Tribals not safe in their own land

By : Alok K N Mishra, TNN | Aug 17, 2013, 02.53 AM IST, Times Of India

RANCHI: Cases of atrocities against tribals in the state are on the rise in Jharkhand. Tribals have been sandwiched, claim tribal leaders, between the Naxalites and the security forces in the forests despite the fact that the government has opened police stations in every district for a better outreach to them.

Atrocities against tribals include cruel and violent acts against them like kidnapping and abduction, rape,

 Murder, robbery, arson, skirmishes and other crimes.

These cases have witnessed over 100% growth in the past 10 years. In 2002, a total of 124 cases of crimes against members of the scheduled tribe were registered which was 287 in 2012. The total cases registered of crime committed against them were 125 in 2002. In 2012, it grew up to 696. The tribal leaders say that still a huge percentage of tribals do not go to register cases.

"The cases would grow manifold if all the tribals report them to police," said a tribal leader. The numbers have caught the attention of tribal leaders who have demanded implementation of domicile policy immediately.

"The government does not have any concern for tribals," said Salkhan Murmu, a tribal leader and strong votary of domicile policy. "The tribals would vanish if the government does not bring in the domicile policy to protect them," said Murmu.

Of the 32 tribes, around six are among the extremely endangered primitive tribes in the country. In 1940s, there were 50% tribals in Jharkhand. Today their population is roughly 25%.

"Where have they gone? No one has an answer," said Murmu.

Land sharks are roaming the state to capture tribal lands, said a leader.

A total of nine cases of skirmishes with tribals were reported in 2002. In 2012, a total of 77 cases of skirmishing with scheduled tribes were reported.

Under SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act, 40 cases were reported in 2002 while 133 cases were registered in 2012. Similarly a total of 13 rape cases were reported in 2002, 13 each in 2003 and 2004, 20 in 2005, 21 in 2006, 22 in 2007, 18 in 2008, 13 in 2009, 18 in 2010, 27 in 2011 and five in 2012.

The cases do not mirror the actual problems which tribals are facing in the state, said MLA and tribal leader Bandhu Tirkey. "They are innocent and thus used by everyone for their benefits," said Tirkey.

Surya Singh Besra, another tribal leader, pitched for domicile policy. "The tribals are victims of rampant violations of constitution, law and human rights," said Besra. Jharkhand is a 5th schedule state where the governor has never made any intervention to protect the tribals. The Union minister of tribal affairs V Kishore Chandra has written to Jharkhand governor to use his power to protect the rights of the tribals. The successive governments have also not done anything for the welfare of the tribals, added Besra.

DGP Rajiv Kumar, however, said it was a good sign that more cases were being registered in connection to crime against members of SC/ST.