Hyderabad: Both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh have witnessed large-scale violence against tribals and adivasis the last year.
National Crime Records Bureau data shows that more than 700 cases of crime against tribals were reported in AP, while more than 690 cases were reported in Telangana in 2015.
Over 60 tribal women faced various degrees of sexual harassment including rape in AP, while in Telangana more than 70 women were victims of rape, molestation and other kinds of sexual harassment.
2015 stats by NCRB Andhra Pradesh Dalits
According to experts, the data is just the tip of the iceberg as hundreds of cases went unreported. They say that even tribals in urban settings are not safe, and the fate of tribals in villages is worse.
“When a victim from a tribal community goes to the police station with his or her grievance, police generally do not book a case instantly. They book cases only when media or activists pressurise them,” said student leader Mr Mohan Dharavath, who is doing his research in Adivasi studies.
He described a recent incident of a medical college in Hyderabad to indicate the discrimination tribal students had to face even in educational institutions.
“Over 40 tribal students, who are pursuing nursing, were abused by their teacher. They were asked why they came to college and why didn’t they remain in the forest, etc. This happened just two months ago. We approached the superintendent, who made the teacher apologise,” said Mr Dharavath.
