India

Indian “God-Men” Arrested for Eating Human Flesh & Grave Robbing

On July 24, a group of Saamidyas was alleged to have eaten human flesh during an annual festival in the Sakthi Pothi Sudalai Madasamy Temple. Fourteen individuals were questioned regarding the incident. Only eight people were arrested in relation to the consumption of human flesh and alleged grave robbing. The detained individuals are part of a community called “Samiyadi.”

*** Trigger Warning***
The video below contains graphic images.

China & Tibet Fight to Control the Dalai Lama’s Next Reincarnation

On July 6, the 14th and current Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, turned 86. As the Dalai Lama grows older, the pressure for his succession has become more mounting. Tibet, China, India, and the rest of the world prepare for the plunge when the Dalai Lama has no choice. He will either name a successor or leave the world behind, especially Tibet, more vulnerable to China's aggression. 

17-year Old Indian Girl Killed for Wearing Jeans During Hindu Ritual

In a heart-wrenching video taken in Deoria City in the Uttar Pradesh State, India, police are seen trying to retrieve the body of Neha Paswan as onlookers stand by. The 17-year old was beaten by her extended relatives, including her grandfather and her uncles, on Monday, July 19th. The severe beating rendered her unconscious. This prompted Neha’s assailants to say that they were bringing her to the hospital.

Another Legal Complaint Against Atheist Activist for Hindu Goddess Art

On July 22, 2021, the Atheist Republic received a letter containing a legal complaint filed by Akhilesh Vyas, a lawyer based in Punjab, India. The legal complaint named Nirmal Sharma, a law student and a resident of Nawanshahr in the Punjab State, as the complainant. Vyas issued the notice on June 22, 2021. 

View the complaint here.

Indian Court Bans Conversion Therapy, Directs Reforms in LGBT Education

On June 7, the Madras High Court in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu banned any medical attempts to "cure" or change the sexual orientation of a person in a significant upholding of LGBTQIA+ rights in the state. The court has also issued directives to sensitize society and various branches of the state, including police and judiciary, to remove prejudices against them.

10-Year-Old Refused to Chant "Jai Shri Ram"; Hit By BJP Worker

In West Bengal's Nadia district, a 10-year-old boy was allegedly thrashed by a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) worker for not chanting "Jai Shri Ram."

The incident took place when the student, Mahadev Sharma, was passing by the tea stall owned by the BJP worker, Mahadeb Pramanik, husband of Mithu Pramanik, the local chief of the BJP Mahila Morcha, the women's wing of the party, at Phulia in Nadia.

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