Six cops hurt by stone-pelting in MP

Rewa, MP, Apr 19 (UNI) Six police personnel were injured by stone-pelting while evicting tribal encroachers from forest land today at Ghateha village about 100 km from this district headquarters.

''Roughly 3,000 tribals are encroaching on the land. A notice was served earlier by the district administration. After even repeated warnings proved futile, Forest, Revenue and district administration officials reached the place and began eviction,'' said Inspector-General (Rewa Range) B Maria Kumar.

The stone-pelting ensued approximately after half the hutments were removed. One personnel was being rushed here for treatment of head injury.

''Police did not use even mild force on the crowd despite the incident,'' the officer claimed though a New Trade Union Initiative (NTUI) release alleged that several tribals, who have been residing there for three years, sustained injuries. The NTUI said that police open fired and lobbed tear gas shells.

''According to the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers' Act, 2006, a person who occupied such land prior to 2005 cannot be labelled an encroacher,'' the NTUI explained.

UNI