Skip to main content

Chhattisgarh Congress govt 'targeting, hounding' anti-mining woman tribal leader

Counterview Desk 

A signature campaign begun to free tribal rights activist Hidme Markam, and other activists like her, addressed to Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel has said that she is languishing in jail on “false and unfounded charges” despite being a seasoned and deeply committed activist, who has been raising her voice against “indiscriminate” corporate greed and “state-sanctioned” devastation through arbitrary development projects.
Floated by well-known women’s rights NGO Saheli, the petition says that on March 9 2021, Markam, an environmental activist from the adivasi community, working in the Nandraj Pahad anti-mining movement, was “openly abducted” by the Dantewada police (and later shown as ‘arrested’) when she was attending a programme commemorating the International Women’s Day in Sameli, Bastar. Women had gathered there to “peacefully” remember and mourn the rapes and murders of adivasi women.
Calling it “state’s high-handedness”, the petition says, she has been in jail for over three weeks now for opposing wide scale displacement and environmental devastation caused by development projects. This has adversely impacted local communities who have peacefully existed there for decades, depending their livelihood on forests and mountains.
Markam, along with other adivasis, says the petition, have been resisting the mining of a sacred indigenous hill by corporations like Adani Pvt Ltd. She has also been organizing against the Bailadila Mine Deposit project that would result in grave ecological damage in the region especially on the local forest, land and water bodies. A member of the Chhattisgarh Mahila Adhikar Manch, she has been present in numerous public spaces and meetings in Chhattisgarh, asserting the rights of adivasi women, especially against displacement and state repression.

Text:

We the undersigned signatories, representing diverse mass movements, environmental groups, rights organizations, feminist collectives as well as academics, activists and other concerned citizens are aghast at the manner in which Hidme Markam, a noted young environmentalist and human rights defender from the Bastar region in Chhattisgarh and a leader of the Nandraj Pahad anti-mining movement has been picked up by the Dantewada police arbitrarily on March 9 and currently lodged in jail. 
We call upon you, as the Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh to immediately intervene to ensure that all false cases against Hidme, including Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) charges, are dropped and that she be released forthwith. We are equally distraught that her open abduction by police happened at a program intended to celebrate International Women’s Day, in the presence of the Sub Divisional Magistrate at Sameli, Dantewada and in violation of all due process. 
Reportedly, Hidme, along with Soni Sori, many other activists of Chhattisgarh Mahila Adhikar Manch and a few hundred villagers gathered there peacefully to remember two young women who had been sexually assaulted and lost their lives because of the brutality of the police and security forces – Kawasi Pande who allegedly committed “suicide” in police custody under the watch of the Dantewada SP after being physically and sexually assaulted by the police, and Nande, who was pushed to take her life after being gang-raped by members of the police and CRPF. At the meeting, the shocking case of Bheeme Mandawi, who, was picked up by the DRGF in December 2020 along with another young woman from Jabeli, Keda Para, raped and shot, was also brought forward. It is for such brutal human rights violations and violence that Hidme would speak out.
It was only upon questioning later that the police claimed to have ‘arrested’ Hidme, in multiple cases with serious charges, including UAPA. Not only was the maaner of the arrest illegal and highliy objectionable, but the charges were obviously concocted and even the FIRs the police claimed to have against Hidme had discrepancies even in the name: they refer to Kawasi Hidme, while the person arrested in Hidme Markam! 
The charges are evidently also being constructed post-facto; as time passes, they suddenly seem to have found more cases against her. First they identify her as the president of the KAMS, specifying her as an unarmed member of the women's group, and in direcct contradiction, the FIRs talk about her as a 'vardidhari bandukdhari' (uniformed and armed) member. Despite the fact that neither the names or the stories match, Hidme Markam, a Human Rights Defender who has been working entirely in the public eye, even meeting with police and officials to raise cases of Human Rights violations, has been arrested.
Hidme is widely respected in the entire region of Dantewada, Sukma and Bijapur for her work as an environmental and anti-displacement activist. She has led, along with other adivasis, the Nandraj Pahad Bachao Andolan, resisting the mining of a sacred indigenous hill by corporations like Adani Pvt Ltd. 
Hidme Markam and others, says the petition, have been resisting the mining of a sacred indigenous hill by corporations like Adani Group
She has also been organizing against the Bailadila Mine Deposit project that would result in grave ecological damage in the region especially on the local forest, land and water bodies. A member of the Chhattisgarh Mahila Adhikar Manch, Hidme has been present in numerous public spaces and meetings in Chhattisgarh, asserting the rights of adivasi women, especially against displacement and state repression.
As convenor of the Jail Bandi Rihai Committee (Committee for Release of Prisoners), she has been vocal in the demand for release of thousands of innocent adivasis implicated and incarcerated in false cases. Her sudden ‘arrest’ in ‘old cases’ raises many questions including why the State is going after her now, when she was all the time present in public and in fact met many important authorities including the Governor, Chief Minister, Superintendent of Police, Collector etc. demanding the release of arrested adivasis, an end to construction of para military camps in the region and halt to mining. Her abduction deemed as ‘arrest’, adds yet another shameful layer of harassment to what she has already been facing for speaking truth to power.
How does the government explain the arrest of an adivasi woman activist who has only been trying to draw the attention of the state and police authorities to violations of constitutional rights? Like many others, Hidme is clearly being targeted for her political work in defence of adivasi lands and lives and standing up against the might of the State and profit-making corporations. The State should know better that such scare-mongering tactics would neither dampen the spirit of the adivasis of the region nor the democratic minded citizens across the country who stand resolutely in solidarity with them.
We express our severe condemnation at the manner in which the State is hounding young voices in the environmental and social justice movements. In this particular case, we cannot but express our utter displeasure at the high-handedness of the Congress Government in the state which is not only turning back on its poll promise of releasing arbitrarily jailed adivasis, but is in fact unabashedly arresting more adivasi women activists who are fighting for constitutional and human rights.
We call upon you to immediately:
  • Free Hidme Markam and drop all charges against her, including UAPA matters.
  • Stop clamp down on environmental, adivasi and other human rights activists as well as adivasi villagers in Chhattisgarh, in particular women in the garb of ‘combating Naxalism’.
  • Halt all potentially destructive projects that displace adivasis and jeopardizes the environment and dialogue with the adivasi communities.
  • Disband questionable schemes like Lon Varatu and unconstitutional entities like the District Reserve Guards Force (DRGF).
  • Institute an independent and high-level inquiry into the sexual violence and alleged “suicide” of Kawasi Pande, the rape and death of Nande, the rape and murder of Bheeme Mandawi and other young women who have been sexually assaulted by the police. Put an immediate end to the sexual violence being rampantly inflicted by the police and security forces on the women of Bastar.
---
Click here to sign the petition

Comments

TRENDING

N-power plant at Mithi Virdi: CRZ nod is arbitrary, without jurisdiction

By Krishnakant* A case-appeal has been filed against the order of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) and others granting CRZ clearance for establishment of intake and outfall facility for proposed 6000 MWe Nuclear Power Plant at Mithi Virdi, District Bhavnagar, Gujarat by Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) vide order in F 11-23 /2014-IA- III dated March 3, 2015. The case-appeal in the National Green Tribunal at Western Bench at Pune is filed by Shaktisinh Gohil, Sarpanch of Jasapara; Hajabhai Dihora of Mithi Virdi; Jagrutiben Gohil of Jasapara; Krishnakant and Rohit Prajapati activist of the Paryavaran Suraksha Samiti. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued a notice to the MoEF&CC, Gujarat Pollution Control Board, Gujarat Coastal Zone Management Authority, Atomic Energy Regulatory Board and Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) and case is kept for hearing on August 20, 2015. Appeal No. 23 of 2015 (WZ) is filed, a...

History, culture and literature of Fatehpur, UP, from where Maulana Hasrat Mohani hailed

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat*  Maulana Hasrat Mohani was a member of the Constituent Assembly and an extremely important leader of our freedom movement. Born in Unnao district of Uttar Pradesh, Hasrat Mohani's relationship with nearby district of Fatehpur is interesting and not explored much by biographers and historians. Dr Mohammad Ismail Azad Fatehpuri has written a book on Maulana Hasrat Mohani and Fatehpur. The book is in Urdu.  He has just come out with another important book, 'Hindi kee Pratham Rachna: Chandayan' authored by Mulla Daud Dalmai.' During my recent visit to Fatehpur town, I had an opportunity to meet Dr Mohammad Ismail Azad Fatehpuri and recorded a conversation with him on issues of history, culture and literature of Fatehpur. Sharing this conversation here with you. Kindly click this link. --- *Human rights defender. Facebook https://www.facebook.com/vbrawat , X @freetohumanity, Skype @vbrawat

The silencing of conscience: Ideological attacks on India’s judiciary and free thought

By Sunil Kumar*  “Volunteers will pick up sticks to remove every obstacle that comes in the way of Sanatan and saints’ work.” — RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat (November 6, 2024, Chitrakoot) Eleven months later, on October 6, 2025, a man who threw a shoe inside the Supreme Court shouted, “India will not tolerate insults to Sanatan.” This incident was not an isolated act but a continuation of a pattern seen over the past decade—attacks on intellectuals, writers, activists, and journalists, sometimes in the name of institutions, sometimes by individual actors or organizations.

Celebrating 125 yr old legacy of healthcare work of missionaries

Vilas Shende, director, Mure Memorial Hospital By Moin Qazi* Central India has been one of the most fertile belts for several unique experiments undertaken by missionaries in the field of education and healthcare. The result is a network of several well-known schools, colleges and hospitals that have woven themselves into the social landscape of the region. They have also become a byword for quality and affordable services delivered to all sections of the society. These institutions are characterised by committed and compassionate staff driven by the selfless pursuit of improving the well-being of society. This is the reason why the region has nursed and nurtured so many eminent people who occupy high positions in varied fields across the country as well as beyond. One of the fruits of this legacy is a more than century old iconic hospital that nestles in the heart of Nagpur city. Named as Mure Memorial Hospital after a British warrior who lost his life in a war while defending his cou...

New RTI draft rules inspired by citizen-unfriendly, overtly bureaucratic approach

By Venkatesh Nayak* The Department of Personnel and Training , Government of India has invited comments on a new set of Draft Rules (available in English only) to implement The Right to Information Act, 2005 . The RTI Rules were last amended in 2012 after a long period of consultation with various stakeholders. The Government’s move to put the draft RTI Rules out for people’s comments and suggestions for change is a welcome continuation of the tradition of public consultation. Positive aspects of the Draft RTI Rules While 60-65% of the Draft RTI Rules repeat the content of the 2012 RTI Rules, some new aspects deserve appreciation as they clarify the manner of implementation of key provisions of the RTI Act. These are: Provisions for dealing with non-compliance of the orders and directives of the Central Information Commission (CIC) by public authorities- this was missing in the 2012 RTI Rules. Non-compliance is increasingly becoming a major problem- two of my non-compliance cases are...

World Bank arm accused of hiding crucial report on Gujarat’s Tata Mundra power project

By A Representative   The Centre for Financial Accountability (CFA) has accused the Compliance Advisor Ombudsman (CAO), the accountability arm of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), of concealing crucial evidence related to the Tata Mundra coal power project in Gujarat during the period when the case was being heard in U.S. courts. In a press statement released on October 10, 2025, CFA said that the CAO’s final monitoring report, which was completed in 2019 but released only in September 2025, revealed that IFC had failed to take remedial action for years, even as environmental and livelihood harms to local communities worsened.

When communities lead: The story of Puttenahalli lake restoration in Bengaluru

By Alejandra Amor, Mansee Bal Bhargava  The tropical Indian ecology pushed communities to develop the art and science of rainwater collection since antiquity. Traditionally, harvesting rainwater through ponds, lakes, and wetlands formed an integral part of a holistic water system that included rivers, canals, wells, aquifers, and springs. These decentralized systems sustained irrigation, livestock, and domestic needs in rural areas, supported by generations of community water management practices embedded in both utilitarian and ritualistic values.

Urgent need to study cause of large number of natural deaths in Gulf countries

By Venkatesh Nayak* According to data tabled in Parliament in April 2018, there are 87.76 lakh (8.77 million) Indians in six Gulf countries, namely Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). While replying to an Unstarred Question (#6091) raised in the Lok Sabha, the Union Minister of State for External Affairs said, during the first half of this financial year alone (between April-September 2018), blue-collared Indian workers in these countries had remitted USD 33.47 Billion back home. Not much is known about the human cost of such earnings which swell up the country’s forex reserves quietly. My recent RTI intervention and research of proceedings in Parliament has revealed that between 2012 and mid-2018 more than 24,570 Indian Workers died in these Gulf countries. This works out to an average of more than 10 deaths per day. For every US$ 1 Billion they remitted to India during the same period there were at least 117 deaths of Indian Workers in Gulf ...

Epic war against caste system is constitutional responsibility of elected government

Edited by well-known Gujarat Dalit rights leader Martin Macwan, the book, “Bhed-Bharat: An Account of Injustice and Atrocities on Dalits and Adivasis (2014-18)” (available in English and Gujarati*) is a selection of news articles on Dalits and Adivasis (2014-2018) published by Dalit Shakti Prakashan, Ahmedabad. Preface to the book, in which Macwan seeks to answer key questions on why the book is needed today: *** The thought of compiling a book on atrocities on Dalits and thus present an overall Indian picture had occurred to me a long time ago. Absence of such a comprehensive picture is a major reason for a weak social and political consciousness among Dalits as well as non-Dalits. But gradually the idea took a different form. I found that lay readers don’t understand numbers and don’t like to read well-researched articles. The best way to reach out to them was storytelling. As I started writing in Gujarati and sharing the idea of the book with my friends, it occurred to me that while...