The illegal arrest of three tribal leaders in Betul district of Madhya Pradesh on Holi has once more exposed the utter callousness and criminality of the authorities. The jailed leaders are facing harassment and threats to their life. Their crime was simply that they led a group of 100 tribals to the district collectorate to play Holi with members of the administration. It was an attempt of the tribals to draw the attention of the administration to their abysmal condition. The tribal leaders had submitted a letter earlier informing the administration that they would be coming there on Holi day. When they arrived at the collectorate, the tribals found banners announcing Section 144 (prohibition of assembly) in all the government offices. Seeing this, the tribals waited for an hour outside the collectorate, and finally distributed leaflets and left.

However, the police later picked up three leaders and hauled them off to the police station and till date have pressed no charges against those detained. Meanwhile family and friends are desperately running from pillar to post to find out the charges or the reasons for arrest, but to no avail. The police are telling nothing except that those arrested have to prove their solvency by paying up Rs.40,000!

Earlier in December 2006, hundreds of tribals of Betul district were on protests demanding action on non-payment of wages for work done for the forest department. The tribals said that the district authorities are producing forged documents to show that the wages have been paid. Further, the tribals pointed out to irregularities and delay in the payment of compensation for work done under the Employment Guarantee Act, and demanded better rates for plucking tendu leaf and so on. This same agitation has been continuing because there has been no response from the administration.

This complete and criminal neglect of the just demands of the tribals had moved the tribals to use the occasion of Holi to approach the administration and make yet another attempt to get them to address their concerns.

People's Voice condemns the illegal arrest of the tribal leaders, their continued harassment and the administration's utter neglect of the condition of the people. It demands that they be released immediately, and compensation be paid to the victims and their families. Further, the district administration must explain in public why the arrests were carried out, respond to the demands of the tribals and give a time-bound action plan that will ensure payment of fair wages to them. The administration is not fit to rule if these measures are not taken.