The Indigenous Rights Advocacy Centre (IRAC) has strongly condemned the reported killing of a tribal man identified as Chain Singh (33 years), belonging to Bhil tribe and injury to three other tribals in firing by forest officials near Khatyapura village under Lateri police station in Vidisha district of Madhya Pradesh on the night of 9 August 2022.
As per media reports, the deceased and seven other villagers were returning home from forest where they went to collect wood. The forest guards intercepted them near Khatyapura village and opened fire killing Chain Singh on the spot. The forest officials kept on firing injuring three others identified as Mahendra Bhil (22), Bhagwan Singh (30) and Rodji Singh (30).
“This is a serious human rights violation against the tribals by the forest department. Unfortunately the incident happened when the rest of the world was commemorating the International Day of the World’s Indigenous peoples on 9 August. We call upon the Government of Madhya Pradesh to conduct a swift and thorough judicial investigation into the incident and make the report public at the earliest”,
Stated Mr Dilip Chakma, Executive Director of Indigenous Rights Advocacy Centre (IRAC)
The IRAC has also approached the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) of India demanding its intervention for a judicial inquiry into the killing, stringent punishment for the culprits, and interim compensation of at least Rs 20 lakhs to the next of kin of the deceased and a job for one family member, and Rs 5 lakh compensation to each of the injured.
