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Another lynching: 21-year-old Dalit youth killed for watching garba in Gujarat’s Anand

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Jayesh Solanki

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Jayesh Solanki and 3 other Dalits were watching garba being performed in a temple when a group of upper caste Patels said they had “no right” to watch the dance

In yet another case of caste-related lynching, a 21-year-old Dalit youth, Jayesh Lalbhai Solanki, was brutally beaten to death allegedly by a group of upper caste Patel community members in Bhadraniya village of Borsad taluka in Gujarat’s Anand district in the wee hours on Sunday morning purely because he was watching garba being performed at a temple.

Eight accused have been arrested for the lynching, the police said.

It is learnt that Jayesh, his cousin his cousin Prakash Solanki and two other Dalit men were sitting near a house adjacent to the Someshwar Mahadev temple in Bhadraniya village where garba was being performed on the night of Dussehra (Saturday, September 30) when a person made “derogatory remarks about their caste,” the police said.

Quoting a complaint filed over the incident, the police official said: The accused told Jayesh and the other Dalit youth that members of their community “do not have any right to watch garba.” He passed caste-based slurs and then hailed some other men to come to the spot. The upper caste men allegedly thrashed all four youth and then banged Jayesh’s head against a wall.

Prakash, who managed to flee the spot, had filed the police complaint in the case.

A report in the Times of India said while quoting Prakash’s complaint identified a person named Sanjay Patel as the main perpetrator and that it was Sanjay who gathered seven other upper caste men to drag away Jayesh and beat him to death.

Prakash said that Sanjay enquired from Jayesh about why he was sitting near the temple and “when we told him that we were watching garba, he started abusing us and hurled casteist insults.” The eyewitness has said in his complaint that the attackers first thrashed Jayesh and then picked him up and flung him. Prakash recounts that his cousin’s head banged against a wall and that “though he suffered severe head injury, they (Sanjay and other accomplices) continued to beat him.”

Sources said that the attackers fled the spot after people from around the area began gathering at the scene and started enquiring about the commotion. Prakash told the police that “Jayesh had fallen unconscious and we rushed him on a bike to Borsad hospital from where he was taken to Karamsad Medical College and Hospital. Doctors checked him and declared him dead.”

The Times of India quoted Anand superintendent of police Saurabh Singh as saying: “all the eight accused have been arrested and were being interrogated. The accused have been booked for murder and under sections of Prevention of Atrocities against Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes Act.”

Besides Sanjay Patel, the other accused have been identified by the police as Sanjay’s brother Jignesh and their friends Chintan Patel, Dhaval Patel, Rutvij Patel and his brother Vicky Patel, Ripen Patel and Dipesh Patel.

Jayesh’s murder comes close on the heels of Dalit youths being attacked by upper caste Rajput community members for sporting moustaches in Gandhinagar district in separate incidents on September 25 and 29.

In July last year, Gujarat had witnessed massive state-wide protests by Dalits after four members of the community were tied to a car and flogged for allegedly killing a cow. It later turned out that the four Dalit men were actually removing the carcass of a cow that had died of natural causes.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

India News

Abhishek Banerjee says will not bow to BJP after nearly 11 hours of ED questioning

After spending nearly 11 hours before the Enforcement Directorate, TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee said he would not bow to the BJP and accused the ruling party of using investigative agencies for political purposes.

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Abhishek Banerjee

Trinamool Congress leader and Diamond Harbour MP Abhishek Banerjee on Tuesday said he would not bow to the BJP after spending nearly 11 hours being questioned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with an ongoing investigation.

Speaking after the questioning, Banerjee alleged that central agencies were being used to target opposition leaders and asserted that he would continue his political fight despite what he described as sustained pressure.

The TMC leader has repeatedly maintained that investigations involving him are politically motivated, a charge he has made on several previous occasions while appearing before central agencies.

His appearance before the ED comes amid a period of heightened political activity and multiple investigations involving leaders in West Bengal. Recent days have also seen Banerjee face summons and questioning in separate matters by state investigative agencies.

After leaving the ED office, Banerjee reiterated that he would not be intimidated and said he remained committed to his political responsibilities. He also accused the BJP of attempting to weaken opposition parties through investigative action, an allegation that the BJP has rejected in the past.

The Enforcement Directorate has not publicly commented on Banerjee’s remarks. The investigation related to the questioning remains ongoing.

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India News

DMK attacks Rahul Gandhi, accuses him of weakening opposition unity

DMK has intensified its criticism of Rahul Gandhi, alleging that the Congress leader’s actions have weakened opposition unity and strained relations within the INDIA bloc.

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Rahul-Gandhi

The war of words between the DMK and Congress has intensified, with the DMK launching a strong attack on Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and accusing him of contributing to divisions within the opposition alliance. The criticism comes amid strained ties between the two parties following their political split in Tamil Nadu.

According to the DMK, Rahul Gandhi’s political approach has weakened unity among opposition parties. The party’s IT wing mocked the Congress leader on social media, while an editorial published in the DMK’s official mouthpiece Murasoli questioned his recent remarks on opposition solidarity.

DMK questions Rahul Gandhi’s remarks on opposition unity

In its editorial, Murasoli argued that Rahul Gandhi was speaking about opposition unity despite, according to the DMK, contributing to disagreements among alliance partners in several states. The publication cited criticism directed at Congress by various opposition parties and suggested that the party’s actions had often created tensions within the INDIA bloc.

The editorial also referred to past political disputes involving Congress and Left parties, particularly in Kerala, claiming such episodes had raised concerns among opposition allies about Congress’s approach toward its partners.

Tamil Nadu political fallout adds to tensions

The attack comes after a major political realignment in Tamil Nadu. Following the 2026 Assembly elections, Congress ended its alliance with the DMK and joined the government led by Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). The move left the DMK in the opposition and significantly altered the political equation between the two former allies.

The DMK has alleged that Congress benefited from the alliance during the election and later abandoned its partner. The party’s editorial questioned whether assurances from Congress leadership would be trusted by alliance partners after the developments in Tamil Nadu.

Congress rejects allegations

Congress has not issued a detailed official response to the editorial, but party sources have rejected the allegations. According to the party, its decisions in Tamil Nadu were made in line with the mandate delivered by voters and were not intended to undermine either the DMK or the broader opposition alliance.

The latest exchange highlights growing strains between two key opposition parties even as leaders continue to stress cooperation on national issues. Just days earlier, Rahul Gandhi had said that the DMK remained aligned with the opposition on defending the “idea of India” despite political differences.

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Entertainment

Kumkum Bhagya actor Sanchita Ugale dies by suicide near Mumbai at 22

Television actor Sanchita Ugale, known for Kumkum Bhagya and Wagle Ki Duniya, died by suicide at her residence near Mumbai. Police have launched an investigation.

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Sanchita Ugale

Television actor Sanchita Ugale, known for her appearances in Kumkum Bhagya, Wagle Ki Duniya and Dilwali Dulha Le Jayegi, died by suicide at her residence in Nalasopara East near Mumbai on June 14. She was 22.

According to police officials, the incident took place at her home in Achole village, Nalasopara East. Authorities said Ugale had locked herself inside her bedroom and was later found hanging from a ceiling fan. Family members and local residents rushed her to a hospital, where doctors declared her dead.

Police have registered an Accidental Death Report (ADR) and launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death. Officials said inquiries are underway and the exact reason behind the incident has not yet been established.

Career across television, OTT and films

Ugale had built a growing presence in the entertainment industry through television, streaming projects and films. Apart from Kumkum Bhagya and Wagle Ki Duniya, she played a lead role in Dilwali Dulha Le Jayegi. She also appeared in OTT projects such as Crime Aaj Kal and Silence 2.

The actor was also associated with the film Chhaava, which contributed to her growing recognition among audiences.

Last social media post draws attention

Following news of her death, social media users shared and commented on Ugale’s final Instagram post, which had been uploaded hours before the incident. The post showed the actor in traditional attire lip-syncing to a classic Bollywood song. Fans expressed shock and grief after learning of her death.

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