A 20-year-old tribal woman in Balangir district was allegedly attacked by a villager (non-tribal) after she protested him driving his tractor on her farmland, which damaged her crops. The incident took place on November 16, 2024, in Jurabandha village, Odisha, when the accused, Abhaya Bag, allegedly assaulted the woman after she raised her objection to him driving through her field (two-acre farmland). The case has been registered under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.
Tribal Woman Assaulted Over Land Dispute
According to the victim's complaint, the victim said that Abhaya Bag first verbally abused her and then physically attacked her. He is accused of rubbing human excreta on her face and forcing her to swallow it. When her elderly mother stepped in to help, he allegedly tried to strangle her and verbally abuse her as well.
According to the FIR, “The accused, a non-tribal man, was operating a tractor on the woman's agricultural land, causing damage to crops, to which she protested. The accused then assaulted her, and forced human faeces into her mouth”, as per the Deccan Herald report.
Tribal Welfare Association Demands Justice And Action
The incident has led to protests in the area, with tribal groups and local residents calling for immediate action against Abhaya Bag. One of the victim's relatives said, “Four days have passed since we filed the complaint, but no arrest has been made.”
Bolangir's Superintendent of Police, Khilari Rishikesh Dnyandeo, told PTI that the accused is still on the run since the incident. He said, “We have formed two special teams to nab him. Even police teams have been sent to neighbouring states in search of him.”
The incident has caused anger among local tribal organisations as well. Members of the Tribal Welfare Association have demanded strict action against the accused and will protest if the authorities do not take immediate action. According to India Today, a Local social worker named Ajit Joshi called it a ‘reprehensible act’. He urged the district administration to ensure the accused is arrested and brought to justice as soon as possible.
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Land Disputes And Tribals
Land disputes, particularly in tribal regions, are a longstanding issue in many parts of India. These disputes often result in violent confrontations, as seen in this horrific case. While this particular incident has garnered national attention due to its extreme nature, it highlights a broader issue of land rights for tribal communities.
The brutal assault on a tribal woman in Odisha who is just 20 years old, where she was force-fed human excreta over a land dispute, highlights the ongoing struggles faced by marginalised communities in rural India. This shocking incident not only demands immediate justice for the victim but also calls for a deeper look into the legal, social, and economic challenges that tribal communities continue to experience.
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