On January 1 in 2018, violence erupted at an event to mark 100 years of the Bhima-Koregaon battle, leaving one dead and several injured, including 10 policemen.
'We wanted to explore the divisions in India -- be it class, caste, language, religion or gender.'
Here are some of the striking moments captured by Reuters photographers as United States voters went to the polls and the stories behind the images.
Violence has always been a fact of life in Bengal's politics; it is just that the faces have changed, the contesting ideologies have changed, says Saisuresh Sivawamy.
'What kind of insensitivity does it take to get taxpayers to cough up for an aircraft costing a few billion for your personal use, at a time when the country you head is in so much trouble?' asks Sherna Gandhy.
'Awareness should be raised; protocols and procedures, and reporting mechanisms must be put in place to protect both men and women in the workplace,' notes Jael Silliman.
The transformation of the Modi-Shah baiting Hardik Patel into saffron poster boy.
'Sexual violence against women is not something unique to India but in our parts the victim must also have to contend with other burdens. Such as the notion of 'honour' and its loss,' says Aakar Patel.
Stranger Things Season 4 is dedicatedly macabre and menacing, its deadly ambitions and volatile tempo keeps the mood edge-of-the-seat, applauds Sukanya Verma.
'In this age of OTT, where you are overdosed on content with violence, crime, sex and lust, this love story is refreshing,' notes Divya Nair.
Ashok Chowdhury, a Dalit politics expert said, "BJP had impressed the Dalits in the 2014, 2017 and 2019 elections, but it's difficiult to retain them now".
The report, released on June 21, alleged that some senior leaders of the BJP "made inflammatory speeches against minority communities".
How should one billion Indians, for whom deprivation has become an inescapable way of life, join us in celebrating 75 years of Independence? And where do we go from here? asks Kalyan Singhal.
The houses of a sitting and a former MLA, both Dalits, were set afire by a violent mob.
India is the birthplace of four major world religions -- Hinduism, Sikhism, Buddhism, and Jainism. It is home to the world's third largest Muslim population, a diverse community of sects that includes Sufis, Shia, and Bohra. Roughly three per cent of India's citizens are Christian, and notably, Christians are the religious majority in three of India's 29 states, she said.
The Tamil Nadu government on Monday ordered a commission to "probe the truth" behind the death of a Dalit youth whose marriage to a woman from another caste had sparked anti-Dalit violence in Dharmapuri last year. Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, expressing shock and grief over the death of Ilavarasan, said she has ordered a commission under former high court judge Justice S R Singaravelu to probe the matter
Nitish Kumar has failed to curb communal forces and hoodlums across communities. And that is ominous for Bihar's present and future, warns Mohammad Sajjad.
Killing of three political workers in the district by the militants three days ago has severely affected voter turnout in Kashmir's Pulwama district in Anantnag Lok Sabha constituency.
'Instead of developing the capacity, capability and strength to fight our external enemies, we are turning our own people against each other.'
It also sought the assistance of the Centre and states for removing violent content related to cow vigilantism uploaded on social media.
Shops, schools and other commercial establishments were closed in parts of Bihar, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab but the shutdown call by anti-reservation bodies had little impact elsewhere in the country.
'Was he afraid that his answers during cross-examination would land him in trouble under the new ruling dispensation?'
At this point commission member Sumit Mullick asked the government counsel: 'Your job is to protect the State. How are these questions on Peshwas relevant?'
'It is the RJD, otherwise known for misgovernance, which has offered a candidate of clean and performing credentials, rather than the NDA,' points out Mohammad Sajjad.
'When violence spread, it looked as if Mamata was losing control, but soon, she was able to contain the situation.' 'Now, the TMC stands to gain the most.'
Her husband and other relatives had shifted to a rented building, the police said, adding Kanakadurga then took refugee at the One Stop Centre here.
Violence first broke out in Saharanpur about 40 days ago following a procession to mark Ambedkar Jayanti. On May 5, a person was killed and 15 people were injured in clashes in which houses of Dalits in Shabbirpur were torched by Thakurs.
Indian authorities failed to "prevent many incidents of religious violence and contributed to tensions through polarising speeches", Amnesty International said.
Asking voters in Assam to reject the Bharatiya Janata Party in the assembly polls, Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said that if it came to power, the state will be run from the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh headquarters in Nagpur or the Prime Minister's Office.
He was billed as the next big thing in Dalit politics in Uttar Pradesh and a challenge for the Bahujan Samaj Party but Mayawati's party is least impressed by the exploits of Chandrasekhar Azad 'Ravan' let alone consider him a threat.
Aseem Chhabra lists his favourite films, most of them shown at international film festivals held virtually (Berlinale and Rotterdam), hybrid (Toronto) or physical (Cannes and Venice).
Sporadic violence marked the 'hartal' called by Hindu right groups in Kerala over Wednesday's police action against those opposing entry of women of menstrual age into the shrine.
Barring Maharashtra, the poll percentage in rest of the states was in excess of 60 per cent while in Puducherry it was 80.47 per cent.
Khap panchayats in Uttar Pradesh on Saturday said they will oppose same gotra marriages before the Supreme Court, which had sought their views, following a plea to curb violence against couples at the behest of such caste councils. At a meeting of over 200 khap leaders, the self-styled caste councils were unanimous in their opposition to same gotra marriages. They, however, stressed that they have never supported honour killings.
Rediff.com compiles a list of recent incidents where some people, mainly belonging to the upper castes, took the law into their hands to punish those who allegedly slaughtered or transported cows.
We are becoming more cruel and less civilised
Government rejects activists' request. Commission requests new witness to attend.
The next 12 months will see many world cinema heavyweights unveiling exciting new films.
Director Richie Mehta dedicated the honour to all the women who not just endure violence that men inflict on them, 'but are also tasked to solve the problem.'
