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A report on the Terror, Repression &
Criminal Conspiracy Against Tribal People In Bastar, Chhattisgarh (Report compiled and edited by the Kisan
Sangharsh Samiti, Nagarnaar, Bastar, Chhattisgarh) Rulers in a HurryOn 26th October 2001, in the
course of festive Dasshera celebrations at Jagdalpur in Bastar, the Chief
Minister of Chhattisgarh proudly announced that ‘while public sector enterprises
are being closed down in other states, Chhattisgarh is the only state which has
provided land for establishment of two enterprises in the public sector first, Super-thermal Power Plant in
Sipat and second, NMDC Steel Plant in Bastar’. In the same town two days earlier some
three dozen men and women from Nagarnaar region, where land for the proposed
NMDC Steel Plant has been ostensibly acquired by the Government, had been
admitted to Maharani Hospital. They had sustained serious injuries in police
action against the people who were protesting against the illegal proceedings of
land acquisition for the proposed Plant. They were demanding unconditional
release of three of their leaders in the custody of police on contrived
charges. Many of the injured were literally pushed
out of the hospital the very next day in the morning. The objectives were to
clear the mess in the town before the arrival of C.M. They apprehended that he
might visit the hospital also as the incident had received wide local
publicity. The police action at Nagarnaar included-
lathi charge, bursting of tear gas shells and firing. Some officials had stated
that firing was in the air; all though four persons had received injuries
relatable to firing. Firing by police was, however, totally disclaimed
afterwards by the Inspector General of Police. The local administration did not
brief the press for the whole day after the incident even though the press was
persistently asking for authentic official version about the same. The press was
even asked to stand by twice that evening. The officers were perhaps not sure
about the version of the incident, which they were supposed to
give. The Chief Minister, on being questioned
about the developments during the press briefing on the next day, that is, 26th
October, feigned complete ignorance about the incident at Nagarnaar. The
incident had been carried in the local as also Raipur papers as violent in which a dozen policemen
were supposed to have been injured, the police station ransacked and half a
dozen vehicles smashed. There was kudos to the police for their
patience. Yet the Chief Minister was pleased to
state that there might have been some law and order problem, better handled by
local administration.
The C.M. naturally did not visit the hospital where half a dozen women with head
injuries including some very elderly, were still there. He performed the puja of
the supreme goddess Danteshwari to initiate Dasshera
celebrations. The C.M. announced to the world the great
strides in development in his state during the brief one-year tenure. It
included the allocation of land for the steel plant at Nagarnaar.On being
questioned about people’s resistance he said it was inconsequential. According
to him people were agreeable to the proposal, they were taking compensation
cheques. The steel plant shall be established at Nagarnaar, come what may, the C.M. was pleased to declare. NMDC and the Steel PlantIt was in this frame of reference, that
is, the firm resolves of the rulers in a
hurry for instant development of this vast region at any cost, that the
state government last year approved the proposal of the National Mineral
Development Corporation (NMDC) for establishing a steel plant in Bastar. The
NMDC is a public sector enterprise. It had started mining of iron ore deposits
in Bailadila, the richest in the world, some four decades back, initially for
export to Japan. It has by now collected huge stock of ore slack. This slack
will be used in the proposed Plant taking advantage of the new technology that
is available now. In fact, there is a strong case even
otherwise for establishment of steel industry within Bastar region rather than
exporting the ore. Two proposals of steel plants in private sector were
seriously pursued in early 90’s,one at Mavalibhata and another at Nagarnaar. The
proposed ventures, however, had to be abandoned in the face of strong opposition
from the likely affected people. The reason was simple. The administration had
failed even to present a reasonable alternative for their livelihood to the
affected people. Nevertheless no lesson appears to have
been learnt even now by the government from the earlier experience. The new NMDC
proposal has been pursued unilaterally in the same way as earlier without any
serious deliberations on basic issues at any level. In fact, even some of the basic changes in
the Constitutional frame with regard to management of natural resources,
acquisition of land, rehabilitation of people and the structure of industrial
enterprises in the Scheduled Areas, which have been effected in the intervening
period, have been totally ignored. Industrial Enterprises in Scheduled Areas-The Accepted National FrameThe basic frame for establishment of an industrial enterprise in the Scheduled Areas as designed by the government itself from time to time broadly comprises the following elements- (i) Comprehensive Plan for Alternative Means
of Livelihood: Preparation of a comprehensive plan for people directly
displaced because of acquisition of land and those likely to be affected
indirectly in the zone of influence of the concerned industry is a necessary
first step in any proposal for establishing an industry in the Scheduled Area.
This plan, according to the guidelines issued by the Government of India in this
regard in 1974 as a part of the tribal development
strategy still extant, had to be an integral part of the industrial project, not an appendage thereof or a second stage
exercise. (ii)Gram Sabha at the Center of
Stage: The community at the village level in the form of Gram Sabha is
now a Constitutional body after the 73rd Constitutional Amendment. In
the Scheduled Areas, the position of Gram Sabha has become very strong as it has
come to the center of the stage after the enactment of the Provisions of
Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 (in brief Extension
Act). In particular, under section 4(d) of this Act, the Gram Sabha is competent
to manage all resources within its
jurisdiction in accordance with its customs and tradition. Moreover,
consultation with Gram Sabha before acquisition of land and preparation of
rehabilitation programme for the affected of all descriptions, as explained in
(i) above, is now mandatory under section 4(i) of the said
Act. (iii) Environment Clearance:
Environmental clearance of any project is mandatory under the notification of
Government of India dated 10.04.1997 before a project can be
established. (iv)Limitations on State in Scheduled
Area: The Supreme Court of India, in a historic judgment in Samata case
in 1997, has held that the Constitution intends that all lands in the Scheduled
Areas should always remain with the tribal people. Therefore, as per spirit of
the provisions of the Fifth Schedule even the Government cannot lease out any
land to a non-tribal including juridical entities like
companies. (v)Community Ownership over
industry: The Bhuria Committee on self-governance in Scheduled Areas
recommended way back in 1995 that ‘the community should have full command over
the industry based on local resources…. The community should be deemed to be the
owner with 50% shares in its favor by virtue of its allowing the industry to use
the local resources and getting established… Misadventure at Hiranaar
The GOC appears to have been totally oblivious of the statutory provisions as also the guidelines. Moreover, when the people they were not taken seriously brought these provisions to the notice of the local administration. They were dubbed as mere paper exercises or at best deemed to be mere formalities. Accordingly, the Government of
Chhattisgarh (GOC) and NMDC after the decision to establish a steel plant in
Bastar, first selected a site near Geedam in Dantewara.It involved lands in the
neighboring villages of Hiranaar and Ghotpal.The GOC and NMDC did not take any
action in respect of item (i) above, that is, identification of zone of
influence and preparation of a comprehensive rehabilitation plan. Moreover, the
GOC straightaway allotted the so-called
government land located in these villages ignoring the Constitutional
provision about Gram Sabha’s competence to manage all resources mentioned in
(ii) above. Even the process of land
acquisition was started without mandatory prior consultation with the concerned
Gram Sabhas. The Collector Dentewara in his submission to the National
Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (in brief the National
Commission), with whom the people had lodged a complaint, admitted his ignorance
about the Constitutional provision about consultation with Gram Sabhas. He added
that the he had started consultation with the concerned Gram Sabha after a
circular to that effect was received from the State Government. Nevertheless the process of consultation
was obnoxious. It was done under show of fore and without any information about
basics like rehabilitation plan. The concerned Gram Sabhas obviously did not agree with the proposal. There was some police action as well in the face of tremendous resistance from people’s side. Nevertheless all efforts to persuade the people to part with their lands even at ministerial level failed. The GOC decided to abandon the proposal sometime in April-May this year. Some trouble has again irrupted around
24th October following a reference by the Chief Minister during his
earlier visit to Bastar that if Nagarnaar people do not agree, the plant could
be established at Hiramar. Nagarnaar: A Case of Continuing
Encounter After retreat at Hiranar, the local
administration, perhaps, decided to take advantage of the earlier groundwork at
Nagarnaar. Accordingly, instant decision was taken for the alternative site
there. As in the case of Hiranar, the preliminaries as envisaged in 1974
guidelines ware totally ignored. In fact, the local administration also ignored
the strong case made out by the people of Nagarnaar on the earlier occasion in
1992 against location of any large industry specifically at Nagarnaar. The
salient features of the people’s side were: - 1.
Nagarnaar is one of
the best agricultural tracts in Bastar. 2.
Nagarnaar is one of
the most densely populated areas in Bastar. 3.
The overall
agricultural area in Bastar region is limited, that is, about 30% of the total
geographical area. The bulk of the remaining area in Bastar comprises forest.
The forest area is no longer available to the tribal people for agriculture,
which continues to be their mainstay. Therefore, keeping in view the fact of
limited agricultural area and growing pressure of population, suitable location
for heavy industry should be found in other areas, including the so-called
forest area in Bastar, if necessary with prior the approval of the GOI. A
substantial part of the forest even in Bastar is degraded which can be put to
alternative industrial use. 4.
The location of heavy
industry in a vast backward tract like Bastar need not be near the existing
highways or railway lines. The primary consideration in all the three steel
plant sites so far, that is, Mavalibhata, Nagarnaar and Hiranar has been the
railroad facility. The establishment of a new large industry with investment of
tens of thousands of crores should also aim at opening up of the region and
balanced regional development within Bastar. No systematic exercise for establishing industry in Bastar has even been taken up so far. In fact, the considerations stated above would have naturally come up if the GOC had proceeded along with the provisions of its own law, that is, the M.P. Town and Country Planning Act. Its provisions envisage declaration of industrial regions after careful planning and informed public hearings. The valuable time of about a decade after the last retreat by the State in the face of people’s opposition in Mavalibhata and Nagarnaar and the new proposals for location of plant at Hiranar and Nagarnaar, which are facing the same opposition on the same grounds, was lost in simple non-action. The State
prefers to use its authority against the people rather than going about in a
rational way with informed consultation in a climatic of mutual trust as
envisaged in the law of the land and declared policies of the State quoted
above. Ambivalence about Constitutional MandateThe local administration started the innings in Nagarnaar area as well with the assignment of the so-called government land unilaterally to N.M.D.C. as in Hiranar. Thus, it has blatantly ignored constitutional jurisdiction of the Gram Sabhas. This action itself is open violation of provisions in Section 4(d) of the Extension Act and Section 129C(three) of M.P. Panchayat Raj Act.So far as land acquisition is concerned the Collector Bastar, however, look cue from Dantewara experience and decided to consult the concerned Gram Sabhas of Nagarnaar, Amaguda, Kasturi and Maganpur before starting the acquisition proceedings. There was stiff resistance to the proposal in all the four Gram Sabhas even though the Collector personally addressed two of them and other senior officials as well as officials of N.M.D.C. ware present in all the four Gram Sabhas. They had all sort of promises to make but no firm plans to place before the people. The Collector even ignored a very reasonable demand of the Gram Sabhas that they may be given some time, say, a fortnight or so to consider the proposal. How could a responsible body like Gram Sabha take a decision in a huff? The women in particular walked of the meeting. Even this has no effect on officials notwithstanding the fact that no quorum in a Gram Sabha in complete until one of those present are women. The proceeding of Dasturi Gram Sabha, whose photocopy is available, shows that the Gram Sabha unanimously rejected the proposal of administration for land acquisition.
Consent Through Conspiracy and
Fabrication The local
administration at this stage took an unusual step to complete the formality of
consultation with the Gram Sabhas. The proceeding books of all the four Gram
Sabhas were summoned by higher authourities. The officials took them away to
Jagdalpur, the District Head Quarter. On being asked to return the same, a set
of new proceeding-book were sent to the concerned Gram Sabhas with a record of
the proceedings for the day on which so-called consultation was. Substantial
parts of the record proceeding in all four cases were just the same verbatim.
The final conclusion in all of them was stated to be
‘agreement by majority’. There was no mention even of the fact whether quorum
was complete and the number of persons favoring a nod opposing the proposal. The
proceedings were signed by the concerned O.S.Ds. who were formally deputed to
hold the special Gram Sabhas meetings. When the Gram Sabhas asked for the old
registers, they were sent back after considerable reluctance. But the pages
supposed to have the original proceeding had been removed in all cases except
Kasturi. Two pages in this case could not be removed because the proceeding of
the previous meeting had been recorded on the earlier page. It may be mentioned
that according to the rules, the proceeding of Gram Sabha are to be recorded by
the Secretary of Panchayat and authenticated by the Chairperson of the day. Any
other of whatsoever rank has no local
standing. The proceeding in the registers therefore, cannot be deemed to be
proceedings of the Gram Sabhas. Armed with the contrived majority verdict
of the four Grams Sabhas, the local administration claimed that the consent for
land acquisition of the concerned Gram Sabha had been obtained. Accordingly, the
proceeding of land acquisition was started. Even in this case there were serious
irregularities. No Section 4 notice was served personally or even got displayed
in the concerned villages at prominent places as required under the law because
of the possible reaction from the people’s side. The people came to know about
the acquisition from a news item in a local paper. The people pleaded with the
administration about the legal infirmities of their action, but to no avail. The
acquisition proceedings were completed in a record time, notwithstanding the
persistent objections by the people in all forms. The final award has been given
in October under Section 9. Collusion and Conspiracy
Continue The N.M.D.C. has handed over cheques of
relevant amount to the S.D.O. who is the land acquisition officer. Some seventy
persons are reported to have taken the cheques. Most of them are non-resident
owner of land; some of them have questionable titles. The people in the village
particularly the tribal people have not accepted the award, nor are they
accepting the cheques. The local administration and the
representatives of N.M.D.C. are giving an impression that all the formalities of
acquisition have been completed and the people in general are accepting the
payment, it is only a matter of time that the N.M.D.C. will move in after
standing the crops have been harvested, take over the land and start work. The
N.M.D.C. is reported to be giving some money to dalals for bringing persons to accept
compensation-cheques. Moreover, the people are informally told that they will be
doubly benefited if the plant is not established because of resistance. No one
can force them to return the money. The game plan is clear. All concerned on the other side are working for contrived consent to knock out the basis of resistance. There is an all round collusion and coercion to smash the resistance of the people. Environment Also a Mere
Formality To cap all the irregularities and
illegalities in various processes, the people have received a notice concerning
environment clearance now in October after the completion of acquisition
proceedings. The people have invited to file objection, if any, about the
proposed steel plant within thirty day. There is also an open invitation to a
public hearing before a panel on 20.11.2001. Again, there is no information
whatsoever about the steel plant also a power plant and a reservoir, about which
there are rumors but no information. It is obvious that the GOC considers
environmental clearance as a formality. Intervention by the National Commission As the local administration refused to
relent and see reason on any point whatsoever, the people moved the National
Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in this matter giving full
details of the events briefly narrated above. It has been submitted that the
concerned officers have conspired to
defraud the people mostly tribal, and deprive them of their land illegally.
It is an offence under the atrocities
acts. Moreover, the records of Gram Sabhas, which are Constitutional entities,
have been fabricated by the conspirators, which is a penal
offence. Since the fraudulent action of the
officials cannot be deemed to be consultation with Gram Sabha the entire
proceedings of land acquisition are ab initio void. All the activities of the
N.M.D.C. and the local officers, including those concerning acquisition, payment
of cheques and taking possession of land on the strength to the fraudulent and
void proceedings are illegal. Moreover, since all the officers were present in
the meetings of Gram Sabhas, it would be reasonable to presume that they are
aware about the fact of fabrication and tempering of records. Therefore, the
concerned officers are personally responsible for the wrong doings related there
to. In particular, they are partners in the conspiracy aimed at committing the
crime against the tribal people concerning their constitutional rights over
land. The National Commission was, therefore,
requested by the affected people to take the following measures:
- (i)
Ensure that illegal
land acquisition proceeding premised on forgeries and misleading information are
stopped and reopened. (ii)
Ensure that those
responsible for fabrication of records of for not taking statutory protective,
preventive and restorative measure are subjected to disciplinary
proceedings. (iii)
Direct or file
proceedings for criminal investigation and prosecution. (iv) Ensure that no victimization takes places of the tribal and others who protest. (v)
Take steps to ensure
that the working of tribal Gram Sabhas is in accordance with the provision of
the law. (vi)
Establish a proper
system to ensure that statutory responsibilities and proceeding are adhered to
in fulfillment of statutory and constitutional mandate. The National Commission has asked the GOC
to enquire into the allegations and report. It appears that the GOC has not
taken these issues seriously. It is understood that an enquiry is being
conducted at the local level. Since the facts about the conspiracy and
fabrication are so clear and their legal consequences also well, the local
officials are apprehensive. They are also in a revengeful mood as is clear from
these officers, as a strategy for self-deference later events. Moreover, they
are keen that the N.M.D.C. takes possession of land at the earliest and starts
work so that the higher authorities including the National Commission can be
faced with a fait accompli and people’s demand for justice is thwarted. The
local officers are bold enough even to be partners in a crime against people and
democracy because of the unequivocal directions from the highest level in the
government to establish the plant, law or no law. It is a pity that no officer
is prepared to abide by the dictate to the law of the
land. Reign of Terror UnleashedIt is in this frame that reign of terror
has been engineered in Nagarnaar area. Some cases on frivolous grounds have been
registered against those active in the movement, for example, Satyanarayan
Sethia, Duryodhan and Somson Kashyap. The people of Nagarnaar ware planning to
go to Mavalibhata for attending the annual madai there on 24th October,
which is held annually to celebrate the successful people’s resistance against
the Steel plant there way back in 1992. The local administration was
apprehensive that the coming that the coming together of the people from these
areas may give boost to the resistance in Nagarnaar. In fact, even on the
earlier occasion in 1992 the people of Nagarnaar had joined hands with people of
Mavalibhata. Therefore the police decided to disrupt their plan to participate
in madai by detaining some
leaders. Shri Satyanarayan Sethia was summoned to
the Police Station at about 9 pm on 23rd. He was taken away to
Jagdalpur. The arrest was ostensibly in respect of a petty offence registered a
week earlier. On being questioned about the propriety of precipitate action at
that odd hour, Sethia was told by the S.H.O. that he was acting under
instructions of higher authorities. The ringleaders had to be nabbed. This is
reasonably confirmed by later events. Accordingly, after a while Samson Kashyap
and Duryodhan ware also called from their houses. This was seen by some people
in the village. They got apprehensive. The people started collecting near the
Police Station. They asked for the whereabouts of Satyanarayan. As they learnt
that he had been taken to Jagdalpur, they demanded his return forthwith. In the
mean time more people collected. At this stage at about 10 Pm. police used force to disperse them.
They beat up many women who were in the forefront. But did not deter the people.
They remained peaceful and firm on their demand. The whole night passed like
this. As other people in the neighboring
villages learnt about these events in the morning, they also started pouring in.
The number swelled to about five thousand in no time. There was only one demand
‘Release our people unconditionally’. It is in the wake of this gathering storm
that at about 10.30 in the morning, the police started unprovoked lathi charge on the people. Women in the
forefront were special targets. The lathis were hit directly on heads even
of old women. The crowd got restive. Therefore, the police used tear gas shills,
some two dozens in all. And lastly, there was firing. Some five shots were
heard. Four persons including two women received injuries in their
legs. The police personnel in the police
station in the near time started breaking glass panes of vehicles in the Thana, demolishing the sentry post made
of mud and such like. It was aimed at maligning the movement and justify brutal
action. But the people exercised restrain. They remained firm on not allowing
the police personnel to move out from the Thana. As the news about the ineffective use of force reached Jagdalpur, additional force was rushed in. The collector and the inspector General of Police also reached the spot by 12 noon. But people refused to let them in. Nor did they talk with these officers. As the administration could see no
alternative, they had to relent. Two activists were brought back from Jagdalpur.
All the three were later release unconditionally at about 4pm. The people
dispersed peacefully. In all about 45 people were injured. 35 of them were taken
to Jagdalpur and admitted to the hospital and the rest remained at Nagarnaar.
Eight people including four women are still in Jagdalpur hospital. One person,
who could not be operated in the local hospital for extraction of a foreign body
embedded in anklebones, is being referred to Raipur. It is reported in the press that cases
against more them 50 persons including a large number of women specially have
been registered by the police under various sections such as 147, 148, 186, 294,
332, 336, 341, 342, 427, 452, 506 and 508 of the I.P.C. There is apprehension,
bases on rumors, that cases under narcotics acts be booked against key persons
by planting the material in their houses. The game plan of the local administration
is clear. Terrorize the people. Remove the articulate and active persons
including some women from the scene. It has to be noted that it is the women who
are in the forefront in this struggle. Their simple logic, as stated to the
District Collector herself, is that they know only one thing, that is,
agriculture. Had they known anything else they would also have been moving
around with handbags like that of the Collector. For them issue is a matter of
‘do or die’. Either assert for a life with dignity in the village or be ready
for a miserable life with children in the dingy lanes of urban cluster which are
already studded with ‘destitute Of development’. The N.M.D.C’s own
project at Bailadila is no exception with horrendous tales of forced
displacement, disorganization and destitution. The people cannot trust any one.
The women are in no mood to relent. Calm before the Storm? There is, however, clam for the time
being because of the anniversary function of Chhattisgarh on November 1,2001 at
Raipur. It is rumored that armed battalions are being posted to Nagarnaar to
meet any contingency of resistance by Gram Sabhas to take possession of land
there. All the four Gram Sabhas are firm in
their resolve not to surrender before the conspirators against democracy. They
have formally resolved that since the acquisition proceedings are void ab initio for reasons discussed earlier,
no of their land, on the strength of impugned award. The Gram Sabhas shall not
allow illegal takeover of land for whose management they have now the
Constitutional mandate under section 4(d) of the Extension Act. The local
administration and police have been informed accordingly. It has been clarified
that the responsibility for any untoward incident shall be entirely that of the
local administration. Crime Against Democracy With the unfolding of events in the wake
of the State’s unilateral decision to set up a Steel Plant in Bastar, described
above, the basic issue has shifted from the Steel plant to the blatant attack by
the State an its officials on the fundamental rights of the tribal people and
the highest institution of a democratic policy, the assembly, the assembly of
people at the village level in the form of Gram Sabha. It is a pity that it took
about half a century before the spirit of the Constitutional provisions for the
protection of the tribal people could be translated in concrete terms after the
73rd Amendment with the enactment with the enactment of the extension
Act. The scope of the provisions of the Fifth Schedule has also been made
explicit only now in judicial pronouncements. The administration, however, has remained
oblivious about the significance of these basic changes. Moreover, all votaries
of development at any cost are in a hurry, having no time for even a dialogue
with the people. The basic morality and sense of responsibility, even amongst
senior officers and political leaders to the Constitutional mandate such as
protection and advancement of the simple tribal people has reached a abysmally
law ebb. Otherwise, how one can even imagine that those in authority can go the
extent of conspiring against the people and fabricate records of the
Constitutional entities with no question asked? What is happening in Bastar is a
continuing crime against democracy of the worst order. It is a fit case in which direct
intervention by the President himself is called for. It is just the after day that the
President in his address to the Nation on the 25th January 2001, had
stated that- A great socialist leader has once said
that a great man in a hurry to change the world, who knocks down a child,
commits a crime. In the instant case, the crime is being
committed against a child (the tribal people) by its guardian (the State) for
his own self-interest. The President in the same vein had
advised- Let it not be said of India that the
great Republic in a hurry to develop itself is devastating the green mother
earth and uprooting our tribal population. This is exactly what is happening in Nagarnaar and Hiranar in Bastar.The people are fighting a grim battle against their own protectors. We solicit intervention by the President himself. APPEALThe Kisan Sangharsh Samiti, Nagarnaar, Bastar, Chhattisgarh State takes this opportunity for appealing to sensitive people all over the country who are concerned with basic values in life particularly the norms of democratic polity. Let all those who stand by development with equality, standby the people of Nagarnaar and Hiranar in this hour of trial. They may write to the President of India, Prime Minister and even the C.M. of Chhattisgarh on the issues given below- (i)Demand scrapping of illegal land
acquisition proceedings in Nagarnaar area premised on forgeries and misleading
information. (ii)Ask the Chairman NMDC,Hyderabad
Andhra Pradesh to stop issue of cheques and all other proceeding for taking over
of land on the basis of fraudulent processes. (iii)Demand that those including officers
of NMDC responsible for fabrication of records or for not taking statutory
protective,preventive and restorative measures are subjected to disciplinary
proceedings. (iv)Demand that there is no victimization
of the tribals and others who have been protesting against the illegal
activities of the State. All cases registered against them may be
dropped. (v)Demand steps to ensure that the
workings of tribal Gram Sabhas throughout the country is in accordance with the
provisions of the Constitution and other relevant laws. (vi)Demand provision for deterrent
punishment under law for a new genre of crimes, which have come to the fore in
this case that is, crime against
democracy. (vii)Demand to establish a proper system
to ensure that statutory responsibilities and proceedings are adhered to in
fulfillment of statutory and constitutional mandate. (viii)Demand that a Gram Sabha Tribunal
may be set up at the national level under the Chairmanship of a Supreme Court
Judge with noted public persons as members. All cases of misuse of authority
against Gram Sabhas may be taken up by this Tribunal. A copy of the statements, letters to
various authorities issued etc. in this regard may be sent to Shri Satyanarayan
Sethia, Convener, Kisan Sangharsh Samiti, V&P Nagarnaar, distt. Bastar,
Chhattisgarh. A copy of the same may also be sent to the undersigned at Delhi
address. Any further information can be obtained from Delhi Office. We will also
solicit support as the field level in our struggle through direct participation
by friends. Nagarnaar is just 19 Kms. From Jagdalpur on the national highway no.
43 towards Vishakhapatanam. Please see next page for the list of
injured persons. The following is the list of tribal women
injured in the police firing and lath charge on the 23rd and 24rth
October 2001. Sino. Name
Name of Husband
Caste injury details
1. Mugai bai
w/o shri
Lebbo
Bhatara
2. Lakshmi
bai w/o shri Jaisingh -do-
3. Neela bai
w/o shri
Maneh
-do- 4. Kamali
bai w/o shri
Mangaru
-do- 5. Sai
bai wo shri Sahadev -do- Head
injuries. 6. Jimai
bai w/o shri
Tularam
-do- 7.
Hira
bai w/o shri
Sonuram
-do- 8.
Kusama
bai w/o shri
Namodhar
-do- bullet shots in
leg. 9.
Gauri
bai w/o shri
Sukaru
-do- 10.
Raimati w/o shri
Makund
-do- 11.
Champa bai w/o shri
Sudarshan
-do- Head
injuries. 12.
Jimani bai w/o
shri 13.
Sukali
bai 14.
Lakhami
bai
Head injuries. 15.
Ratni
bai 16.
Bhagawati
bai 17.
Songana
bai 18.
Hiramani
bai 19.
Sona
bai 20.
Kamali
bai 21.
Rayamat
bai 22.
Kushmati
bai 23.
Kushna
bai 24.
Raghunath s/o shri
Magaru 25.
Sanathram s/o shri
Parashuram
Mahara 26.
Sukram s/o shri
Bhudaru
Kenwat 27.
Ram das s/o shri
Ganoram
Bhatara 28.
Prahalad s/o shri
Sahadev
-do- 29.
Haribandhu s/o shri
Booti
-do- 30.
Hari s/o shri
Suku
-do- 31.
Samaru s/o shri
Mangalu
-do- 32.
Manbodh s/o shri
Motiram
-do- 33.
Sampath s/o shri Mangal
Sai
-do- 34.
Rayanu s/o shri
Manbodh
-do- 35.
Buti s/o shri
Bodaga
-do- bullet shots in
leg Sino Name Name of father Caste injury details36.
Lakhamu s/o shri
Dharamu
-do- 37.
Raghunath s/o shri
Mahadev
-do- 38.
Jalandhar
s/o shri Pakalu ram
Sondi 39.
Dhaneshwar s/o shri
Abhimanyu
-do-
bullet shots in leg 40.
Phool Singh s/o
shri Kamaruchand Mahara 41. Chandan s/o
shri Chigadu
Halba 42. Rajendra
43. Mangal 44. Lacchim Satyanarayan
Sethia
Convener
Kisan Sangharsh Samiti
Village Kasturi
Nagarnaar-Bastar
Chhattisgarh
Tel:(07782) 65208/66204/66205 Tel:(0771) 426772(Raipur |