Khitij is an organization which
primarily works with primitive tribes, now referred as Particularly Vulnerable
Tribal Groups (PVTG). The organization’s main areas of intervention are land
& forest rights, PRI strengthening and food security, with PVTGs as the
core target group. In 2010 PRI election, as a part of engaging tribals in
mainstream governance system, Khitij had promoted candidates in 76 GPs of
Bilaspur & Korba districts to contest for various position of PRI. As part
of the initiative, Ram Sai Dhanuar was contesting for the post of Sarpanch in
Lengi GP, Podi Uprora block, Korba.
A local ex-MLA supported
candidate had also filed for nomination from the same seat in the Panchayat.
Ram Sai was receiving threats from the ex-MLA group to withdraw his nomination.
But Ram Sai did not succumb to the threatening and contested the election. In
the election, Ram Sai was defeated by a very marginal vote. But the defiance
that he had shown to the ex-MLA diktat had infuriated them. Immediately after
the election results, ex-MLA goons attacked Ram Sai and brutally thrashed him
for his defiance. Ram Sai tried to lodge an FIR with the police station but the
police declined to register his complain. Mr. Gyanadhar Shastri then personally
approached the police station and after much persuasion, an FIR was lodged.
Though the FIR was lodged, no action against the ex-MLA & his goons were
initiated and case lingered for almost one year. After one year, the ex-MLA
through his influence & connections framed a case over Ram Sai. Under the
influence of the ex-MLA, a case of eve-teasing was registered against Ram Sai
and he was arrested & sent to Jail.
The arrest of Ram Sai overturned the whole
situation and the struggle of seeking justice got derailed. Mr. Shastri had to
run from pillar to post to secure bail for Ram Sai. He was able secure bail in
December 2011. Mr. Shastri submits that instead of fighting for the injustice
that Ram Sai faced for contesting Panchayat election, they are now trying to
save him from the false case of eve-teasing.
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