A week after threat, tribal rights activist Bela Bhatia files police complaint

Raipur Activist and researcher Bela Bhatia lodged a complaint with local police on Sunday against the hooligans who threatened her on last Monday.

Published on: Jan 29, 2017, 23:15:25 IST

Hindustan Times, Raipur | By Ritesh Mishra

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

Raipur Activist and researcher Bela Bhatia lodged a complaint with local police on Sunday against the hooligans who threatened her on last Monday.

Activist Bela Bhatia has been championing tribal rights for the past decade. (HT File Photo)

She claimed the accused tried to forcefully evict her from her house. The police have started the investigation into the matter. Bhatia in her complaint cited that the majority of offenders were from local the “Agni group”, which was“supported by police”.

Parpa police confirmed that they received the complaint, but said they hadn’t lodged an FIR.

Bela also mentioned that the attackers were the same people who had earlier taken out a demonstration— ‘Lalkar Rally’— against human right defenders .

In her four-page written complaint, Bhatia alleged that “there is strong nexus between the police and Agni”. She also mentioned that posters were circulated in the village branding her as “middleman” of Naxals. “They were trying to defame me and paint me as a Naxal agent,” Bhatia said.

The activist complained that she had been to police station several times to lodge a case against the vigilante group members but her efforts were in vain.

Meanwhile, Anand Mohan Mishra, founder of AGNI, told HT, “We have no role in the attack. We are against Naxalism and people who support Naxalism.”

Bhatia had been residing in a rented house at Parpa village since December 2015.

On Monday, a group of criminals threatened to set her house ablaze if she did not vacate it. The activist later called the collector for help who sent police to control the crowd.

The activist, who has been working for tribal rights for over a decade, had faced similar intimidation in 2015 when she had raised the issue of rape of tribal women by security personnel.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ritesh Mishra
Ritesh Mishra is the State Correspondent for Chhattisgarh with Hindustan Times. He reports on Maoism, internal security, politics, mining, governance, and major developments shaping the state. Based in Raipur, he has covered Chhattisgarh since 2016, reporting extensively from the Bastar region and other conflict-affected areas. With nearly two decades of experience in journalism, Ritesh has built a reputation for ground reporting from some of India's most challenging terrains. His coverage spans Left-Wing Extremism, counter-insurgency operations, elections, tribal affairs, environmental issues, infrastructure, mining, and socio-economic developments. He has reported on major security operations, policy initiatives, wildlife crime, and the changing dynamics of conflict and development in Central India. Before moving to Chhattisgarh, Ritesh spent eight years reporting from Madhya Pradesh, covering politics, administration, crime, development, and social issues. Throughout his career, he has reported on various forms of extremism in Central India, combining field reporting with in-depth analysis to produce accurate, balanced, and impactful journalism. Prior to joining Hindustan Times, Ritesh worked with The Pioneer and The Free Press Journal, where he covered a wide range of beats and honed his skills in political, investigative, and field reporting. His reporting is marked by exclusive stories, extensive fieldwork, and a commitment to factual, on-the-ground journalism that brings complex issues to a wider audience.Read More

Get the latest India News, breaking headlines and real-time updates from across the country. Stay informed about politics, government policies, crime, weather and major national developments.