Tribal Protesters March to Bhopal Over Home Demolitions
Thousands of tribal community members from Sehore are marching to Bhopal to demand justice after the Forest Development Corporation demolished their homes.
In a massive show of discontent, thousands of members from the tribal community have launched a long-distance foot march from Sehore to the state capital, Bhopal. The protesters are demanding immediate justice following the demolition of their homes and the destruction of their crops by the Madhya Pradesh Forest Development Corporation.
The march commenced on October 15, 2026, from Kosmi village within the Budhni assembly constituency. This movement follows several days of intense sit-in protests by affected families who claim their livelihoods have been shattered by recent state actions.
A Journey for Justice
The demonstration is a diverse group, comprising women, youth, and elderly community members. Their primary objective is to reach the residence of Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav to personally present their grievances and seek redressal for the loss of their property and sustenance.
The conflict stems from an anti-encroachment drive conducted by the Forest Development Corporation. This operation was part of a larger project involving land transferred to the corporation's Sehore division in 2020, intended for teak plantation efforts that began in 2021.
The Incident That Sparked the Outrage
According to official reports, a specific operation carried out on October 11 resulted in the following:
- The demolition of nine huts.
- The filling of a well deemed illegal by authorities.
While authorities maintain that the process was fully videographed and claim the occupants held permanent housing and voter IDs in other locations, tribal rights organizations have hit back. They allege that these demolitions are a direct violation of the Forest Rights Act (FRA).
Political Intervention and Official Scrutiny
The situation has already drawn high-level political attention. Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan visited the site in Kosmi on October 12, 2026. During his visit, he met with the grieving families and reportedly expressed strong displeasure over the demolitions.
Chouhan has taken the matter to the highest levels of state administration, communicating with both the Chief Secretary and the state BJP president, while promising strict action against those held responsible for the incident.
Adding further pressure, the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) has intervened. On October 12, the commission issued formal notices to a wide array of high-ranking officials, including:
- The Chief Secretary
- The Principal Secretary of the Forest Department
- The Director General of Police
- The Sehore Collector and Superintendent of Police
- The Divisional Forest Officer
- The Managing Director of the MP State Forest Development Corporation
The NCST has demanded a formal report regarding the incident within three days. As the protesters continue their march toward Bhopal, heavy police security has been deployed across the route to monitor the movement and manage the growing tension.