Mumbai, Dec 28: Adopting a tough stance, the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) called upon Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to order a survey of victims of police brutality in the wake of the recent death of a Dalit man in judicial custody, here on Saturday.

VBA President Prakash Ambedkar met Fadnavis and submitted a memorandum of demands pertaining to the ‘foul death’ of the Dalit law student, Somnath Vyankat Suryawandi, 35, on December 15, and other issues.

Ambedkar claimed that the CM has agreed to survey and provide a list of the victims of police high-handedness in Parbhani and ensure that they are adequately compensated.

The VBA head has urged the CM to file an FIR against the police officers who allegedly brutalised Suryawanshi and other innocent victims while probing the Parbhani incidents, ordered a ‘lathi-charge’ without clearance from the seniors, plus compensation for those Dalits whose homes have been demolished, and probe by a retired district or high court judge.

The VBA chief further asked the government to hike the compensation amount of Rs 10 lakh to Rs 1 crore for Suryawanshi’s next of kin, plus ensure a government job to a member of his immediate family.

In view of the upcoming seventh anniversary of the infamous Koregaon-Bhima caste riots of January 1, 2018, the VBA chief urged the CM to direct the police to monitor all misinformation against the Dalits and thwart any kind of violence anywhere on New Year’s Day.

The CM has also agreed to VBA’s demand to carry out a survey and cancel the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) scheme for tribal students and revert back to the old system, said Ambedkar.

It may be recalled that Suryawanshi was arrested (December 12) after the defiling of a statue of Dr B. R. Ambedkar near the Parbhani Railway Station (December 10), followed by massive violence on December 11.

However, barely 72 hours later on December 15, Suryawanshi was found dead in judicial custody, setting loose a political storm that continues to rage.

Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and other top Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) leaders went to meet the Suryawanshi family.

After consoling the family (December 23), Rahul Gandhi launched an unprecedented direct attack on the MahaYuti government contending that Suryawanshi was ‘murdered’ as he was a Dalit and attempting to safeguard the Constitution, plus accused that the CM had ‘lied’ before the legislature.

Opposition leaders who called on the Suryawanshi family include Nationalist Congress Party (SP) President Sharad Pawar, besides representatives of Shiv Sena (UBT), VBA, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena and others.

Chennai: The National Commission for Women (NCW) on Saturday formed a fact-finding committee to probe the alleged sexual assault of a 19-year-old student at Chennai’s Anna University. The committee was constituted on the directions of NCW chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar.

The fact-finding committee will comprise Mamta Kumari and former Maharashtra DGP Praveen Dixit, reported News 18. The NCW panel will meet authorities, the survivor and her family. The committee members are likely to visit Chennai on Monday, December 30.

Meanwhile, the Madras high court on Saturday ordered a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into the incident. The bench of justices SM Subramaniam and V Lakshminarayan also directed the Tamil Nadu government to pay an interim compensation of ₹Rs 25 lakh to the survivor for the serious lapse on the part of the police in revealing her details in the first information report (FIR), reported Bar and Bench.

Notably, the FIR was reportedly published on the website of the state police. The court also asked the police to provide protection to the survivor and her family. The girl is a student of an engineering college.

The incident took place on Monday, December 23 when the girl was sitting with her male friend. The accused was identified as 37-year-old Gnanasekaran. He is a resident of the Kottur area near the college and is reportedly a biryani vendor. He was arrested on December 25. The accused also filmed the case and threatened her.

The girl’s male friend was allegedly thrashed by the accused.

Opposition parties in the state – Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the AIADMK – hit out at the ruling DMK party over the incident. The saffron party alleged that the accused was an officer-bearer of the DMK. As per the police, Gnanasekaran is a “history-sheeter”.

Tamil Nadu’s Higher Education Minister Govi Chezhian slammed the Opposition for staging protests against the state government. He alleged that opposition parties were politicising the incident. Chezhian asked female students to ‘Kaaval Uthavi’ app so that they contact the police immediately when in need.

Hitting out at Opposition parties for targeting the DMK government over the incident, case, the minister said, “Those who want to politicise this incident in which an individual student was victimised should note that in the Pollachi sexual assault incident during the previous regime, the victims were afraid to even file a complaint with the police due to pressure from the then ruling government,” the minister said in his X post.

He also assured that the culprits would be brought to justice very soon.

Imphal, Dec 28: At least four persons including a TV Journalist and a security personnel were injured after suspected militants fired in Sanasabi and Thamnapokpi villages in Imphal East district on Saturday, officials said.

A police official said that the militants fired indiscriminately at Sanasabi and Thamnapokpi villages from the hilltop injuring a local TV Journalist, a security personnel and two civilians.

TV Journalist L. Kabichandra sustained bullet injuries on his left thigh.

All the injured were rushed to the hospital.

“The militants fired in the Sanasabi and Thamnapokpi villages on Friday night and Saturday morning. These villages are situated in Imphal East district adjoining tribal inhabited Kangpokpi district,” the official said.

Additional security forces led by senior police officials have rushed to the areas and launched search operations to nab the militants.

Chief Minister N. Biren Singh on Saturday strongly condemned the indiscriminate firing by militants in Thamnapokpi and Sanasabi areas.

Singh, in a post on X, said, “Strongly condemn the indiscriminate firing by Kuki militants at Sanasabi and Thamnapokpi in Imphal East, which injured civilians and security personnel.

This cowardly and unprovoked attack on innocent lives is an assault on peace and harmony.

Adequate security personnel have been rushed to the affected areas. The injured are receiving necessary medical assistance, and the government calls for calm and unity in the face of such challenges.”

Central forces and state police should have proper coordination and understanding when dealing with such situations, the chief Minister said.

Meanwhile, search operations and area domination were conducted by the Central and state security forces in the fringe and vulnerable areas of hill and valley districts.

Movement of vehicles carrying essential items, food grains and transport fuel along the two vital National Highways — NH-37 and NH-2 — has been ensured with adequate security.

Strict security measures are taken up in all vulnerable locations and security convoys are provided in sensitive stretches in order to ensure free and safe movement of the vehicles.

In a separate incident, seven acres of illegal poppy cultivation were destroyed by a combined team of security forces and forest department officials at T. Lhanghoimol areas in Manipur’s Churachandpur district on Friday.