Rights groups seek judicial probe into action against Ken–Betwa protesters

By A Representative 

The civil rights group, National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM), along with the All-India Rivers Forum (AIRF) and the National Alliance for Climate and Ecological Justice (NACEJ), has condemned what it described as illegal arrests and repression against Adivasi communities, farmers, women protesters and activists opposing the Ken–Betwa River Linking Project in Madhya Pradesh.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the organisations expressed solidarity with forest-dependent families from Panna and Chhatarpur districts resisting displacement and ecological damage allegedly linked to the project. The groups also condemned the filing of criminal cases against movement leaders Amit Bhatnagar, Divya Ahirwar and Hisabi Rajput, calling the action an attempt to suppress democratic dissent.

According to the statement, villages including Dhodhan, Palakauha, Kupi and Khariyani have witnessed heavy police deployment, barricading, night patrols and intimidation in recent days amid protests against eviction and demolition drives connected to the project. The organisations alleged that police resorted to lathicharge, tear gas and arbitrary detentions during the protests.

The Jan Sangharsh Samannay Samity (JSSS), Madhya Pradesh, was quoted in the statement as saying that an FIR was registered at Kishangarh police station on May 13 against around 150 people under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including charges of attempt to murder, conspiracy and rioting. The statement claimed that some of the named activists were not present at the protest site during the alleged incident.

Authorities have alleged that protesters attacked police and administrative teams during an eviction drive linked to dam construction activities at Dhodhan village and damaged government machinery and JCB equipment. However, rights groups and local movements described the FIR as “false” and “malicious”, alleging that it was aimed at criminalising resistance against forced land acquisition and displacement.

The organisations further raised concerns over the environmental and social impact of the Ken–Betwa River Linking Project, including the proposed submergence of parts of the Panna Tiger Reserve. They alleged that affected communities have repeatedly raised issues related to forest destruction, land acquisition, inadequate compensation, rehabilitation and denial of forest rights.

The statement said women in the affected areas had organised symbolic “Chita Andolan” protests to highlight fears over the loss of forests, agricultural land and livelihoods.

NAPM and allied organisations demanded withdrawal of all FIRs against activists and villagers, an independent judicial inquiry into allegations of police brutality and illegal detention, and an immediate halt to forced evictions and demolitions in affected villages. They also called for implementation of provisions under the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, and the Forest Rights Act, 2006.

The groups further sought a comprehensive and independent review of the ecological, social and legal impacts of the Ken–Betwa River Linking Project before any further implementation.