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Human Rights Day: IRAC demands release of tribal undertrial prisoners in India

On the occasion of the Human Rights Day (10 December 2022) tribal rights organization, Indigenous Rights Advocacy Centre (IRAC) has demanded a review of “all the cases” lodged against tribals and the withdrawal of false/frivolous cases across India. IRAC suggested the constitution of a commission/committee headed by a retired Supreme Court or High Court judge …

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Arrest and torture of tribal youth in a fabricated case in Kerala

On September 29, 2022, a tribal youth identified as Sarin Saji (24 years) was arrested in an alleged fabricated case and tortured while in custody by the forest officials in Idukki district of Kerala. According to reports, the forest department arrested Sarin Saji on September 29 alleging he tried to sell deer meat. Forest department …

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Custodial death of a tribal due to alleged torture by forest officials in Karnataka

On October 12, 2022, a tribal man identified as Kariyappa alias Kariya (49) reportedly died due to alleged torture by the forest officials in their illegal custody in H D Kote taluk in Mysuru district of Karnataka. The deceased (Kariyappa) was a resident of Hosahalli hamlet under N Beguru Gram Panchayat limits in H D …

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Torture of tribal youth by the forest staff in the Melaghat Tiger Reserve in Amravati district of Maharashtra

On August 25, 2022 a 25 year old tribal youth identified as Ankush Gorelal Mavaskar, a resident of Dhulghat Railway, was tortured by forest staff when he had gone for fishing in a dam in Wan forest area under Akot wildlife division of Melghat Tiger Reserve. Ankush alleged that some 7-8 forest employees beat him …

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NHRC seeks action taken report from Odisha regarding destruction of crops and burning down of tribal huts

Acting on a complaint received from Indigenous Rights Advocacy Centre (IRAC), the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has asked the District Magistrate and the Superintendent of Police of Nabarangpur district in Odisha to submit action taken report (ATR) regarding the destruction of crops and burning down of tribal huts by members of Vana Surakshya Samiti …

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Situation of the Indigenous Peoples in India – Annual Report 2021

There are 104.3 million Scheduled Tribes, also called tribal or Adivasi, who are the indigenous peoples of India, constituting 8.6% of the country’s total population. 90% of them live in rural areas without access to basic facilities and the COVID-19 pandemic has made their situation worst. In the largest democracy which India is, the Scheduled …

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IRAC Impact: NHRC summons Jharkhand Chief Secretary over starvation of tribals

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)  has summoned the Jharkhand Chief Secretary and the District Magistrate of Garhwa district to personally appear before the Commission on 29 June 2022 over non-submission of reports relating to starvation of about 8,000 tribals in Garhwa district. In October 2021, it was reported in the media that some 8,000 …

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Custodial death of Kuravar tribal man in Tamil Nadu

On April 27, 2022, K. Thangamani (47),a tribal belonging to the Kuravar community, died in judicial custody due to alleged police torture in Tiruvannamalai district, Tamil Nadu. A resident of Thattaranai village under Perunkolathur village panchayat in Thandarampattu block in Tiruvannamalai district, Thangamani was picked up from his house around 9.30 a.m. on April 26, …

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Kidnapping and killing of two tribal villagers by the Maoists in Maharashtra

On 14 April 2022, two tribal villagers namely Dalsu Hichami and Ashok Naroti were kidnapped and killed by the Maoists in Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra. According to media reports, the victims, who were in their 20s, were kidnapped from their homes on the night of 13 April 2022. While Hichami was murdered at Jharewada, Naroti’s …

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