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Dalit Bahujan Adivasi Rule of Law

CRPF personnel allegedly assault Adivasi villagers in Jharkhand

20 people injured, 7 seriously in West Singhbhum. All were allegedly pressured not to file an FIR.

Adivasi

In a shocking incident that took place on May 16, 20 Adivasis from Anjebeda village were allegedly mercilessly beaten by members of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). The incident took place in the West Singhbhum region when CRPF personnel reached the village looking for Naxals.

“Some people were helping a fellow villager raise the roof of his hut when the CRPF landed there, demanding answers about Naxals. The Adivasis, who don’t quite understand Hindi, were unable to give them what they thought would be a satisfactory response. So, they beat up the villagers,” informs Shiraj Dutta, member of the Jharkhand Janadhikar Mahasabha (JJM).

According to Dutta, a total of 20 Adivasis were beaten up brutally by the CRPF personnel. Out of these, 7 villagers sustained serious injuries like fractures. The matter was first brought to light when the JJM tweeted pictures of some of the injured Adivasis on July 17.

 

However, the ordeal of the villagers was far from over. The local police station, allegedly refused to file an FIR, and then the administration allegedly used their influence on the local media to make it look like it was Naxals who had been behind the attack and had injured the villagers.

 

 

Meanwhile, the Chaibasa police responded by claiming, “A case has been registered at the Goilkera thana based on the statement of a victim. The victims have been admitted to Chaibasa Sadar Hospital for further treatment.”

 

 

Dutta informs, “When the CRPF men had attacked the villagers, they also destroyed property of the man who was repairing his hut. They also seized his Aadhar card and even took away some of the money he had raised by selling livestock. All this while, people are being pressured not to file a case. Even though police say a case has been filed, they have not given the villagers a copy of the FIR.” Therefore, this morning they submitted a written complaint to the Chaibasa Superintendent of Police. The JJM once again tweeted a copy of the letter written in Hindi on the Gram Panchayat’s official letterhead.

 

 

Finally, the Jharkhand Police was forced to take note of the matter and directed the SP to take necessary action.

 

 

 

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