RANCHI: 'Patthalgdi' Movement, being carried out in some of the tribal-dominated districts of Jharkhand since the last one year, was actually being supported by other States.
According to Police, the tribal organization 'Adivasi Mahasabha' was trying to take advantage of an incident at Syko in Khunti district of Jharkhand in October 2016, during which Abraham Mundu died in Police firing while taking part in a rally organised against changes made in CNT and SPT Act. After the incident, acting President of Adivasi Mahasbha Vijay Kujur and Babita Kacchap started provoking the tribal villagers for self-rule using 'Patthalgadi' as a weapon against the State Government.
Both Kujur and Kacchap allegedly have taken training from the followers of Sati Pati cult at Katswan in Gujarat. Kujur, arrested from Delhi in March this year, was instrumental in reviving 'Adivasi Mahasabha' in 2016 and had been inciting tribal people to defy the Constitution through 'Pathalgadi' since then.
Kujur, a well-educated man in his 40's from Namkum in Ranchi, reportedly works as a manager at Shipping Corporation of India in Calcutta. Some other people in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Chattisgarh and Rajashthan are also said to have been providing support directly or indirectly to 'Patthalgadi' Movement in the State. "Entire 'Patthalgadi' Movement is inspired by Sati Pati cult in Gujarat. We have also found some connections with Maharashtra and Rajasthan also, which is still under verification," said DIG (Ranchi Range) AV Homkar.
Some of the leaders, who are currently in Jail, possibly had visited Katswan to study the cult following which they were trying to misguide people by incorrect interpreting the provision of the Constitution, he added.
Notably, Sati Pati cult believes that natural resources like forest land and rivers were gifted by Queen Victoria to Keshri Singh, the founder of Sati Pati cult before independence, hence, they disassociate themselves with any activity propagated by the local, state or central government.
They also refuse to be a part of any activity undertaken by the local, state or central government and do not vote during elections. The cult is currently led by Kunwar Ravindra Sinh, son of Kunwar Keshri Singh. According to sources in Police department, Santosh Yatram of Maharashtra and Ravindra Dada of Gujarat along with a dismissed Jailer in Chattisgarh have so far been identified for fueling 'Patthalgadi' Movement in Jharkhand.
"Role of a Diplomat in Nepal, who visited Jharkhand last year, is also suspicious as Vijay Kujur, Babita Kacchap and other 'Patthalgdi' supporters had shared the stage with him," said a Police Official requesting anonymity.
Arrested 'Patthalgadi' supporters John Junas Tidu and Balram Samad, who are also prime accused in Kochang gang rape of five tribal activists in Khunti, admitted during interrogation that they were inspired by the ideology of 'Sati Pati' cult and have accepted their visit to Katswan in Gujarat.
Tidu and Samad are also having named several other persons in Gujarat and other States who had been propagating the distorted form of Patthalgadi in Jharkhand. Now, self-proclaimed 'Patthalgadi' leader Yusuf Pirti and Babita Kacchap, are now on Poice target and have gone underground after the district administration started tightening its noose over them following a clash between Police and Patthalgadi supporters in Ghaghra on June 26.
The help of cyber police is being taken to arrest them and Babita's location has been traced in Gujarat, Maharashtra and Rajasthan.