Kids held again, this time for encroachment

The children were produced before a juvenile court and sent to juvenile home from where they were released a day later on June 20.

“They destroyed our huts, broke the pottery and filled up a well,” 12-year-old Kavita Uman told The Indian Express on Monday in Bhopal, where the children were brought by Samajwadi Jan Parishad, an organisation working among tribals. Either one or both parents of the 13 children are still in judicial custody in Betul and Harda jails.

Admitting the mistake, Betul Conservator of Forests A K Bhattacharya said, “The children should not have been arrested.” More women than males were arrested because the tribals often use them as shield, he said.

While the foresters went after the children, liquor contractors continued working in the same division in Pathakheda and Shobhapur protected forests. The liquor contractors were served notices last year asking why they should not be evicted. On February 26 this year, the Cabinet took a decision not to remove liquor shops till the slums were removed because they were bringing revenue. The Cabinet had met to decide the Government’s excise policy and made a special mention of the shops in Betul division.

Principal Secretary (Commercial taxes) G P Singhal conveyed the Cabinet’s decision to his counterpart in the forest department.

The circular, a copy of which is with The Indian Express, said, “Please ensure that the shops are not removed in keeping with the Cabinet’s decision. Please keep us posted about the steps taken.”

Parishad leader Anurag Modi said the Government on the one hand was protecting liquor contractors and those involved in illegal mining in the forests and on the other jailing tribal and their children, who had committed similar offences like encroachment on forests.

His organisation has already challenged a similar circular by the forest department preventing forest rangers from taking action against illegal miners to protect loss of revenue.

The Parishad leader said his organisation would also challenge the government circular on liquor shops.