Skip to main content

Warning "terrorist activities", Gujarat government imposes curfew on tribal district ahead of protest movement

Romel Sutariya leading a rally in Chhotaudepur
By A Representative
In a curious move, the Gujarat government has imposed curfew under Section 144, prohibiting assembly of more than ten people in the predominantly tribal district of Chhotaudepur, till February 14. The order, dated January 31, 2015, says that it has been “imposed in order to prevent terrorist activities in Chhotaudepur town and all the talukas of the district”. The order adds that it has been necessitated to “ensure law and order, peace and security”, and “no procession or gathering” could be held during the period.
Reacting sharply, the tribal organization, Adivasi Kisan Sangharsh Morcha (AKSM) chief Romel Sutariya, who was scheduled to begin an indefinite fast in front of the district collector’s office in Chhotaudepur against the “failure” of the administration to stop the sand mining entrepreneurs from "grabbing" tribal land, said, “By this order, the Gujarat government appears to think that the tribals, who have been peacefully protesting for their rights, are terrorists.” He added, “This is nothing but a conspiracy against the tribals’ efforts to claim their right over land, jungle and water.”
In a statement, AKSM wonders, “Is this the face of the Gujarat model? It seems that the government is terribly afraid of our continuing protest movement in the district. Already, one of our senior leaders, Jayram Gamit, a tribal, was arrested on Saturday late evening under the Prevention of Anti-Social Activities Act (PASA Act), and taken to Rajkot. And, now prohibitory orders to prevent the district from terrorist activities have been imposed. Are these the good days (acche din), which the Modi administration had promised?”
State order on curfew referring to "terrorist threat"
The statement said, “We had decided, starting on February 2, to demonstrate for the tribals’ sovereign rights over the natural resources and privatization of their land. One of the programmes was to stage a sit-in demonstration in front of the district administration office in Chhotaudepur. This was going to be in culmination of the protests we had launched demanding better infrastructure in the district, including road, school, power, hospital, women’s security, and complete stoppage of illegal sand mining.”
The statement added, “One of our demands of our demonstration has been to withdraw the recent land acquisition ordinance, which was promulgated by the Modi government without any discussion in the Lok Sabha. It has opened up land resources for private interests in large parts of India. The ordinary replaces the land acquisition Act, which made social impact assessment and consent of the local people a must for any move to acquire land by the government for private and public-private projects.”
The statement does not say whether the planned protest move in front of the Chhotaudepur district administration would continue despite prohibitive orders. It merely terms the order as “draconian” and “dictatorial”, but gives no indication on how the ADSM is going to fight against it. “There is no statement from the Opposition Congress over the move declare the district as terrorist prone, nor have any voluntary organizations come forward to declare it as such”, a keen Gujarat observer said.

Comments

TRENDING

Wave of disappearances sparks human rights fears for activists in Delhi

By Harsh Thakor*  A philosophy student from Zakir Hussain College, Delhi University, and an activist associated with Nazariya magazine, Rudra, has been reported missing since the morning of July 19, 2025. This disappearance adds to a growing concern among human rights advocates regarding the escalating number of detentions and disappearances of activists in Delhi.

How community leaders overcome obstacles to protect forests and pastures in remote villages

By Bharat Dogra  Dheera Ram Kapaya grew up in such poverty that, unable to attend school himself, he would carry another boy’s heavy school bag for five kilometers just to get a scoop of daliya (porridge). When he was finally able to attend school, he had to leave after class five to join other adolescent workers. However, as soon as opportunities arose, he involved himself in community efforts—promoting forest protection, adult literacy, and other constructive initiatives. His hidden talent for writing emerged during this time, and he became known for the songs and street play scripts he created to promote forest conservation, discourage child marriages, and support other social reforms.

‘Act of war on agriculture’: Aruna Rodrigues slams GM crop expansion and regulatory apathy

By Rosamma Thomas*  Expressing appreciation to the Union Agriculture Minister for inviting suggestions from farmers and concerned citizens on the sharp decline in cotton crop productivity, Aruna Rodrigues—lead petitioner in the Supreme Court case ongoing since 2005 that seeks a moratorium on genetically modified (GM) crops—wrote to Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on July 14, 2025, stating that conflicts of interest have infiltrated India’s regulatory system like a spreading cancer, including within the Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR).

The GMO illusion: Three decades of hype, harm, and false hope

By Sridhar Radhakrishnan  Three decades of hype, billions of dollars spent, and still no miracle crop. It's time to abandon the GMO biotech fairy tale and return to the soil, the seed, and the farmer. “Trust us,” they said. “GMOs will feed the world.” Picture a world where there is plenty of food, no hunger, fields grow without chemical pesticides, children are saved from malnutrition, and people live healthily.

Sandra Gonzalez Sanabria: An inspiring life from Colombia’s Amazonian valley

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat*  In the village of Héctor Ramírez, known as Agua Bonita, in La Montañita, Caquetá, Colombia, a vision of peace and renewal is unfolding. In the pre-2016 period, this would have been nearly impossible for outsiders to visit, as it was the epicenter of violent resistance against state oppression. However, after the Peace Accord was signed between the Colombian government and former revolutionaries—marking the end of a 70-year insurgency that claimed over 400,000 lives until 2025, including civilians, rebel fighters, and security personnel—things began to change. Visiting Agua Bonita during the Global Land Forum in Bogotá revealed a village of hope and resilience. Former FARC revolutionaries have settled here and transformed the village into a center of peace and aspiration.

Overriding India's constitutional sovereignty? Citizens urge PM to reject WHO IHR amendments

By A Representative   A group of concerned Indian citizens, including medical professionals and activists, has sent an urgent appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to reject proposed amendments to the International Health Regulations (IHR) before the ratification deadline of July 19, 2025. 

Indigenous Karen activist calls for global solidarity amid continued struggles in Burma

By A Representative   At the International Festival for People’s Rights and Struggles (IFPRS), Naw Paw Pree, an Indigenous Karen activist from the Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG), shared her experiences of oppression, resilience, and hope. Organized with the support of the International Indigenous Peoples Movement for Self-Determination and Liberation (IPMSDL), the event brought together Indigenous and marginalized communities from across the globe, offering a rare safe space for shared learning, solidarity, and expression.

Activists allege abduction and torture by Delhi Police Special Cell in missing person probe

By A Representative   A press statement released today by the Campaign Against State Repression (CASR) alleges that several student and social activists have been abducted, illegally detained, and subjected to torture by the Delhi Police Special Cell. The CASR claims these actions are linked to an investigation into the disappearance of Vallika Varshri, an editorial team member of 'Nazariya' magazine.

India’s zero-emission, eco-friendly energy strategies have a long way to go, despite impressive progress

By N.S. Venkataraman*   The recent report released by OPEC’s World Oil Outlook 2025 has predicted that by the year 2050, crude oil would replace coal as India’s key energy source. Clearly, OPEC expects that India’s dependence on fossil fuels for energy will continue to remain high in one form or another.