Lesson in self-defence for tribals

TEJGADH Vadodara District, Sept 26: They came in droves and swarms. They came by bicycles, government buses, private jeeps, tractor tro...

TEJGADH Vadodara District, Sept 26: They came in droves and swarms. They came by bicycles, government buses, private jeeps, tractor trolleys and any other mode of transport available. They also braved heavy rain that lashed the tribal belt on Sunday morning.

And it is not a weekly haat that the adivasis of the region flocked to. It was a function organised jointly by the Bhasha Research Centre and Vadodara Rural District police to educate and motivate adivasis to resist assault and loot by fellow adivasis from the adjoining tribal belt of Madhya Pradesh. These raids by miscreants from across the border is likely to increase further owing to failure of monsoon this year. It is surprising that these adivasis face a major threat threat of organised loot 8212; as was quite evident from the massive crowd assembled at Tejgadh 8212; when a look at their rickety bodies and scanty, worn-out clothes revealed the amount of want and destitution they undergo.

8220;MP tribals don8217;t loot only cash and valuables. They will take away even our cattle and small quantity of grains, forcing us to starve,8221; echoed Khumansinh Rathwa of Chikli village and Shankarbhai Tadvi of Deohat village, a few kilometres from the MP-Gujarat border.

So, what is the modus operandi to take on such brigade of raiders, as it is unfeasible to deploy police in each village, with houses scattered all over the place and a dangerous terrain looming large? Bhasha Research Centre director G N Devy suggested the 3,000-strong gathering to free their mind of fear and challenge the armed miscreants with whatever weapon8217; at their disposal 8212; be it bows and arrows, guns, sticks, stones and even powdered red chilly powder.

Devy tried to boost morale of the tribals by narrating the tale of the tribal who commanded Maharana Pratap8217;s army to take on the masasive force of emporor Akbar. How could tribals then be looted by cowards from the other side, he queried a visibly moved crowd. His observation that tribals were more intelligent than thieves drew a loud appluase from the assembled mass. Devy also advised tribals to form a group of 10 to 15 youths for night patrolling to keep the thieves away from villages. Suresh Shah, sarpanch of Tejgadh village, affiliated to BRC, wanted revival of police-Patel system in villages to curb the increase in crime.

Bodelli8217;s Circle Police Inspector C D Parmar told the tribals they need not fear even if they kill the miscreants in self-defence. CPI of Chhotaudepur R M Joshi appealed tribals to assist the police by keeping watch on anti-socials during night.