Madhya Pradesh/Seoni— Once again news reports are emerging from Madhya Pradesh about the oppression and persecution of Adivasis. This latest incident happened in the Seoni district of Madhya Pradesh where a mob lynched two Advisasis to death on suspicion of killing a cow.

What is the full story?

On May 3, two Adivasis, Sampat Lal Vatti (60) and DhansayInwati (54) were lynched by a mob of 15-20 people in Simaria village of Seoni district. Another Adivasi, Brijesh was also beaten up. He is currently undergoing treatment in the hospital, but his condition is critical.

The local police had been informed that a mob had caught three people on suspicion of smuggling beef. But by the time the police reached the spot, Sampat Lal and Dhansay had been beaten to death by the mob, and Brijeshso badly injured that he had to be taken to the hospital.

The video of this incident is also going viral on social media. In which, two persons are surrounded by a mob from all sides. The crowd has sticks in their hands. Both persons are seen pleading to the crowd with folded hands to leave them alone.

The nine accused in the case were taken into custody

After the incident, the people of the village held protests against the lynching and also blocked the Jabalpur-Nagpur national highway.  The police that is taking action following the incident have arrested nine people accused of the crime. Along with this, the police are also probing the beef smuggling allegations made against the deceased.

People on social media have also expressed many fits of anger regarding the incident. Senior journalist Dilip Mandal has tweeted, "For the sake of power, this is what the RSS has made of the country. Such is the treatment being meted out to the oldest inhabitants of the country. There should be an international response to this incident. The occurrence of such incidents is dangerous for national unity."

Bhim Army Chief Chandrashekhar Azad wrote that "Two Adivasi brethren are beaten to death in the name of alleged cow protection in Seoni, Madhya Pradesh. Chief Minister @ChouhanShivraj ji is silent against the accused. After Nemawar and Neemuch come this manslaughtering of Adivasis in Seoni, killing humans in the name of animal [protection], how long will this injustice last, please answer.

Social activist HansrajMeenacommented that, "Two poor Adivasis are lychned in Seoni, Madhya Pradesh. The Sanghi government is silent. The racist/casteist media is silent. The advocates of religion are silent. If the same incident had happened to the indigenous peoples of Brazil or Canada or the USA or Australia, it would have become a matter of international discussion by now. #TribalLivesMatter"

The political attention being paid to the incident also appears to be intensifying. The Congress has accused the Bajrang Dal of this lynching. Congress has also tweeted a video related to the case. In the video, some people with sticks in their hands are seen encircling the two Adivasis and interrogating them.

The Congress has said that atrocities against Adivasis in Madhya Pradesh are on the increase and the state government is not able to prevent them. Former chief minister Kamal Nath has demanded that the state government should conduct a high-level inquiry into the incident, take the strictest action against the culprits, extend help to the families of the victims and make full arrangements at government expense for the treatment of the injured youth.

What the numbers tell us!

According to the National Crime Records Bureau, in 2020, Madhya Pradesh had the highest number of atrocities against Adivasis in India (2,401). According to the 2011 Census, Adivasis constitute 21% of the population in the state, the highest in comparison with other states.