regard was passed by Chetan Nikam, deputy secretary, state home department, on July 30. This is the 19th extension given to the two member commission led by retired high court justice J N Patel. The commission was formed for probing the Koregaon Bhima violence of January 1, 2018, in which one person died and several others were injured. The Commission's tenure had to be repeatedly extended to allow it to complete its work. The commission would now conduct its hearings in Pune around August 25. Chandan Haygunde is an assistant editor with The Indian Express with 15 + years of experience in covering issues related to Crime, Courts, National Security and Human Rights. He has been associated with The Indian Express since 2007. Chandan has done investigative reporting on incidents of terrorism, left wing extremism, espionage cases, wildlife crimes, narcotics racket, cyber crimes and sensational murder cases in Pune and other parts of Maharashtra. While working on the 'Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) Fellowship on Tigers, Tiger Habitats and Conservation' in 2012, he reported extensively on the illegal activities in the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra. He has done in-depth reporting on the cases related to the Koregaon Bhima violence in Pune and hearings of the 'Koregaon Bhima Commission of Inquiry'. ... Read More
Economic Times
a minute ago
- Economic Times
Rahul Gandhi claims BJP wins since 2014 rigged, mum on Congress
Rahul Gandhi claimed that the Bharatiya Janata Party rigged elections since 2014. He alleged manipulation of up to 100 seats in the recent Lok Sabha polls. Gandhi stated that he has evidence of vote tampering. He recalled an alleged warning from Arun Jaitley. Mallikarjun Kharge raised concerns about voter list revisions in Bihar. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday triggered a political storm by alleging that most elections won by the BJP since 2014 were fraudulent and that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's third term was only possible due to large-scale rigging in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls . Addressing a legal conclave organised by the Congress's legal cell, Gandhi claimed the BJP manipulated up to 100 seats in the recent general election and said his party would soon present doubled down on his recent attack on the Election Commission, claiming he always had doubts about the fairness of BJP's sweeping victories since 2014. "I always had a suspicion that something was wrong, right from 2014... We don't get a single seat in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat. This was surprising to me," he said. Citing "atom bomb-level" evidence of vote tampering, Gandhi alleged that even a rigging of 10-15 seats would have changed the outcome. "Although our suspicion is closer to 70, 80, 100 seats," he also said an upcoming Congress-led event in Karnataka would expose fake voters, claiming that in one seat alone, 1.5 lakh of 6.5 lakh voters were a controversial aside, Gandhi recalled an alleged warning from late BJP leader Arun Jaitley over his support to the farm law protests. "When I was fighting the farm laws, Arun Jaitley ji was sent to me to threaten me," he said. "He told me, 'If you carry on opposing the govt, we will have to act against you.' I looked at him and said, 'I don't think you know who you're talking to'."The remark raised eyebrows as the farm law agitation began in 2020, more than a year after Jaitley's death in August 2019. However, Gandhi positioned the anecdote as part of his broader message of defiance, saying he had told his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra that he wasn't afraid of "playing with fire".Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge also targeted the government over the ongoing voter list revision in Bihar. "If 6.5 to 10 million voters are being excluded in a state of 70 million, it's not an error - it's a calculated move to remove the marginalised from the democratic process," he legal head Abhishek Manu Singhvi echoed the concern, warning that the Constitution was being twisted into a "tool of domination". He said it was the Congress that had built Indian democracy "not just in form but in spirit", and would now be called upon to defend Gandhi made no comments about the State elections that his party won in between.
