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.