Chhattisgarh may scrap 318 Excise Act cases against tribals

After a meeting of the committee in Raipur on October 30 and 31, officials said it was recommended that 318 cases be withdrawn. These are cases of offences registered under the Excise Act, officials said.

A further 321 cases will be reviewed in the next sitting of the committee, a source said. “These are cases that are deemed to be minor, but not related to excise. Cases such as intimidation, assault and so on. Two police officials, ADG Pawan Dev and DIG P Sundar Raj, have been tasked with going through these cases and making a presentation at the next committee hearing,” a source said.

Meanwhile, a group of representatives from Bastar, including two Congress MLAs, minister Kawasi Lakhma and social activists from the area, met Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and DGP D M Awasthi on Thursday, seeking representation from Bastar in the committee. Rights activist and advocate Bela Bhatia said, “The point was made that there should be representation from Bastar in the committee, and that the committee should have its meetings in Bastar, because those affected will find it difficult to come all the way to Raipur for depositions.”

The meeting culminated in directions that there be range or district-level sub-committees in Bastar that would have the power to receive applications from tribals, which would be put forth before the committee.

Awasthi told The Indian Express, “An idea of a sub-committee based in Bastar was discussed. Tribals who feel they have been unjustly acted against will be able to give their petitions to this committee, which will forward it to us.”