3 Things Death of 12 yr old Dalit boy, private players in heritage, and RSS centenary
Oct 3, 2025
Saurabh Parashar, a journalist at The Indian Express, shares grim details about the tragic case of a 12-year-old Dalit boy in Himachal Pradesh who took his own life after facing severe humiliation. He delves into local caste dynamics and the delayed response from authorities. Divya A, a heritage reporter, discusses the government's controversial decision to enlist private players in the conservation of protected monuments, citing capacity issues within the ASI. Together, they touch upon the implications of these changes amidst a backdrop of casteism and heritage concerns.
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Boy Humiliated For Entering Upper‑Caste Home
- A 12-year-old boy from a Koli (Dalit) community allegedly entered a Rajput-owned shop and was humiliated and beaten by women demanding a goat to 'purify' the house.
- He later consumed pesticide and died, according to allegations and reporting by Saurabh Parashar.
Delay In SC/ST Charges Raises Concerns
- The FIR initially charged assault and abetment to suicide but added SC/ST Act sections six days later, raising questions about police delay.
- Civil society alleges the delay may have allowed the accused to secure interim bail before caste atrocity charges were framed.
Casteism Persists In Remote Shimla Villages
- Locals and civic groups say casteism remains entrenched in remote Shimla areas and many incidents go unreported or are settled locally in favor of upper castes.
- The state Scheduled Castes commission demanded a police report within days, highlighting institutional scrutiny but also its state-level limits.