Friends, Once again the evictions have started. In our statement last week we mentioned the attacks in Burhanpur and the notices issued in Tamil Nadu, as well as the harassment in other tiger reserves. Now, the Jangal Jameen Jan Andolan has faced attacks in Rajasthan, most recently on May 26th, when nine members of a family were injured when they tried to resist eviction in Banswada District. The details are below. A law is no panacea, nor has it ever been. But these increasing numbers of illegal evictions simply demonstrate that the government and the Forest Department are not and never were interested in complying with this law - or any law that is not simply a handmaiden to their interests. DETAILS OF ATTEMPTED EVICTION IN RAJASTHAN On May 26th, at about 2:30 in the afternoon, Nanji - resident of village Nava Tapra, block Bagidora, district Banswara - and his family were attacked by forest officials, who threatened them saying they were "encroachers" and would be evicted. This was despite the fact that Nanji has documentary evidence, a rarity, of his cultivation from 1976. When the family resisted, the ranger, forester, forest guards and members of the local JFM Committee ( a total of around 30 - 40 people) attacked them. The family was outnumbered but fought back, leading eventually to the foresters retreating. These seven members of the family sustained injuries: 1-Nanji, whose arm was broken 2-Anita, wife of Nanji, who was injured on her head with a sharp weapon 3- Yashwant, son of Nanji, whose hand was also broken 4-Mahendra 5- Kalu 6-Subhash 7-Goodwin (Nanji's younger son) along with two others. The ranger and the forester were also injured, but not seriously. The injured family members were all admitted to the government hospital in Banswara where they are still under treatment. Cases have been filed against them for violation of the Forest Act (cases which are now illegal under the Forest Rights Act). The family has also filed a complaint against the foresters for offences under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, as well as use of criminal force etc. Campaign for Survival and Dignity __._,_.
