Adivasi leader Raghu Midiyami's arrest by NIA: Rights groups allege political targeting

By A Representative

Raghu Midiyami, a prominent Adivasi activist and former president of the Moolvasi Bachao Manch (MBM), was arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on February 27, 2025. His detention has sparked concern among rights groups, who allege that it is part of a broader crackdown on indigenous movements in Bastar, Chhattisgarh.

According to the Campaign for Peace and Justice in Chhattisgarh (CPJC), Midiyami has been an outspoken critic of land dispossession and militarization in the region. At the age of 24, he rose to prominence for documenting alleged rights violations, filing complaints, and mobilizing peaceful protests against government policies impacting Adivasi communities.

CPJC claims that Midiyami’s arrest under anti-terror laws is an attempt to criminalize Adivasi resistance. The organization has released a statement demanding his immediate release and calling for an end to what it describes as state repression.

The arrest comes amid reports of increased security operations in Bastar. Since December 2023, there have been allegations of intensified violence, including mass arrests and killings. Activists claim that many of these deaths are the result of suspected fake encounters and extrajudicial actions. Additionally, there have been reports of new military camps being set up in villages, allegedly without community consent.

Authorities have not yet issued an official statement regarding the specific charges against Midiyami. However, security forces in the region have often accused activists and local organizations of having links to Maoist insurgents, a claim that groups like CPJC deny.

The situation continues to draw national and international attention, as rights organizations raise concerns about the implications for civil liberties and indigenous rights in the region.

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