-- By Sandya Bodlekar, Virendra, V.K Prasoon and Goldy M. George, May 17, 2005

Dalit Study Circle had demanded a comprehensive investigation against the Jindals in Raigarh, Chhatisgarh. This comes in the wake of the recent killing of an Adivasi youth Digambar Siddar on the night of 4th May 2005 by the security guards of Jindal industry. The incident took place in Saraipalli village adjoining the factory premises, which is an expansion project of the Jindal industry in Raigarh. Dalit Study Circle initiated a fact-finding investigation of the whole matter, which brought out the different dimensions of the issue.

According to a press statement of Dalit Study Circle, the investigation report clearly indicates the involvement of the Jindal management in the incident as similar tactics had been evolved in the past also. The investigation pointed out that Jindal had adapted to a formula of “Khareed Lo, Hatta Do, Mitta Do, Phasaa Do?(Buy or remove or eliminate or entrap). Clear indications how the Jindals had succeeded in manipulating the administration and also flouting the law had been mentioned in the investigation.

During the investigation the team met with the people of Saraipalli village, many social activists, police officials and others. After the incident people in Saripalli village are living under utter terror and fear that this incident is to teach a lesson to the ordinary people. Hence whoever will ever try to protest against the Jindals in future will face similar consequences is what the message is!

The investigation team is also suspicious of the role of police and administration in the whole incident. It says that “in Raigarh people have got less faith in the police and administration, since they strongly feel that Jindals run it. Here is how Rajesh Tripathi puts it. There is no administration or police or even a legal framework for the poor. All is perfectly reserved for the rich. Jindal is running a parallel government in Raigarh. Everything is bought and sold, just like a commodity in the market. For the administrative officials Raigarh is the pastureland in the whole of Chhattisgarh.?lt;BR>
The investigation clearly points out how Constitutional bodies like the gram sabha, panchayats have turned defunct in Raigarh. People are compelled to accept their life as per the whims and wishes of the corporate empire.

Killing of Adivasi youths is a clear violation of human rights. Further it violated Article 21, Article 39(a), (b), Article 46 of the Constitution. Such incidences are taken as models in order to force the people to move out of their land, this is a clear violation of UN Declaration on Forced Eviction. Violation of right over livelihood is a gross violation of human rights, the investigation says.

Based on the investigation team’s recommendations we demand the following

1.    Under the above-mentioned circumstances it is vital to initiate an impartial investigation into the whole incident of the killing of Digambar Siddar and indirect pressure tactics of Jindal Company. All the cases of human rights violation should be seriously looked into since there are clear narrative chronologies of many incidences of similar nature in Raigarh in the past.

2.    All those behind the killing of Digambar Siddar including the overall management of Jindal as well as the tardy police and administrative officials should be brought under the clutches of law.

3.    Ensure security to the inhabitants of Saraipalli and also to all other villages in the vicinity affected by the Jindals as well as other industries in Raigarh. Proper direction should be given to the administration to ensure the safety and security of people living under utter terror and fear, particularly the villages in the surrounding areas of the plant. Failure in doing so will have severe impact.

4.    The state government should take precautionary measure of preventing such atrocious incidences on ordinary villagers in future, particularly weaker sections, since it is a constitutional right.

5.    Ensure the constitutional rights, human rights, political rights, educational and health rights of the people in Raigarh, which has been thrashed by the corporate houses. Any infringement of these rights are violation of a whole set of human values and particularly the very right to existence and survival. It is recommended to set-up a vigilance committee comprising of social activists and local villagers from the affected villages in Raigarh in order to continuously monitor violation of any of these.

6.    The killed persons family should be properly compensated so that they resume their lives anew and afresh. Compensation is not just in terms of monetary disbursement but also at large in creating an environment of justice and peace. Sense of liberty and tranquillity needs to be inculcated which had been lost due to the demise of their beloved one. In reality no compensation could fill their psychological and cerebral wound to the family, but all possible efforts should be made.

7.    Fanindra Kumar Patel, who survived the pellets, should be provided with protection. It is not impossible, as in the past, that he and his family could be bribed and threatened to shut their mouth. Such aspects should be taken into serious account.  Whether the treatment cost of the injured person should be borne by the factory management or not, is not really a debatable issue.

8.    Immediately stop the expansion project and look into the legitimacy of the expansion program and whether there is permission to do so or not. Also the questions such as environmental clearances, the extent of land purchased from people, the extent of government land appropriated vis-?vis actual acquired land, occupational security to the workers, etc. should be investigated by an independent body.