End restrictions on civil society investigating killing of 4 tribals: Chhattisgarh govt told

By A Representative
India's premier civil society network, National Alliance of People’s Movement (NAPM), has demanded “immediate end” to the Chhattisgarh government’s alleged efforts to restrict movement of civil society groups investigating the killing of four Adivasis by security forces in Silger village, Sukma district of Chhattisgarh.
A 10-member investigation team of the Chhattisgarh Bachao Andolan (CBA) travelling to Silger was stopped near Nelsnar police station in Bangapar, Bijapur district. The investigation team comprises of prominent citizens and activists including Anubhav Shori, Vijender Tiwari, Sagarika Pandey, Rashi Agarwal, Sanjay Parte, Alok Shukla, Geet Deheriya, Bela Bhatia, Sudesh Tikam and Indu Netam.

Security forces blocked the road and prevented the team members from proceeding on foot even to nearby Bijapur city. Following this, the entire Silger block was declared as a containment zone for seven days.
According to NAPM, “These measures are an open violation of democratic rights for freedom of movement and expression. They are clearly an attempt to prevent a fair and open investigation into the indiscriminate firing by security forces on May 16 on the peaceful Adivasi protesters in Silger, Bastar.”

The firing followed a “series of large-scale peaceful protests by Adivasis against a proposed Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) camps, which they feel would further militarize the region. The firing resulted in the killing of four Adivasis and injured 18 others”, it added.

“Instead of ordering a full and fair investigation into the firing and taking action against the responsible security forces, the government is making all efforts to restrict civil society efforts to investigate the incident”, the civil rights network asserted.
Demanding judicial investigation into the incident and prosecution of security officers who were involved in and ordered the firing, NAPM said, “Exemplary compensation must be paid to all the families of the deceased and injured”.

It added, there should be “a full moratorium on construction of additional CRPF camps in the region must be ensured and a phased-plan for de-militarization as well as active dialogue between State, Adivasis and civil society.”

Comments

'Tax the top': Nationwide protests demand action as 1% control 40% of India’s wealth

By A Representative Civil rights groups across the country observed the martyrdom day of Bhagat Singh on March 23, as people from diverse backgrounds united to raise their voices against growing economic inequality. The mobilisations marked the launch of a nationwide campaign against inequality, running from March 23 to April 14 (Ambedkar Jayanti), under the banner of the “Tax The Top” campaign.

Fair prices, fresh produce: Vegetable market opens in Rajasthan tribal village

By Vikas Meshram* On 18 March 2026, the tribal village of Sajjangarh in southern Rajasthan witnessed the grand and dignified inauguration of a new vegetable market (mandi). Established through the tireless joint efforts of the Krushi Avam Adivasi Swaraj Sangathan (Bhilkuaan) and Vaagdhara, under the active leadership of the Gram Panchayat of Sajjangarh, the market is being hailed as a cornerstone for local self-governance, self-reliance, and a sustainable rural economy.

Gujarat cadre to HDFC: When bureaucratic style hits corporate walls

By Rajiv Shah I was a little amused by the abrupt March 17, 2026 resignation of Atanu Chakraborty —a Gujarat cadre IAS officer of the 1985 batch who retired from the government in 2020—as chairman of HDFC Bank . Much of what may have led to his decision to quit this ostensibly high post—actually a non-executive, part-time role—is by now well known. I followed most of it online with considerable interest, partly because I had interacted with him umpteen times during my stint as The Times of India correspondent in Gandhinagar from 1997 to 2012.

Beyond India-China borders: Economic links expand, political gaps persist

By Bhabani Shankar Nayak* Despite growing trade between India and China, a persistent trust deficit continues to shape their bilateral relationship. Expanding economic engagement has not fully resolved political differences, many of which stem from historical legacies as well as contemporary geopolitical concerns. Border disputes—often traced to colonial-era arrangements—remain a significant obstacle to deeper cooperation, while differing strategic alignments in global affairs add further complexity.

Ex-IAS Atanu Chakraborty and a tale of two different Gujarat vision documents

By Rajiv Shah The likely appointment of Atanu Chakraborty as HDFC Bank chairman interested me for several reasons, but above all because I have interacted with him closely during my more than 14 year stint in Gandhinagar for the “Times of India”. One of the few decent Gujarat cadre bureaucrats, Chakraborty, belonging to the 1985 IAS batch, at least till I covered Sachivalaya was surely above controversies. He loved to remain faceless, never desired publicity, was professional to the core, and never indulged in loose talk. When he neared retirement, which happened in April 2020, first there were rumours in Sachivalaya that he would be appointed SEBI chairman, and then there was talk he would be chairman (or was it CEO?) of Gujarat International Finance Tec (GIFT) City (a dream project of Narendra Modi as Gujarat chief minister, which as Prime Minister Modi wants to promote, come what may). But, for some strange reasons, and I don’t know why, none of this happened, despite the fact...

Witnessing Iran beyond propaganda: Truth, war, and the path beyond western paradigm

By Naile Manjarrés On June 23, 2025—marked as the 2nd of Tir, 1404, on the Persian calendar—a ceasefire between Iran and Israel was announced. This "night of the decree" shifted the trajectory of global affairs; although the world may appear unchanged on the surface, we have yet to fully grasp its impact.

Operation Epic Fury: Making America great at the world’s expense?

By N.S. Venkataraman* The decades-long enmity between Iran and Israel is well-documented, but historically, their direct confrontations have been brief, constrained by the logistical and economic limitations of sustained warfare. The current conflict in the Middle East, however, marks a radical and dangerous departure from this pattern.

Study links sanctions to 500,000 deaths annually leading to rise in global backlash

By Bharat Dogra International opinion is increasingly turning against the expanding burden of sanctions imposed on a growing number of countries. These measures are contributing to humanitarian crises, intensifying domestic discord, and heightening international tensions, thereby increasing the risks of conflicts and wars.

Environmental expert urges policy overhaul as forest and water resources face critical decline

By A Representative On the occasion of World Forest Day and World Water Day , observed on March 21 and 22, environmental voices from the Western Ghats have issued a stark warning to the Union government, calling for an urgent paradigm shift in how India manages its interconnected natural resources. In a formal communication addressed to Union Minister for Jal Shakti , Sri C R Patil , and Union Minister for Forest, Environment and Climate Change , Sri Bhupendra Yadav , policy analyst Shankar Sharma has highlighted a growing disconnect between sectoral policies and the holistic reality of resource governance.

Search This Blog