TURMOIL IN TRIBAL LAND
Tribals and farmers in Wladhya Pradesh have taken to the streets against atrocities by the police and the mafia at the behest of politicians. They held demonstrations in Betul, Hoshangabad Indore, Jabalpur, Khargone and Khandwa districts. On February 5,1998, about 24 groups assembled in Bhopal to declare a "peoples manifesto".
Although the unprovoked firing on farmers in January stoke the fire, the seeds had been sown months before, when chief minister Digvijay Singh launched a tirade against NGOs, accusing the Adivasi Mukti Sangathan (AMS) of fuelling violence. In January tribals staged a dharna outside the office of the divisional commissioner's office in Indore seeking an end to the violence unleashed! Sai the mafia patronised by deputy chief minister Subhash Yadav.
The AMS, set up about five years ago to check liquor addictii vill among tribals and mobilise them against exploitation, had become powerful in Khargone and Khandwa districts. It came into conflict with the well-entrenched liquor, timber and cotton Mafiosi, patronized by politicians. Yadav and others felt threatened.
In June 1997, Yadav floated the Adivasi Sudhaar Shanti Sena (ASSS), which started terrorising the tribals. This was done the connivance with the police and the administration, claims AMS convenor Madhuri, "to throttle the AMS".
When local Congress leader Jhirban Barela was killed at Bhagwanpura block, fake first information reports on murder, is not and extortion were lodged with the police against AMS members The organisation was accused by Yadav of fomenting unrest in the region.
In August-end, AMS member Kalia was arrested on the charge of murdering Barela, and the ASSS went on the rampage, raping women, destroying hutments, property and crops. Some 400 tribals fromom Pipedhar, Kulwania, Pulwania, Ukla, Kabri, Pulsoot and lulwania villages in the block fled to the forests, leaving behind Whatever was left of their properties. The district administration dismissed a!l this as the result of rivalry between the AMS and the ASSS. Superintendent of Police Pawan Jain denied that the police committed any atrocities.
oH Meanwhile, Kalia was killed in police custody. The official story was that a large group of tribals waylaid a police party that was taking Kalia along and killed him. The death created an uproar.Opposition and NGOs accused the police of being hand-in-glove with the killers. Social activist Medha Patkar, Chhattisgarh Mukti Morcha leader Janaklal Thakur, Baba Ante, Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Udyog Sangathan convenor Abdul Jabbar and Kisan Adivasi Sangathan convenor Sunil joined the protests.
Yadav visited Khargone in September and assured fire-arms to villagers to 'counter the AMS terror'. "The Adivasi Mukti Sangathan's commitment to the poor is a charade to collect foreign funds," he said and accused the NGO for the rise in tree-felling and violence.
In December 1997, the government gave Rs 1 lakh ex-gratia to the family of murdered AMS leader Kalia, and promised legal action. The state human rights commission investigated and absolved the AMS of the charges. The National Commission for Women investigated allegations of rape of tribal women and found corroborative evidence. Former Union home minister Indrajit Gupta and erstwhile state governor Mohammed Shaf i Qureshi took serious note of the situation.
But then Yadav said that the chief minister was responsible "or situation in Khargone and wanted to end his political career. He threatened to quit. To placate him, Singh began his tirade against NGOs.