On 3 January, establishments around Mumbai and other cities in the state shut down operations for the day, in observation of the bandh to protest atrocities against Dalits.

While this protest was sparked by the killing of Rahul Fatangale in right-wing violence at Bhima Koregaon, violence against Dalits by saffron forces is far from unprecedented. Last year, four Dalit youths were stripped and beaten by "gau rakshas" in Una, Gujarat. A year after the brutal attacks, victims said they'd been denied justice.

These protests were against the targeted attacks from 1 January, but also against the violence, brutality, and systemic oppression that crores of Indians have lived with for centuries.

Unfortunately, a lot of out news outlets seemed hellbent on ignoring that context.