Skip to main content

Adivasi rights under threat: Activists demand justice and accountability in Bastar, Chhattisgarh

By A
 Representative 
In a scathing letter addressed to the Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh and the Chairperson of the State Human Rights Commission, the All-India Inquilabi Youth and Students Alliance (ALIYSA) has called for urgent intervention to address escalating violence, militarization, and human rights abuses in the Bastar region. The letter, endorsed by over 20 activists and organizations affiliated with the National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM), highlights grave violations against adivasi communities, attributing them to unchecked actions by security forces under the guise of counter-insurgency operations.
The letter paints a harrowing picture of the Bastar region, which has reportedly become one of the most militarized zones globally. Activists allege that:
-- Security camps, ostensibly set up to combat Naxalite insurgents, have become hubs of violence against indigenous populations.
-- Over 235 killings by security forces have been reported since December 2023, with many contested as extra-judicial executions.
-- Security personnel are incentivized through rewards for encounter killings, undermining accountability and human rights.
Specific incidents, including the alleged extra-judicial killing of five unarmed villagers in the Abujhmad region and the execution of 18-year-old Pandu Madvi in Bijapur, have been spotlighted as glaring examples of the state’s failure to uphold justice.
The activists have condemned the recent banning of the Moolvasi Bachao Manch (MBM), a youth-led organization advocating for adivasi rights, calling it an attack on democratic freedoms. They argue that the suppression of such movements exacerbates alienation among marginalized communities.
The recruitment of surrendered Naxalites and tribal youth into the District Reserve Guard (DRG), despite a 2011 Supreme Court ruling against such practices, was also criticized as a violation of judicial directives and a risk to community safety.
Demands for justice
The letter outlines a ten-point charter of demands, urging the state to:
1. Conduct impartial investigations into alleged extra-judicial killings.
2. Release individuals arbitrarily detained.
3. Provide medical care to injured victims.
4. Compensate families of victims of state violence.
5. Lift the ban on MBM and respect constitutional freedoms.
6. Halt the militarization of the Bastar region and dismantle excessive security camps.
7. Repeal repressive laws like the Chhattisgarh Special Public Security Act (CSPSA).
8. Establish an independent oversight body to monitor human rights conditions in the region.
The letter emphasizes the need for justice, reconciliation, and the restoration of constitutional rights for adivasi communities. “The ongoing violations in Chhattisgarh are a profound affront to the democratic and constitutional values that define our nation,” the activists stated.
As the government remains silent on the allegations, the letter has brought renewed attention to the plight of marginalized communities in Chhattisgarh. Civil society groups have called for a transparent and urgent response to rebuild trust and ensure the safety and dignity of all citizens.

Comments

TRENDING

Workers' groups condemn Gujarat Ordinance increasing working hours, warn of statewide agitation

By A Representative   At a consultation organised today by the Asangathit Shramik Hit Rakshak Manch at Circuit House in Ahmedabad, leaders of major trade unions and labour rights organisations strongly opposed the Gujarat government’s recent ordinance amending the Factories Act and the draft rules notified under the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Code, 2020. Around 50 representatives from central trade unions, independent unions, and labour welfare organisations participated in the meeting.

The myth of population decline: India’s real challenge is density, not fertility

By N.S. Venkataraman*   India’s population in 2025 stands at approximately 1.4 billion. In 1950, it was 359 million, rising sharply to 1.05 billion by 2000. The population continues to grow and is projected to reach around 1.7 billion by 2050.

How natural and organic farming can be a key to combating the climate crisis

By Raj Kumar Sinha*  On July 9, while addressing the “Sahkar Samvad” in Ahmedabad with women and workers associated with cooperatives from Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan, Union Home Minister Amit Shah emphasized that natural farming is essential for both our health and the health of the soil. This is a significant statement in the context of addressing the climate change crisis. Natural farming can play a crucial role in combating climate change. Also known as organic farming, it is a system of agriculture that can increase food production without harming the environment. Natural farming has the potential to reduce carbon emissions by 35% to 50%.

Another 'honor' killing in Tamil Nadu: Caste pride has murdered love, again

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat*  Once again, Tamil Nadu has witnessed a brutal so-called 'honor' killing. This time, it is Kevin Selvaganesh, a 27-year-old software engineer from the Scheduled Caste community, who has been hacked to death by the family of the girl he loved since childhood. Kevin, a brilliant student employed at Tata Consultancy Services, was in a relationship with Subashini, his schoolmate and girlfriend. The couple, both well-educated and professionally qualified, had plans to marry. Yet, that love story ended in bloodshed — sacrificed at the altar of caste pride.

From Kailasa to Lodonia: The business of inventing nations in India

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat*  This is the story of India—and the 'ideas' and 'imagination' that shape it. Some years ago, someone announced the creation of the 'United States of Kailasa,' a fictional nation 'founded' by Swami Nithyananda, who remains wanted in multiple criminal cases in India, including rape and murder. Remarkably, representatives of this fabricated country even managed to 'participate' in various United Nations events, including sessions of CEDAW in Geneva.

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.

'Bengali Muslim migrant workers face crackdown in Gurgaon': Academic raises alarm

By A Representative   Political analyst and retired Delhi University professor Shamsul Islam has raised serious concerns over the ongoing targeting and detention of Muslim migrant workers from West Bengal in Gurgaon, Haryana. In a public statement, Islam described the situation as "brutal repression" and accused law enforcement agencies of detaining migrants arbitrarily under the pretext of verifying their citizenship.

Deaths in Chhattisgarh are not just numbers – they mark a deeper democratic crisis

By Sunil Kumar  For a while, I had withdrawn into a quieter life, seeking solace in nature. But the rising tide of state-sponsored violence and recurring conflict across India has compelled deeper reflection. The recent incidents of killings in central India—particularly in Chhattisgarh—are not isolated acts. They point to a larger and ongoing crisis that concerns the health of democracy and the treatment of marginalised communities.

100 yrs of RSS as seen by global media house: Power, controversy, push for Hindu-first India

By Rajiv Shah  On a blistering summer evening in Nagpur, nearly a thousand men in brown trousers, white shirts, and black caps stood in formation as a saffron flag was raised, marking a graduation ceremony for Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) workers. This vivid scene, described in a recent FT Weekend Magazine article, “A hundred years after it was founded, India's Hindu-nationalist movement is getting closer to its goal of a Hindu-first state,” captures the enduring presence of the RSS, a century-old Hindu-nationalist organization.