19 Adivasis cry for justice

Palanpur, Sep 22 (UNI) As many as 19 adivasi farm labourers including 5 women and 11 children were driven out, and their huts torched at village Dhandha, 14 Km from here.

According to police, as many as four huts on the outskirts of the village were set on fire by some persons of the village inflicting a loss of about Rs 50,000. The helpless people have been squatting outside the collectorate demanding justice.

According to an FIR lodged with the police, the three Adivasi families of Ditabhai Jogabhai Dhongri, Laxamanbhai Jogabhai Dhangri and Somabhai Jogabhai Dhangri were staying in Dhandha village some 14 Km from here since last two years in the huts they had raised and were cultivating the land.

Some village people however wanted to get the land vacated, as the bountiful of rains this year turned the land fertile. Harassment and exploitation was a daily feature for these adivasis.

According to Detabhai Jogabhai Dhangadhria ''they were demanding the goats and also were demanding sexual favours from the young women. So far they had taken away as many 25 goats, besides Rs 250.'' According to Dy SP (Atrocity) S K Macvan, the culprits have been absconding since a complaint was lodged with the police on wednesday.''We have taken action and soon we will be able to nab the culprits,'' he said.

Meanwhile all 19 persons from the three families have been camping out in the open outside the collectorate.

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