Adivasis continue protest in Nagarahole

Bengaluru: The Adivasis (tribals) continued to camp in Karadikal Attur Kolli Hadi of Nagarahole Tiger Reserve on Wednesday, even as officials tried to resolve the issue by promising to look into their demands.

Fifty-two families of the Adivasis -- most of them Jenu Kurubas -- entered the forest on Monday, blaming the Forest Department for the delay in looking into their claims made under the Forest Rights Act, 2006. The officials have stated that the claims were rejected earlier.

The Adivasis have stated that, after the Supreme Court directed the states to relook into the claims, their individual and community rights claims were submitted in 2021, but the same are yet to be processed.

Nagarahole field director P A Seema and other forest officers visited the spot to look into the matter on Tuesday but the adivasis stayed put. Meanwhile, activists from different areas visited the place and expressed their solidarity with the camping families.