‘Will dig your grave here, villagers will watch’:Forest officer threatens tribals; confrontation during encroachment removal in Khandwa

A ruckus broke out in Khandwa during an anti-encroachment drive on forest department land. Tribal families, who have been farming there for four generations, protested against the demolition of their homes and fields. During the confrontation, forest officials and tribals came face to face. A forest officer allegedly threatened them, saying they should cooperate or he would “dig their graves here” while the entire village watched. The incident is from Narlay village in the Mandhata Legislative Assembly area. An administrative team had reached the spot to remove encroachment. About 23 acres of revenue land adjoining the village had been handed over to the forest department four years ago. When officials reached to take possession after correspondence, encroachment was found on the land. Around 15 to 20 families have been living there for a long time. They have been cultivating nearly 85 acres of government land. The forest department placed a condition before revenue officials to clear the encroachment, following which the team reached the site. On Saturday, tribals and forest officials came face to face. The action is ongoing. Tribals say they have farmed land for 80 years Members of Bhil tribal families, including Bhaiyalal, Omprakash, Pancham, Jogiya, Ajay Bare and Arun, said the land earlier belonged to the revenue department but is now being claimed by the forest department. They said their families have been in possession of the land for four generations and have been living and farming there for about 80 years. They said they have never had disputes with anyone and villagers have not objected either. The land was barren earlier and they developed it into cultivable fields. Now forest officials, revenue officers and police arrived and demolished their settlement within just four hours. Ranger warns tribals in video A video of the action has also surfaced. In it, forest ranger Shankar Singh Chauhan is seen telling tribals not to argue unnecessarily and to cooperate, warning that otherwise he would “dig their graves here.” During the operation, Deputy Collector Mamta Chauhan, Punasa tehsildar, patwari and a large number of forest personnel were present. Ten huts were demolished using a JCB. Contour trenches were dug on the land and plantation is planned after the rains. Ranger claims youth tried to attack with stone Responding to the controversy, ranger Shankar Singh Chauhan said two youths were creating a disturbance, abusing staff and using inappropriate language in front of a woman officer. He said they were being asked to cooperate as the land was encroached. During this, one youth allegedly ran towards them with a stone, and the statement was made in anger. Land given to forest department in exchange for Advait Lok The land was transferred to the forest department in 2022 in exchange for land used for the Advait Lok project on Omkar mountain in Omkareshwar. The site where the statue of Adi Shankaracharya and Advait Lok is being developed was protected forest land. In exchange, the government allotted 9.36 hectares (about 23 acres) of revenue land in Narlay village to the forest department. Encroachers claim fines paid, matter in court The occupants said they had paid fines to the revenue department multiple times for occupying the land and have receipts as proof. They added that a petition had already been filed in the High Court before the eviction and the matter is under consideration, yet the action was carried out unilaterally. Villagers also alleged that the local MLA had proposed handing over the land to the forest department.