As per media reports, on September 10, 2022, four tribal villagers were arbitrarily arrested, tortured, and falsely prosecuted for cultivating land in the vicinity of Bagdara sanctuary in Singrauli district of Madhya Pradesh. The victims identified as Nandkishore, Shivram, Gulab Singh, and Mulayam Kol, who are tribals & residents of Khamhardih village, in their police complaint alleged that they have been cultivating lands under Sanjay Gandhi Tiger Reserve for several years. But on September 10, when they were working in the fields, officials of the Bagdara sanctuary identified as Manoj Katariya (SDO of Sanjay Gandhi Tiger reserve), Ranger Ramkaran Singh, and 38 others held them captive. They took them to Kharkhauli outpost where they were allegedly abused and assaulted. Later the four tribals were reportedly shown arrested for illegal farming inside the Bagdara sanctuary and produced before the magistrate.
Arrest, torture, harassment, and false prosecution of tribals for cultivating their land are serious human rights violations. As per Section 3(1)(p) of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, whoever not being a Scheduled Tribe/Schedule Caste, “institutes false, malicious or vexatious suit or criminal or other legal proceedings against a member of a Scheduled Caste or a Scheduled Tribe” is a publishable offence.
If the media reports are true it prima facie constitute a serious human rights violation and the state government of Madhya Pradesh must investigate the matter and take action as per the law.