Dalit, Adivasi protest in Jharkhand against 'illegal' transfer of land for development

By Rishit Neogi
Displacement and eviction are not new terms. It is surprising that they are still continuing and have become a tool in the hands of state backed corporates to forcibly occupy lands in the name of development.
The Harijan Basti of Sukurhutu village in Kanke block, Ranchi district, was inhabited by 76 Dalit families who were allotted 4 acres 68 decimals land by the Bihar government in 1982. According to Lagnu Mahato, Magul Nayak and Sukhdev Kumhar Mahato of Sukurhutu, many families were forced to flee the area due to riots in 1986, though quite a few families are still residing in the area, doing daily labour jobs like plumbing, carpentering, etc. to sustain themselves.
Since 2012, what are described as “local conspirators” are alleged to have illegally occupied 2 acre 68 decimal of the land and began selling it in cohorts with the district administration by using fake certificates. After grabbing the community land, the land grabbers reportedly also started plotting on how to take over the whole land plot of 4 acres 68 decimals in the name of some development scheme.
Since locals are aware of the designs, they apprised about it to the civil rights organization Adivasi Adhikar Manch, Ranchi (AAM) and the Adivasi Adhikar Manch, Kanke, which organized a marched to the Kanke block office on November 5. In fact, local people were trying to seek legal redressal of their issue for long, but, according to them, they are being given false assurances. On the other hand, they says, they have been receiving threats that they will be evicted.

Under the national urban policy, such lands inhabited by communities should be developed only with their participation. As far as possible, any redevelopment can only take place by rehabilitating them on the same site or location by upgrading their houses, sanitation, drinking water, electricity etc. amenities. It is the state’s imperative to legalize and regularize possession of land in urban areas inhabited by people of marginalized and impoverished families or households.

A protest dharna was held at the Kanke block office. It was addressed, among others, by Aloka Kujur (AAM. Ranchi), Aparna Bara (AAM. Kanke), Niraj Bhokta (Congress), Vinod Sahu (Other Backward Classes Morcha, Congress), Kundrasiya Munda (Bhartiya Adivasi Vikas Parishad, Ranchi), and Surendra Linda (educationist).
Ward members Mukul Nayak, Sukhdev, Dasrath Munda and others from the community submitted a memorandum to the Block Development Officer (BDO) with the following demands:

Cancel the Ranchi Masterplan 2037 that threatens eviction and displacement of urban poor.
Cancel the Farm Bills 2020.
Cancel the Essential Commodities Bill 2020.
Plot No. 6373 in Sukurhutu should be restored to its rightful owners i.e. the community.
Release social activists like Stan Swamy arrested under draconian Acts like Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
Ensure safety and security of women in India.
Cancel Jharkhand Land Mutation Act 2020.

Comments

Telangana government urged to stop 'unconstitutional' relocation of Chenchu tribes

By A Representative The Nallamalla forests are witnessing a renewed surge of indigenous resistance as the Chenchu adivasis , a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG), have formally launched the Chenchu Solidarity Forum (CSF) on the eve of World Earth Day to combat what they describe as unlawful and forced relocation from the Amrabad Tiger Reserve .

Dhandhuka violence: Gujarat minority group seeks judicial action, cites targeted arson

By A Representative The Minority Coordination Committee (MCC) Gujarat has written to the Director General of Police seeking judicial action in connection with recent violence in Dhandhuka town of Ahmedabad district, alleging targeted attacks on properties belonging to members of the Muslim community following a fatal altercation between two bike riders on April 18.

Cracks in Gujarat model? Surat’s exodus reveals precarity behind prosperity claims

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat* The return of migrant workers from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, particularly from Gujarat, was inevitable. Gujarat has long been showcased as the epitome of “infrastructure” and the business-friendly Modi model. Yet, when governments become business-friendly, they require the poor to serve them—while keeping them precarious, unable to stabilize, demand fair wages, or assert their rights. The agenda is clear: workers must remain grateful for whatever crumbs the Seth ji offers.

'Fraudulent': Ex-civil servants urge President to halt Odisha tribal land dispossession

By A Representative A collective of 81 retired civil servants from the Constitutional Conduct Group has written to the President of India expressing alarm over what they describe as the wrongful dispossession of tribal lands in Odisha’s Rayagada district. The letter, dated April 19, 2026, highlights violent clashes in Kantamal village where police personnel reportedly injured over 70 tribal residents attempting to protect their community rights.

India 'violating international law obligations' over Israel ties: UN rapporteur

By A Representative Francesca Albanese, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories, has alleged that India is “violating its obligations under international law” through its continued association with Israel, including defence ties and alleged arms exports during the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

Why Tamil Nadu, Periyar, and the Dravidian model aren't just regional phenomena

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat* The election campaign in Tamil Nadu this season is strikingly different. The alliance led by the DMK is consistently referred to as the “ DMK alliance ,” not the “INDIA alliance.” This distinction is unsurprising given the state’s history: Tamil Nadu remains the only state to decisively reject “national” parties. The AIADMK’s surrender to the BJP after J. Jayalalithaa ’s death represents, in many ways, a betrayal of the politics of Tamil identity—an identity Periyar envisioned as Dravidian, not narrowly Tamil.

If Maoist violence is illegitimate, how is Hindutva, state violence justified? Can right-wing wash off its sins?

By Swami Agnivesh* and Sandeep Pandey** There was major police action against Sudha Bhardwaj, Gautam Navlakha, Varvara Rao, Vernon Gonsalves and Arun Ferreira on 28 August, 2018. Before this police arrested Professor Shoma Sen, Adocate Sudhir Gadling, Sudhir Dhawle, Mahesh Raut and Rona Wilson on 6 June. Even before this Dr. Binayak Sen, Soni Sori, Ajay TG, Professor GN Saibaba and Prashant Rahi have been arrested and all these activists have been accused of having links with Maoists.

The soundtrack of resistance: How 'Sada Sada Ya Nabi' is fueling the Iran war

By Syed Ali Mujtaba* The Persian track “ Sada Sada Ya Nabi ye ” by Hossein Sotoodeh has taken the world by storm. This viral media has cut across linguistic barriers to achieve cult status, reaching over 10 million views. The electrifying music and passionate rendition by the Iranian singer have resonated across the globe, particularly as the high-intensity military conflict involving Iran entered its second month in March 2026.

World Book Day: Celebrating the power of reading in the Indian context

By Mohd. Ziyaullah Khan* Written language is one of humanity’s greatest achievements, setting us apart from all other living beings. In a country like India, home to diverse languages, cultures, and traditions, books play an even more powerful role. They are not just tools of communication but bridges across generations, regions, and ideologies. When we read the works of Munshi Premchand or Rabindranath Tagore , we are not merely reading stories; we are engaging in a silent conversation with minds that lived decades, even centuries ago. That is the true power of books: they preserve thoughts, ideas, and emotions beyond time. Recognising this immense value, the world celebrates World Book Day , a day dedicated to honouring books, authors, and the joy of reading.

Search This Blog