Probe ordered into clash between officials, Van Gujjars at Rajaji
DEHRADUN: The Uttarakhand government on Wednesday set up an inquiry into an alleged clash between Van Gujjars and forest officials over forestland encroachment in Rajaji Tiger Reserve.
In an order, Jai Raj, head of forest force in Uttarakhand, said state forest minister Harak Singh Rawat had directed that an inquiry be done into the alleged clash between forest officials and Van Gujjars in Rajaji reserve and Lansdowne forest division in June.
“Manoj Chandran, chief conservator of the forest for human resource development and personnel management, will be the investigating officer. After the probe, the officer should submit a report within one month,” stated the June 30 order that was released on Wednesday.
Van Gujjars migrate with their herds in summers to pastures in mountains and in winters they live in the foothills of the Shivalik range.
On June 18, seven Van Gujjars, including four women, were arrested under IPC sections 307 (attempt to murder), 333 (voluntarily hurting public servant), 332 (voluntarily hurting public servant), 506 (Punishment for criminal intimidation) and others. They were presented in court on June 19, represented by Dehradun-based advocate KP Singh, who alleged that the Van Gujjars were beaten up in police custody. Three arrested Van Gujjars are currently lodged in Sudhowala prison in Dehradun, and four women have been released on bail, said Singh.
“They were beaten up at the police station. When they were being taken to court, the Van Gujjars were not in a condition to walk. The police officials had approached doctors and got a medical certificate which said that they do not have any injuries. In court, the judge saw the injury marks and ordered another medical examination to be done, as wound marks were visible,” said Singh.
“The women were disrobed and beaten up, including in their private areas; they faced problems in urination and excretion. We have written a complaint letter to the chief justice of Uttarakhand giving details about the custodial torture,” said Singh.
In the last week of June, Van Panchayat Sangharsh Morcha, a body fighting for rights of Van Gujjars, submitted a memorandum to the governor, demanding a probe into the matter.
Tarun Joshi, president of Van Panchayat Sangharsh Morcha, had said, “We request the government to take action in this matter, else people from the community will be forced to take to the streets to intensify the movement.”
Forest officials said that they had gone to give Van Gujjar Gulam Mohammad, known as Mastu Chopra, and his family, living inside the reserve, a warning that they should not build more sheds as they were encroaching forestland. The officials claim that the Van Gujjars did not listen to them and attacked.
AN Singh Kandli, range officer Ramgarh range of Rajaji Tiger Reserve, a core area where the Van Gujjar’s family resides, said forest officials have been warning them since January against building more sheds/ huts on forestland.
On June 16, forest staff learnt that a new shed was being made, after which they went to the site to remove it.
“When we went on June 16, the Van Gujjars behaved badly with our staff after which we filed a complaint with the police. On June 17, I went again with all my staff and two police constables to remove the encroachment and talk to them, but we were attacked with logs of wood. The moment we tried to break their structure, they started hitting us,” said the range officer. Seven forest staff were injured in the clash.
Kandli said that on June 18, the forest staff registered a police complaint against the Van Gujjars after which ten people were arrested and kept in custody, but three persons were later released by police.
In Rajaji, officials say, 15 families are living in Ramgarh (2) and Gori range (13). In August 2018, HC had ordered that Van Gujjars’ families from the Corbett Park be removed and rehabilitated. The Supreme Court ordered a status quo.