Centre directs states to stop forced eviction of forest dwellers until rights are settled
New Delhi: The Union government has urged all states and union territories to ensure that no tribal or forest-dwelling group be forcibly removed from wildlife sanctuaries or national parks, until their rights are recognised and settled under the Forest Rights Act (FRA) of 2006.
The New Indian Express mentioned in a report, a letter dated October 22, Vibhu Nayar, Secretary of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA), directed Chief Secretaries to strictly follow the provisions of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006. The letter also stated that the ministry was concerned about the Act's delayed implementation, more than two decades after its enactment.
The letter also identified 12 priority areas for accelerating the registration of forest rights. These topics include Individual Forest Rights (IFRs), Habitat Rights for Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs), Community Forest Rights (CFRs), and Community Forest Resource Rights. The Centre used Section 4(2) of the FRA to remind states that "no member of the Scheduled Tribes or other traditional forest dwellers shall be evicted or removed from forest land under his tenancy until the recognition and verification procedure is completed."
The letter urged authorities to prevent all forms of forced displacement until rights are settled and resettlement plans are completed. It also called for adjustments to forest land records to ensure that the rightful beneficiaries can utilize government schemes, warning that inconsistencies could lead to disputes between the forest and tax departments. However, it clarified that such corrections are administrative and must not be used to reject pending or new claims.
The ministry further emphasised that claims under the FRA should be evaluated primarily through field verification rather than technological data. “Inputs such as satellite imagery or GIS mapping should only serve as supplementary tools,” the letter stated, noting that Section 12 of the Act requires decisions to be based on ground evidence.
Highlighting successful models from Tamil Nadu and Madhya Pradesh, the ministry urged states to adopt similar practices such as creating FRA Atlases and district-level action plans to identify potential CFR areas.
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Businessman lured by FB friend, attacked for extortion in K'taka; 4 held
Madikeri (Karnataka) (PTI): Four people were arrested for allegedly assaulting, illegally confining and attempting to extort money from a 39-year-old businessman who was lured through a honeytrap set up on social media, police said on Monday.
The accused have been identified as Rachana, Malati, Darshan and Ravi.
Police said efforts are underway to nab the remaining suspects involved in the incident, which occurred on December 12 in Madikeri, the district headquarters of Kodagu.
According to the complaint, the victim, a resident of Maddur taluk in Mandya district, was befriended by a woman identified as Rachana through Facebook, who later sought financial assistance and received Rs 5,000 from him via PhonePe on November 28.
When he asked her to return the money, the woman allegedly asked him to travel to Mysuru or Kushalnagar, promising to meet him.
The police said the woman later called the victim to Madikeri on December 12 and took him to a house near the market area, where they spent some time and consumed alcohol in the evening.
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Later that night, citing an emergency, the woman left the house. After her departure, three men allegedly broke into the house and attacked the victim, assaulting him with a stick and the handle of a sword, causing injuries to his face, mouth, chest and leg, the FIR stated.
The complainant alleged that he was forcibly confined, stripped and a nude video of him was recorded. The accused also allegedly threatened him with a toy gun, demanding Rs 50 lakh and warning that the video would be uploaded on social media if the money was not paid.
Police said the victim was held captive and somehow managed to escape in the early hours of December 13. However, after he escaped, the accused allegedly attempted to kidnap him in an autorickshaw, an incident that was captured on CCTV cameras.
Based on his complaint at the Madikeri Town police station, a case was registered under Sections 310(2) (dacoity), 127(2) (wrongful confinement), 118(1) (voluntarily causing hurt or grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means) and 3(5) (common intention) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, a senior police officer said.
“Four accused, including two women, have been arrested. Efforts are on to nab two more absconding accused. Further investigation is on,” he added.
