30 tribals held for violence outside Jharkhand court

Latehar SP Anjani Anjan said: “They are misinterpreting the 5th Schedule of the Constitution and were demanding complete self rule with no role of courts or governments. On Monday, they came armed and damaged the iron grille and started badmouthing the administration. They also pelted the police with stones. Police had to resort to lathi charge to control the situation.”

The secretary of Akhil Bharatiya Tana Bhagat Committee, Bahadur Tana Bhagat and its leaders Rajendra Tana Bhagat, Manoj Kumar Minz, Dharamdeo Bhagat, Dhaneshwar Toppo and Ajit Minz were among the accused named in the FIR.

Anjan said five police personnel were injured in the incident. “We are keeping a strict vigil on these protesters as this is the third time in the last three years that they have done something like this. Last time they locked the entire collectorate for five days. Two years ago, they agitated on the railway tracks. There is some force who are misguiding them and brainwashing them. We are investigating the matter,” the SP said.

Police said the history of Tana Bhagats goes back to 1914-1920 when they resorted to civil disobedience against the Britishers and ‘feudal lords’ against their exploitative practices.

Fifth Schedule of the Constitution talks about preserving the “tribal autonomy, their culture and economic empowerment, to ensure social, economic and political justice, and preservation of peace and good governance”.