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Nitish Kumar govt role inhuman and shameful in crimes against children in shelter homes

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8 years ago

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Already under fire over rapes and deaths of minor girls in Mhzaffarpur shelter home, Nitish Kumar government was rapped severely by the Supreme Court today (Tuesday, Nov 27) for its attitude towards rampant sexual abuse of children in several other state-run shelter homes.

The Muzaffarpur shelter home abuse case that hit headlines in July this year was only one of the 17 shelter homes indicted in the study by Mumbai-based Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS). The TISS report, submitted to the Bihar government, highlighted gross violations of human rights of inmates in 15 shelter homes in the state, including the Muzaffarpur shelter, whose affairs are now being investigated by the CBI. But criminal cases have only been registered against 10 shelter homes. This too, the Supreme Court noted, has not been done under the appropriate criminal provisions.

The court said the Bihar government got the report on sexual assault cases from TISS in May as part of a larger audit, but “nothing has happened”.

A three-judge bench comprising Justices Madan B Lokur, Deepak Gupta and Abdul Nazeer also warned Bihar that it would consider handing over all shelter home cases to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). For now, the CBI is probing only the Muzaffarpur shelter home rapes.

“The state’s attitude is extremely unfortunate and tragic to say the least. This is inhuman and shameless… A child is sodomised and the state does nothing. You don’t even care to register FIRs properly. There are 17 shelter homes where allegations of sexual abuse were cited in the TISS report. Why should each case not be investigated? Are these children lesser citizens of the country?” the court asked.

“We were told that matter will be looked with great seriousness, this is seriousness? This file, it’s tragic,” the court added.

“Only God can save,” the top court remarked, indicating that it might transfer all abuse cases flagged in the TISS report to the CBI.

It questioned the registration of FIRs only under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) and not under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

“What are you (Bihar government) doing? It’s shameful. If the child is sodomised you say it’s nothing? How can you do this? It’s inhuman. We were told that matter will be looked with great seriousness, this is seriousness? Every time I read this file it’s tragic,” the court said, according to news agency ANI.

The top court gave the Nitish Kumar government 24 hours to add the charges in the FIRs registered by the police.

“If we find that there were offences under section 377 IPC and POCSO Act and you did not register FIR, we will pass an order against the government,” the SC said.

The court sought a personal affidavit from the chief secretary, who was present in court. The matter will be taken up again tomorrow.

One of those accused in the Muzaffarpur shelter home case is former Bihar minister Manju Verma, who surrendered a week ago after being absconding for nearly three months.

Of the 42 girls lodged at the short-stay home run by main accused Brajesh Thakur’s NGO, 34 were found to have been sexually assaulted. Thakur allegedly had links with the former minister’s husband.

The crime came to light following a social audit by TISS, Mumbai. The state government had commissioned the audit in 2017 and the report was submitted to the Social Welfare Department in April this year.

According to the 100-page report, the Muzaffarpur shelter home run by Thakur, had been “running in a highly questionable manner along with grave instances of violence. Several girls reported about violence and being abused sexually”, reported News18.

At another home in the town, ‘Seva-Kutir’, run by the Om Sai Foundation, “disturbing instances and patterns of physical violence and abuse” were reported by the inmates. Some of them also complained that they had been brought there on the “pretext of being given work”. The team could not access documents to ascertain this.

At Boys’ Children Home in the Motihari district run by NGO ‘Nirdesh’, serious physical violence and sexual abuse were reported by inmates. Older boys were clubbed in with younger ones for accommodation. Boys from both the groups reported sexual abuse and violence, the report alleged.

Inmates of a home run by ‘Sakhi’ reported physical violence especially against women and girls suffering from mental illness, it further alleged.

In the Bhagalpur district, grave abuse was reported in the Boys’ Children Home. When the team wanted the complaint box to be opened, the keys were said to have been misplaced. Those were later produced and the box was opened.

“There was a huge stock of letters written by the residents providing details of violence and other violations being carried out in the home,” the report alleged.

In Munger district, inmates of the Boys’ Children Home run by NGO ‘Panaah’ were being forced to work in residential quarters of the superintendent. On refusal to do so, they were beaten up. A resident of the home showed a three inch long scar across his cheek as he was beaten up by the superintendent, it alleged.

Inmates of home for girls, run by ‘Novelty Welfare Society’, said bathrooms had no latches from inside and they felt insecure.

In Gaya district, the Boys’ Children Home was running in a “custodial and exploitative manner”. The boys were locked up. Some of them complained that some female staff members were forcing them to write lewd messages for another female staff member, it alleged.

At a home run by ‘Gram Swaraj Seva Sansthan’ in Kaimur, a security guard was reported to be “sexually abusive”, it alleged.

Three specialised adoption agencies- ‘Nari Gunjan’ at Patna, ‘RVESK’ at Madhubani and ‘Gyan Bharti’ at Kaimur were found “running in a condition that is likely to be life-threatening”, the report alleged.

A security guard at a government-run observation home at Araria was reportedly carrying out extreme violence against boys. The superintendent expressed helplessness about it since the guard was from the Bihar Police, the report alleged.

At ‘IKARD’ in Patna, a girl unable to cope with violent atmosphere committed suicide about a year ago, while another lost her mental balance from the trauma she suffered there, the report alleged.

The condition in the ‘Seva Kutir’ in Gaya was “unsettling”, while physical violence and verbal abuse against both men and women were reported in ‘Kaushal Kutir’ run by the ‘Don Bosco Tech Society’ in Patna, it alleged

The Social Welfare Department has suspended a number of officials for ‘dereliction of duty’ in not reporting such shortcomings in their inspection reports. The TISS report said it was necessary to “engage with the residents with a sense of empathy” as documents maintained by these organisations are giving illusion of “decency and appropriateness” whereas “a culture of silent fear was sensed to be prevailing”.

The team, however, found the functioning of some of the homes “pleasantly moving”, said the News18 report, mentioning the observation home in Darbhanga, children home in Buxar and adoption centre in Saran as examples.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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India News

CBSE denies OSM portal data breach, terms online allegations misleading

CBSE has strongly dismissed social media allegations of a security breach in its On-Screen Marking (OSM) portal, clarifying that the exposed URL is a mere testing site containing no actual student data or exam marks.

Published

11 hours ago

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May 26, 2026

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CBSE

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has refuted viral claims circulating on social media regarding a security breach in its On-Screen Marking (OSM) portal. In an official statement, the national education board dismissed the allegations, labeling them completely false and highly misleading.

The clarification comes after social media posts suggested that sensitive student records and internal assessment systems had been compromised by unauthorised actors. Media reports indicate that the board has categorically denied any leak of actual student marks or examination-related details.

Testing site hosted no real student details

According to the statement released by the board, the web address highlighted in the viral allegations belongs strictly to a testing environment. The board clarified that this URL is utilized purely for internal evaluations, data sampling, and platform reviews during development phases.

The board firmly reiterated that no live student details, official scoreboards, or active examination data are stored on this testing site. Authorities have advised stakeholders and students to refrain from panic and avoid circulating unverified rumors that challenge the integrity of the examination system.

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India News

Congress Dismisses Karnataka Leadership Transition Rumors After Six-Hour Delhi Meet

The Congress party has rejected ongoing rumors regarding a leadership change or a rotating Chief Minister formula in Karnataka, stating that a recent six-hour meeting in Delhi focused strictly on the upcoming Rajya Sabha and MLC elections.

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11 hours ago

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May 26, 2026

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The Congress party has strongly downplayed the intense political buzz surrounding a potential leadership transition or a change in the Chief Minister’s post in Karnataka. Following a marathon six-hour meeting with the state’s top leadership in New Delhi, the party explicitly rejected the ongoing speculation, labeling it as having “no reality.”

A brief statement issued to the media after the high-level meeting advised against spreading rumors, clarifying that the discussions were entirely centered on upcoming electoral strategies rather than structural changes within the state government. The party stated that the deliberations solely revolved around the state’s three vacant Rajya Sabha seats and the upcoming Member of Legislative Council (MLC) elections.

Rajya Sabha and MLC Polls Take Center Stage

The high-stakes meeting was attended by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, senior leader Rahul Gandhi, and party General Secretary KC Venugopal, alongside Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar.

Briefing the media post-meeting, KC Venugopal stated that conversations were strictly confined to the Rajya Sabha and MLC elections, emphasizing that there is no truth to any other political speculation. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also confirmed that the agenda of a potential cabinet expansion or a leadership shift did not come up during the six-hour-long discussion.

Background of the Power Struggle

The question of leadership in Karnataka has remained a recurring theme for over a year. Supporters of Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar have consistently maintained that the central leadership promised a rotating Chief Ministership arrangement when the government was formed after the 2023 assembly elections.

Speculation had intensified recently as the ruling government faced local anti-incumbency pressures alongside renewed political activity from the opposition bench. Some internal reports had even indicated a push from within certain sections of the high command, including Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, for a leadership revamp.

Balancing Caste Equations and Party Structure

The central leadership has navigated the situation cautiously to maintain political stability. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, 80, commands a powerful “Ahinda” support base—a coalition comprising minority communities, backward classes, and Dalits. This social alliance was crucial in helping the party navigate the traditional Vokkaliga and Lingayat caste dynamics during the 2023 elections.

Although the rotation issue had previously gained significant momentum when the government completed two years in office, the party high command had chosen to maintain the status quo to avoid any adverse electoral impact in neighboring assembly elections, such as in Tamil Nadu. With those elections concluded, supporters of the 64-year-old Deputy Chief Minister had expressed optimism for a transition. Shivakumar currently holds the dual responsibility of being the Deputy Chief Minister as well as the state Congress chief, signaling his critical organizational value to the party. However, for the time being, the party high command has firmly signaled that the current leadership structure will remain unchanged.

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Cricket news

Bowlers may hold the key in high-stakes IPL 2026 Qualifier 1 at Dharamsala

Although the media build-up centers on the batting heavyweight clash between Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill, the IPL 2026 Qualifier 1 in Dharamsala is set to be decided by the bowling consistency of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammed Siraj.

Published

19 hours ago

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May 26, 2026

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Flat pitches, towering sixes, and relentless run-scoring have defined the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 so far. However, when Gujarat Titans (GT) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) lock horns in Qualifier 1 at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) Stadium in Dharamsala, the contest could ultimately hinge on the bowlers.

The HPCA Stadium has proved to be unforgiving for bowlers due to its short boundaries. A teaser of what could unfold was evident during recent net sessions, where Gujarat Titans’ Jos Buttler and Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s Tim David regularly launched monstrous hits out of the stadium. In the three matches played at this venue this season, teams crossed the 200-run mark five times, with the lowest score being 199/8. An average of nearly 25 maximums per match has been hit here, promising another potential run-fest.

Moving past the Kohli vs Gill narrative

While media attention focuses on the iconic battle between the ‘King’ Virat Kohli and the ‘Prince’ Shubman Gill—hailed as the heir to Indian cricket’s batting legacy—the true deciding factor might lie elsewhere. Both batters look in pristine touch. Gill occupies the second spot in the Orange Cap race with 616 runs from 13 matches, trailing behind his opening partner Sai Sudharsan. Meanwhile, Kohli has bounced back from a brief mid-tournament slump by smashing a sparkling century, taking his tally to 557 runs this season.

Despite the incredible batting firepower on display, the bowling units are expected to dictate which team blinks last. Media interactions with team managements highlighted that consistency and self-belief within the respective bowling departments have been the defining traits of both squads this season.

Powerplay battles to decide the finalist

For RCB, veteran pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar leads the charge alongside Kagiso Rabada for GT, with both spearheads locked as the joint-highest wicket-takers across the two sides at 24 wickets each. Bhuvneshwar holds a slight edge due to a superior economy rate. Close behind them is GT’s Mohammed Siraj, who has taken 17 wickets so far. With supporting acts like Josh Hazlewood, Jason Holder, Prasidh Krishna, Rasikh Salam Dar, and spinners Rashid Khan and Krunal Pandya in the mix, the match promises an intriguing tactical battle.

Gujarat Titans’ assistant coach Vijay Dahiya acknowledged that negotiating Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the powerplay will be a massive task, but reminded that GT possesses equal firepower in Siraj and Rabada. “If you talk about the powerplay, our numbers are among the best in this tournament,” Dahiya stated.

RCB captain Rajat Patidar echoed similar views, placing immense faith in his bowling attack to stop GT’s prolific opening duo of Gill and Sudharsan. “Our strength is bowling. The way we bowl in the powerplay will be very crucial. We’ll look for early wickets and that is what we have done throughout the tournament,” Patidar remarked.

In a tournament dominated by towering batting displays, the team whose bowling unit holds its nerve under the Dharamsala lights will seal a direct spot in the IPL final.

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