Congress criticises activist’s month-long imprisonment in Madhya Pradesh

Congress leader Jitu Patwari

Madhya Pradesh Congress president Jitu Patwari on Monday criticised the BJP government over the arrest and incarceration of activist and former civic councillor Divya Ahirwar for nearly a month.

Mr. Patwari met Ms. Ahirwar, who has been lodged in Panna district jail since September 28. She was arrested by the police from Banheri Kalan village where she was protesting with tribals over compensation and rehabilitation for the Majhgaon dam project.

Ms. Ahirwar, 24, has been booked in an attempt to murder case along with three others over a protest against Ken-Betwa River Link Project that turned violent in her home district of Chhatarpur in February this year.

Apart from Ms. Ahirwar and her three associates, the Panna police had arrested nine more people in the attempt to murder case. They were, however, released on bail days later.

Fellow protesters, including activist Amit Bhatnagar, have dubbed it a “fake case” lodged to suppress the protest. Ms. Ahirawar is a former Aam Aadmi Party leader.

After meeting her, Mr. Patwari alleged that those who were raising their voices for the rights of the tribal community were “being silenced” through police action.

“The injustice and oppression inflicted on tribal communities has crossed all limits. There is a deliberate attempt to silence those who raise their voices to protect their rights and their access to water, forests, and land by imprisoning them,” he said, terming Ms. Ahirwar’s imprisonment “concerning” and demanding her release.

The protest in Panna has been going on since September 11, with affected families carrying out a ‘Jal Satyagrah’ by lying on symbolic pyres and tying symbolic noose around their necks.