A protest march against police atrocities on tribal girls during ‘Bharat Bandh’ was organized by various tribal organizations from Morhabadi to Rajbhawan under the leadership of former Minister Badhu Tirkey on Thursday.
Alleging police atrocities the tribal girls claimed that they turned violent in self defense as policemen started manhandling and beating them brutally while they were protesting peacefully against the recent Supreme Court ruling to alter the provisions of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.
“As the policemen deputed near the hostel were manhandling the girls and also beating them brutally after entering into the hostel on Monday, we had no other choice but to resort to stone pelting in self defense,” said a Part II student in Doranda College Sheetal Hazra. A compensation of Rs 10 lakh must be paid to each of the injured persons, she added.
“Through this march we are trying to register our anguish against the district and police administration as Adivasi Chatra Sangh president Sanjay Mahli has been put into the jail framing him in false cases,” said another tribal student Anjali Kacchap. Governor Droupadi Murmu will be made aware of how the tribal girls were beaten up, abused and manhandled by the policemen while they were protesting peacefully during Bharat Bandh,” said Kacchap.
A delegation of tribal leaders headed by Tirkey met the Governor who heard their complaints patiently and assured them that she will look into the matter. Giving an ultimatum to the State Government, Tirkey also announced ‘Akrosh Maharally’ on May 27.
“Though the Governor has assured that she will look into the matter but if our demands are not met, we will organize an ‘Akrosh Maharally’ of Adivasis and Dalits on May 27 at Harmu Maidaan to press our demands,’ said Tirkey. “A judicial inquiry into the incident, Rs 10 lakh compensation to each of the injured persons, unconditional release of Sanjay Mahli, action against SDO Anjali Yadav and other police officers responsible for instigating the violence are the prime demands,” he added.
Former Union Minister Subodh Kant Sahay, former Chief Minister Babulal Marandi, former minister Geetashree Oraon, tribal leaders Rameshwar Oraon, Prakash Chandra Oraon, Dayamani Barla, Ravi Munda and Vasvi Kido were also took part in the march.
More than a dozen of police personnel, including City SP Aman Kumar and around 15 tribal students, including girls received injuries during the scuffle which took place between hostel students and police force, which was called to calm down the protesters pelting stones on the vehicles and the policemen at Women’s College and Adivasi Hostels in Ranchi.
Finally, Police had to resort to lathi charge and shelling tear gas canons after the mob went out of control, following which the protesters ran into the hostel and locked inside the rooms and were later pulled out and arrested by the police.
Taking swift action, Adivasi Chatra Sangh president Sanjay Mahli was arrested and sent to jail on Wednesday last for leading the mob for violence against police after lodging an FIR against more than 200 persons in this regard.