Jaitpuri village, falling under the Fifth Schedule block Nagri, lies within the core wildlife area of the Udanti-Sitanadi Tiger Reserve in Dhamtari district, Chhattisgarh. The reserve has been a site of sustained tension between forest-dependent communities and the Forest Department since its tiger reserve notification, with communities facing restrictions on traditional forest use, criminal cases against tribal women for collecting minor forest produce, and mounting pressure to relocate.
As of 2025, seventeen panchayats in the reserve had written to the Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) alleging tribal rights violations. Following which, MoTA in September 2025 reaffirmed that no eviction can proceed without Gram Sabha consent and prior recognition of rights under the Forest Rights Act, 2006.
Satellite imagery from ISRO's CARTOSAT satellites and drone surveys commissioned by the Forest Department revealed that approximately 106 hectares of forest land in Jaitpuri's core area had been progressively cleared—expanding from 45 hectares in 2011 to 106 hectares by 2022—with an estimated one lakh trees felled over fifteen years. Following which, the Forest Department filed encroachment and illegal felling charges against 166 named villagers under the Indian Forest Act, 1927 and the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
On 18 May 2026, DFO Varun Jain arrived in Jaitpuri with forest staff to carry out anti-encroachment action. A confrontation broke out between villagers and forest personnel during the arrest of alleged encroachers. Villagers allege that the team raided homes without prior notice, forcibly dragged men away, physically assaulted women—breaking their bangles and tearing their clothes—and beat children who attempted to resist. A young man filming the incident alleged that an SDM grabbed him by the throat, tore his clothes, and dragged him approximately 500 metres, causing injuries to his chest and legs.
The Forest Department said that its team was subjected to a violent attack that obstructed government work, and the DFO alleged an attempt to murder. Former district panchayat member Manoj Sakshi dismissed the attempt to murder allegation as false, stating that the Forest Department itself had created the unrest. Villagers also challenged the underlying encroachment claims, questioning why no felled timber or documentary records had been produced as evidence. "If one lakh trees were cut, where is the wood? Where are the records? The forest department should answer," Sakshi told Dainik Bhaskar. Locals added that they had farming on the land for twenty to twenty-five years without any prior intervention.
On 19 May 2026, a large gathering of villagers surrounded the Collectorate in Dhamtari, submitting a memorandum to the Collector and SP demanding action against the forest personnel involved. Sakshi warned that if no action was taken, the protest would spread from Jaitpuri to 34 villages across the reserve area. The SP confirmed an investigation had been initiated. As of the date of reporting, no action had been taken against any forest officials.
Speaking to LCW, a local activist on condition of anonymity said, "The matter has cooled down because several people have been charged. The Forest Department seems to be planning plantation activities on the land they have taken away. In such cases, it is hard for villagers to provide proof that they have been farming that land since before 13 December 2005 [the FRA's cut-off date for eligibility]. Instead of using their satellite technology to help identify valid land holdings, the FD has instead used it to remove people."
Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Demand to retain/protect access to common land/resources
Demand for legal recognition of land rights
Complaint against procedural violations
Other Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Region Classification
Rural
Type of Land
Common
Forest
What was the action taken by the police?
Arrest
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
5
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?
If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?
Legislation under which the accused was charged
Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?
In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?
Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?
Details of sources (names of accused, names and numbers of any lawyers, names of any police officers contacted)
Status of Project
Original Project Deadline
Whether the Project has been Delayed
Significance of Land to Land Owners/Users
Agricultural land, Other livelihood purposes, Other natural resource collection/dependence, Ecosystem/Environmental Services
Whether the project was stalled due to land conflict
Source/Reference
Total investment involved (in Crores):
₹
Type of investment:
Year of Estimation
Has the Conflict Ended?
No
When did it end?
Why did the conflict end?
Categories of Legislations Involved in the Conflict
Forest and Scheduled Area Governance Laws, Other, Other
Legislations/Policies Involved
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Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Whether claims/objections were made as per procedure in the relevant statute
No
What was the claim(s)/objection(s) raised by the community?
What was the Decision of the Concerned Government Department?
Legal Processes and Loopholes Enabling the Conflict:
Forced evictions/dispossession of land
Non-implementation/violation of FRA
Non-implementation/violation of PESA
Legal Status:
Out of Court
Status of Case In Court
Whether any adjudicatory body was approached
Name of the adjudicatory body
Name(s) of the Court(s)
Case Number
Main Reasoning/Decision of court
Major Human Rights Violations Related to the Conflict:
Whether criminal law was used against protestors:
Reported Details of the Violation:
On 18 May 2026, when DFO Varun Jain arrived in the village with forest staff, a dispute arose between the villagers and forest staff regarding the arrest of the encroachers. Villagers alleged that the Forest Department suddenly raided the village, dragged women and elderly people out of their homes and brutalised them. The women of the village alleged that the team came and took their husbands straight from their homes. When they tried to leave, they were also beaten. They said their bangles were broken and clothes were torn. They also alleged that despite being unwell, they were being pushed and beaten while being taken away. A young man from the village said he was filming the crowd near his home. He alleged that the SDM (Sub-Divisional Magistrate) arrived and grabbed him by the throat, tore his clothes, and dragged him for 500 meters. He said he suffered injuries to his chest and legs. The Forest Department said that its team was subjected to a violent attack that obstructed government work, and the DFO alleged an attempt to murder.
Date of Violation
May 17, 2026
Location of Violation
Jaitpuri village, Siwaha Police Station
Government Departments Involved in the Conflict:
Sub-Divisional Magistrate; Forest Department; Deputy Director of Tiger Reserve
PSUs Involved in the Conflict:
Did LCW Approach Government Authorities for Comments?
Name, Designation and Comment of the Government Authorities Approached
Corporate Parties Involved in the Conflict:
Did LCW Approach Corporate Parties for Comments?
Communities/Local Organisations in the Conflict:
What was the action taken by the police?
Arrest
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
5
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?
If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?
Legislation under which the accused was charged
Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?
In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?
Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?
Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?
