Jharkhand Janadhikar Mahasabha | SabrangIndia

Arrest security personnel for shooting Adivasi youth: Latehar villagers

Wed, 01 Sep 2021 07:59:10 +0000

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.

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.

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National campaign for Democracy celebrates International Day of Indigenous People

Tue, 10 Aug 2021 07:52:08 +0000

Image Courtesy:entri.app

Adivasi organisations like the Jharkhand Janadhikar Mahasabha (JJM) and others assembled in pockets across the state on August 9, 2021 to celebrate the International Indigenous People Day and remember the community’s beloved activist Father Stan Swamy.

Core committee member Elina Horo and activist Arvind Avinash talked about how indigenous folk talked about Adivasi issues like land banks and exploitative mining in forested areas. Fr. Stan was particularly invested in fighting for Adivasis’ rights to around 10 lakh acres of forest land in the state that has been allegedly handed over to business houses through illegal means.

“Every event is prefaced by a few minutes in memory of Father Stan. He constantly voiced these issues. Now, we in turn are condemning his custodial death,” said Avinash.

The meetings and assemblies were also part of a persevering movement across India campaigning for democracy and decrying draconian laws like the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). Jharkhand’s Adivasis demanded the release of similarly charged Bhima-Koregaon accused activists whose families worried about their worsening health.

Similarly, in Ranchi, Horo said people celebrated 25 years of the Panchayat Extension to Scheduled Areas (PESA) Act after a short ceremony for the Adivasi activist. The Act encourages local self-governance in rural India, thus strengthening Adivasi rights.

The event worked on both the virtual and physical level. The second-half of the virtual meeting will continue on August 10 at 2 PM.

While on the local level, people raised awareness, lakhs of farmers and workers agitating against centre anti-people-dubbed laws celebrated the Quit India Anniversary Day on Monday. People from 25 states sloganeered ‘Modi Sarkar Hatao, Corporate Loot Band Karo, Desh Bachao’ (Remove Modi government! Stop Corporate Loot! Save India!)

Left organisations like AIKS, CITU, AIAWU, AIDWA, DYFI, SFI and others gathered people in hundreds of districts. The major demands of this struggle were the repeal of the three farm laws and the four labour codes, withdrawal of the Electricity Amendment Bill, legal guarantee to Minimum Support Price (MSP) at C2 + 50 percent.

The peasantry demanded an end to privatisation of the public sector as well as immediate halting of rising diesel, petrol, gas and other essential commodities prices. To jumpstart India’s economic situation, people called for an increase in MGNREGA work days and wages and an urban employment guarantee scheme.

Further, in light of the Covid-19 pandemic, protesters appealed for free, universal and speedy Covid-vaccination to all, Rs. 7,500 per month to all families not paying income tax and free distribution of 10 kg grain per head per month to all needy families.

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Adivasi youth allegedly killed by Jharkhand security forces: Fact-finding report

Thu, 24 Jun 2021 11:12:30 +0000

Image Courtesy:gaurilankeshnews.com

The Jharkhand Janadhikar Mahasabha (JJM) on June 23, 2021 alleged systemic violence by security forces against Adivasis in Piri village, after investigating a firing incident that resulted in the death of tribal youth Bramhadev Singh.

On June 12, news reports emerged of an alleged “exchange of fire” between security forces and Maoists in the Kuku-Piri forest, that falls under the jurisdiction of the Garu police station of Latehar. Online portals claimed that one Naxalite was killed and others were found holding guns. However, a fact-finding team claims that the incident was actually an attack by local authorities on innocent villagers.

Six Adivasis including the deceased Bramhadev Singh were out on an annual hunting ritual for the Sarhul festival when they came across the security personnel. The villagers carried Bhartua guns that have been in their families for generations. They use these guns to hunt small prey like rabbits, pigs and chickens, and to protect crops from pests.

The group panicked on seeing officers at the edge of the forest and attempted to retreat. However, the security forces fired at the group without warning, according to JJM’s report. Villagers did not fire back but shouted that they are common people, not Maoists.

“The government should formally make the truth public. This was not an exchange of fire with Maoists. Nor was it a retaliatory action by the security forces. The security forces fired at innocent Adivasis and shot dead Bramhadev. Then an attempt was made to cover up the matter,” said the report.

As the firing continued for about half an hour, one of the bullets hit villager Dinanath in the hand and another seriously injured 24-year-old Bramhadev. Once the survivors fled, the security forces fired three shots at him resulting in his death, The villagers also told the fact-finding team that none of the six victims were associated with the Maoist organization.

This account by villagers came to the forefront only after the team comprising various organisations, journalists, lawyers and social workers, approached the victims on June 17 and analysed the response of local administration and police, the FIR and reports by local media.

“The FIR makes it clear that the police are trying to hide the truth… According to the FIR, this incident was an exchange of fire in which the first shot was fired by the group of armed villagers… It also mentions that Brahmadev’s body was found at the edge of the forest. These statements are contrary to facts,” said the report.

Local police filed a case against the six Adivasis under various sections, including the Arms Act. The team alleged this was to maintain pressure on villagers and keep them from questioning the incident. At the police station, survivors were made to sign or thumbprint on many pages without informing them about the content.

Demands by the Jharkhand Janadhikar Mahasabha

The team demanded that Bramhadev’s wife be compensated at least Rs. 10 lakh. The state government should take full responsibility for their son’s upbringing, education and employment. Further, the other five survivors should be compensated for police harassment.

Citing a June 2020 incident where Chiriyabeda Adivasis in West Singhbhum were brutally beaten by the CRPF during a search operation, the group said that such incidents continuously occur in the state. The FIR in this case did not even mention the CRPF and victims still haven’t received any compensation or assured of any action against offending CRPF soldiers.

Chief Minister Hemant Soren and his political alliance got a clear mandate following oppressive and anti-people policies of the BJP government and alleged violence against Adivasis. Yet, human rights violations and police atrocities continue in Adivasi areas. To correct this historical wrong, the Jharkhand Janadhikar Mahasabha and fact-finding team listed the following demands:

Establish a judicial commission to ensure an independent investigation into the actions of security forces. An FIR should be lodged against security force personnel and officials responsible for Bramhadev’s death and the firing.
The FIR against villagers should be quashed. The government must take administrative action against local police and senior officials for filing wrong statements and FIRs.
Those statements, affidavits etc. from should be made null and void considering people were forced to sign/thumbprint papers. Further, testimonies should be taken only in presence of lawyers.
The government should clearly instruct local administration and security forces not to exploit adivasis in any way. People should not be harassed under the guise of anti-Naxal operations.
Before running a search operation in a village area in fifth schedule areas, personnel must get the consent of Gram Sabha and traditional village heads; in other areas, they must avail the consent of Panchayat representatives. Fifth Schedule provisions and PESA should be fully implemented.
Local administration and security forces should be trained and sensitised about indigenous language, customs, culture and their world view.

A letter detailing these same demands was also sent to the District Deputy Commissioner Abu Imran on Wednesday.

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Shift Father Stan Swamy to hospital: Jharkhand Janadhikar Mahasabha

Tue, 18 May 2021 07:26:29 +0000

Image Courtesy:counterview.net

The Jharkhand Janadhikar Mahasabha has written to Maharashtra Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil to consider shifting Father Stan Swamy, the 84-year-old Jesuit priest who is currently lodged in Taloja jail, to a good hospital. Fr. Stan, has spent decades living in Jharkhand and “has spent his entire life fighting for Adivasi rights and the rights of the underprivileged” recalled the Mahasabha. They reminded the government that he suffers from Parkinson’s Disease, and thus “has trouble drinking from a glass, taking bath and washing clothes on his own” apart from the fact that he also has multiple chronic health conditions.

As reported, on May 14, Fr. Stan over a phone call shared that he was unwell, and feeling very weak. This was for the first time since his arrest, that he had reportedly spoken about his own fragile health. According to reports as “he was too weak even to speak on the phone and his condition had to be described by others” who confirmed that Stan has fever, cough and a running stomach. According to the reports Stan was “given antibiotics by the ayurvedic doctor of the jail” but that did not help much. He is yet to be tested for Covid. He has also not yet received his first vaccine shot. Jharkhand Janadhikar Mahasabha has asked the state government to consider urgently shifting Fr. Stan Swamy to a proper hospital for treatment. The letter is also copied to Chief Minister, Maharashtra Udhav Thackeray, and Minister of State for Home (Urban) Satej Patil.

Earlier, Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP), had also written to the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Uddhav Thackerey, urging him to recommend the release of BK-15 accused on interim bail to the high-power committee. After learning about some harrowing accounts of the detainees in Taloja and Byculla jails, CJP has urged the government to release them for adequate treatment and care. CJP’s petition also highlights the condition of Father Stan Swamy, who usually prefers to bear his pain quietly lest he alarm others. The Jesuit Priest was denied bail in March despite being afflicted with Parkinson’s Disease, had undergone hernia operations prior to his incarceration, that is now causing him excruciating abdominal pain. During his last call with his colleague Father Xavier, Swamy had complained of cough, fever, runny stomach with no respite.

The CJP petition also mentions the other political prisoners who are now very unwell behind bars, and are highly vulnerable to Covid-19, including 60-year-old Sudha Bharadwaj, who already suffers from pulmonary tuberculosis, diabetes, hypertension, rheumatoid arthritis and her teeth are in such a state she can barely manage to eat. “She has lost hair, weight and last year a report showed she is eczemic. After receiving a vaccine shot on May 7, she suffered severe diarrhoea for three weeks, body weakness, tastelessness. Meanwhile, jail authorities only offered antibiotics that had little effect on his condition,”.

CJP’s letter also mentions the deteriorating health of Advocate Surendra Gadling who was not given the spectacles his wife tried to send him. In July 2020, he showed Covid-symptoms and worried about loose motions and severe cough but did not receive any medication. Similarly, Mahesh Raut also could not receive a thermometer and oximeter sent by his sister, as the jail authorities refused to accept it. The CJP letter petition also points at the apathy of the jail authorities who are not following court orders as no family has received a 20-minute video call from any of the BK-15. As for audio calls, close friends and kin have only managed three-to-four-minute calls as opposed to the expected minimum-10-minute calls. Even letters arrive a month late both inside and outside jails after heavy scrutiny by officials.

The Jharkhand Janadhikar Mahasabha has also expressed concerns about reports of rising Covid cases in the Taloja jail, and urged that “Stan should be immediately shifted to a good hospital and given adequate medical treatment” as he “is an elderly and ailing person, with limited mobility and no history of violence against others.” Similar appeals for Fr. Stan have been made earlier by Adivasi groups, Gram Sabhas, civil society, several political leaders and parties, stated the Mahasabha who also hope he gets bail, adding that Jharkhand’s Chief Minister has also “expressed support and solidarity” with Fr. Stan.

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Jharkhand Janadhikar Mahasabha demands probe into activist Ramji Munda’s murder

Sat, 27 Jun 2020 10:15:37 +0000

Police and State repression of indigenous communities and leaders in India has been going on for decades, and voices of those exposing these ills have consistently been silenced. On June 24, 2020, 27-year-old social and political activist from Jharkhand, Ramji Munda, was murdered near Khunti’s Ghaghra village from where he belonged. He was a part of important fact-finding inquiries conducted by the Jharkhand Janadhikar Mahasabha (JJM) into the alleged state violence during the Pathalgadi movement and the Burugulikera mass-murder incident.

The Pathalgadi movement done in Ghaghara was allegedly a non-violent response to certain policies of the then BJP state government headed by Raghubar Das; primarily its attempts to dilute land laws, failure to respect the worldview of the Adivasis, implementation of schemes without the consent of the Gram Sabha, neglect of PESA and provisions for the fifth scheduled areas and rampant violations of human rights. Reports had found that the Pathalgadi movement had allegedly faced violence and brutal oppression at the hands of the administration and the police and the Raghubar Das government had charged at least 172 named and 10,000 unknown people with sedition in the Pathalgadi villages.

As per JJM, Ramji Munda had played an important role in bringing to light the alleged human rights violations by the police and local administration that took place in Ghaghara in June 2018 during a planned Pathalgadi ceremony. He had also opposed the allegedly increasing influence of the Satipati cult in villages. The Jharkhand Janadhikar Mahasabha (JJM) has now demanded an independent probe into Ramji Munda’s death.

Difference between Pathalgadi movement and the Satipati cult

Pathalgadi is a traditional practice of Munda Adivasis of erecting stone slabs (pathals) in honour of their ancestors, to announce important decisions regarding their families and villages or to simply mark the boundary of their villages. Since 2017, pathals painted with Constitutional provisions for Adivasis, judicial orders and their interpretations have been erected in several villages of Jharkhand. The villagers read these provisions and orders to mean the following –

1) the supremacy of the powers of the traditional Gram Sabha and the traditional Adivasi governance systems,

2) the rights of Adivasis over land,

3) the restricted rights of non-adivasis and outsiders in the scheduled areas to settle down and work and

4) that Adivasis are the original inhabitants and owners of India.

A fight for jal, jungle, zameen, the movement is said to be a non-violent response to the state’s attempts of forceful acquisition of Adivasi land, implementation of schemes without people’s consent, exploitation of Adivasis by non-Adivasis and failure of the government to respect and protect the culture and worldview of Adivasis.

The Satipati Cult (sati means mother and pati means father), allegedly also known as the Ante-Christ Kutumb Parivar, was allegedly founded by Keshari Singh in Gujarat and it essentially denounces the government of India. The current leader of the cult is Keshari’s son, Kunwar Ravindra Sinh. Members of the Satipati cult believe Sinh to be the actual ‘Bharat Sarkaar’ (Indian government) and allegedly do not believe in the Constitution of India. They spread the message that Adivasis must not eat non-vegetarian food, not go to Church or celebrate Sarna festivals. The cult decries the use of government documents and systems like Aadhaar cards, ration cards, PDS system, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, etc. The cult advises the use of its own special ID card and also asks tribals to give up khatiyan (ledger, land related documents).

Fact-finding in Burugulikera killings

On February 21 and 22, 2020, the local newspapers reported that seven men were allegedly beaten up and beheaded in Burugulikera, a predominantly Munda Christian village. According to the news, the dead were all against Pathalgadi, and allegedly the murderers were all supporters of the movement, JJM said.

In order to understand the role of Pathalgadi in the killings, a fact-finding team of various organizations, platforms, social activists, writers and journalists visited Burugulikera on January 27 and January 30, 2020.

The team constituted of representatives from Adivasi Buddhijeevi Manch; Adivasi Mahasabha; National Alliance of People’s Movements; Johar, Chaibasa; Marxist Coordination Committee; alongside organisations associated with Jharkhand Janadhikar Mahasabha (Ulgulan Sena, Adivasi Women’s Network, NAPM, Jharkhand, etc.) and some social activists.

Sequence of events

James Budh and others who got murdered opposed the Satipati cult and Ranasi Budh, Jiten Budh and others supported and led the cult. On January 15, James Budh and his companions were celebrating Maghe Parab (a festival celebrated by Adivasis in the Ho region). The next day, they visited Ranasi Budh questioning him why he hadn’t celebrated the festival. It was alleged by the media that James and his companions ransacked Ransi’s home and belongings in the presence of armed People’s Liberation Front of India (PLFI) men due to which Ranasi couldn’t fight back.

The next day, Ranasi Budh and others called James and his companions from their homes to discuss the ransacking of their homes. According to AC Kutumb Parivar cult supporters, a Gram Sabha was convened on 19 January to discuss the issue of ransacking of houses and abduction of two individuals. It was decided in this sabha that the attackers would be beaten up for their mistakes. AC Kutumb Parivar supporters indicated that the decision to kill was taken in that meeting.

Other than earlier friction between the two groups (the cult’s government schemes), another reason behind the ransacking of houses could be the refusal to celebrate Maghe Parab (a cultural practice, an Adivasi Sarna festival), JJM said. However, the exact trigger that led to the ransacking could not be ascertained, the fact-finding team reported.

The team also brought to light the prejudices of the mainstream media against the Pathalgadi movement and Adivasi worldview. Without investigating the matter adequately, media reports held Pathalgadi responsible for these killings since day one. The team alleged that the media reports showed lack of unbiased ground reporting in the matter.

The entire report of the Burugulikera killings by the fact-finding team may be read below.

Fact-finding in violence at the village of Ghaghara on June 26, 2018

In August 2019, the Jharkhand Janadhikar Mahasabha (JJM), a network of several people’s organisations and activists, facilitated a fact-finding inquiry into the motivation behind the Pathalgadi movement in seven villages and the response of the state administration to this movement.

It found that the state responded to the Pathalgadi movement with violence. On June 26 2018, in Ghaghara, a village in Khunti district, a day after the Pathalgadi ceremony, thousands of police personnel allegedly lathi charged at the people. Several people were beaten up with sticks, including the elderly, women and children. One deaf man was beaten as he was unable to hear the instructions given by the police. One woman was stripped and beaten by the mahila police and was unable to move for a week. A pregnant woman, Ashrita Munda, was at home when the police came into her house and beat her with a stick. She reportedly delivered a physically disabled baby. The police vandalised houses, vehicles and livestock.

In addition to using tear gas, the police also allegedly fired at the people. Two people were shot at. One of them, Birsa Munda, died at the spot. Many people ran away from their villages for several months and as a result, also missed the sowing season. The DC denied all the violence unleashed by the police. The violence was not restricted to Ghaghara. People were also beaten in the villages of Uduburu and Jikilata. Several houses were ransacked by the police in ‘kurki jabti’ (impoundment). In Totkara, the police allegedly let their dogs loose on the people. The dogs badly bit a 25-year woman, Mariam Soy.

Apart from this, the police reportedly charged about 100-150 persons and 14000 unnamed people under several charges that include abetment, obstruction to public servants while discharging their duty, creation of public nuisance, criminal intimidation and even sedition. This included 20 people, including activists, writers and journalists, who have been charged with sedition only because they had raised questions, on social media, on the government’s actions in Pathalgadi villages and attack on Adivasi rights. A total of 29 FIRs had been filed against people of Pathalgadi villages, JJM said. There is an apprehension that these FIRs may have charged all the Gram Pradhans of the Pathalgadi villages and about 30,000 unnamed people under various charges, including sedition.

The entire report of the Pathalgadi fact-finding may be read below.

JJM said that Ramji Munda was deeply committed towards protecting and strengthening Adivasi rights. He used to mobilize people on their socio-political rights. It expressed deep anguish on his murder and demanded that the Jharkhand government to ensure an independent and fair investigation into Ramji Munda’s murder (whose findings should be made public) and take legal action against the perpetrators at the earliest.

Given the incident, the JJM also urged that the government ensure the safety and livelihood of Ramji Munda’s wife and seven-day old daughter and talk to the traditional head of Ghaghra village and organise a Gram Sabha at the earliest to assure people of their safety.

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