Chhattisgarh tribal body calls for ‘jail bharo’ to free man held as Naxal sympathiser

RAIPUR: Members of Sarva Adivasi Samaj have announced a ‘jail bharo andolan’ in Mohla-Manpur district of Chhattisgarh to demand the release of tribal leader Sarju Tekam and to protest alleged atrocities in Bastar.

BS Rawte, acting state president of Sarva Adivasi Samaj, in a memorandum addressed to the director general of police has said that there is a sudden rise in incidents of torture, harassment and murder of tribal people across the state, but especially in Bastar, forcing people to migrate to neighbouring states.

“Police are threatening community leaders, village heads and women of Manpur block. Tribals are being summoned to police stations and threatened with jail and police cases,” Rawte alleged.

“Despite Fifth Schedule provisions in place, our complaints against the oppression went unheard. People of our community are terrified. Hence, to demand justice and register our protest, we are staging a demonstration on June 14 in Manpur in a constitutional manner and have decided to go for a ‘jail bharo andolan’,” Rawte added.

Tribals from across the state are gathering in Manpur under the banner of Sarv Adivasi Samaj to take part in the demonstration.

According to the Samaj, anger among tribals has been growing since the arrest of community leader Sarju Tekam on April 2 on suspicion of acting as a ‘Naxal sympathiser’. Police say Tekam was booked under UAPA as explosives were seized from his house. Sarju and his family had then alleged that police planted the explosives and IED material at his house during the raid.

Tribals have been demanding his release since April.

Police officials said that forces from Rajnandgaon and neighbouring districts have been roped in to ensure there is no untoward incident in Manpur during the demonstration. The authorities are even more concerned after the recent arson and violence by the Satnami community during a protest rally in Baloda Bazar. Security has been tightened in Manpur.

Follow the latest election results 2026, live updates, winner lists, constituency-wise results, party-wise trends and full coverage for Tamil Nadu election results, West Bengal election results, Kerala election results, Assam election results and Puducherry election results results on Times of India.