Arrest security personnel for shooting Adivasi youth: Latehar villagers

Jharkhand Janadhikar Mahasabha

On August 31, 2021, hundreds of Latehar district villagers came together and held a demonstration outside the Latehar District Headquarters, to demand an investigation into the alleged killing of Adivasi youth Bramhadev Singh by security forces on June 12. Voicing their grief at this protest were the deceased’s wife Jeeramani Devi and two-year-old son Prince Singh.

Adivasi

Around two and a half months ago, Jharkhand’s security forces were out looking for Naxals, when they opened fire on innocent Adivasis of Piri village, as per a fact-finding report compiled by the Jharkhand Janadhikar Mahasabha (JJM). Bramhadev Singh was shot dead during this incident.

After the incident Jeeramani Devi and several other villagers filed multiple applications to the police and administration against the security forces. However, an FIR is yet to be filed. Enraged by this, Piri villagers and nearby supporters from various public organisations came to Latehar district headquarters to demand justice for the family.

Demonstrators submitted a letter to Chief Minister Hemant Soren demanding:

immediate FIR and action against accused in light of Jeeramani Devi’s many applications against soldiers and office bearers;

dismissal of cases filed against six tribals including Brahmadev, alleging that the violence was started by locals;

a minimum compensation of Rs. 10 lakh and a government job for Jeeramani Devi and educational support for her 2-year-old son.

“People should not be harassed by security forces under the guise of anti-Naxalite campaigns. Before conducting a search campaign in any village border, they should take the consent of the fifth schedule area Gram Sabha and traditional village heads. Local administration and security forces should be trained and sensitive [sic] about tribal language, customs, culture and their life values,” said the JJM in a press release.

The protest was organised by Piri Gram Sabha, the JJM, the All India Tribal Mahasabha, the Akhil Jharkhand Kharwar Tribe Vikas Parishad, the Jharkhand Janadhi Mahasabha and Joint Gram Sabha – Latehar, Palamu, Garhwa.

2/n धरना की शुरुआत मृत आदिवासी युवक ब्रम्हदेव सिंह को याद करके मौन सभा के साथ हुई। ब्रम्हदेव की सुरक्षा बलों द्वारा हत्या, आदिवासियों पर हिंसा व सरकारी निष्क्रियता के विरुद्ध सैंकड़ों लोग जुटे हैं। @vinodbagodar @ScribeShah @VijaytaL @bandhu_tirkey @shambhunath1993 pic.twitter.com/J5Dfsrlm6n
— Jharkhand Janadhikar Mahasabha (@JharkhandJanad1) August 31, 2021

Protesters observed a moment of silence for Brahmadev before starting their demonstration. His father Sushil Chand Singh also participated in the event asking why the administration remains silent regarding exploitation of tribals in Tantra.

Piri, Latehar firing

In preparation of the Nem Sarhul festival, six tribal men had set out towards the forest with their traditional Bhartua hunting guns on 12 June, 2021. The group came across security forces who started firing at the men from the outskirts of the forest. Brahmadev and others tried to convey that they were regular villagers and not Naxals or Maoists. However, the firing continued and Dinnath Singh was shot in his hand while Brahmadev Singh was shot.

Villagers alleged in the JJM report that the security personnel later shot him dead. Further, instead of taking action against the culprits, the police registered cases against the villagers under various sections of the law.