Tue May 06 14:44:35 UTC 2025: **Nagarhole Tiger Reserve: Tribal Land Rights Dispute Escalates**
Mysuru, May 6, 2025 – A tense standoff is brewing at Nagarhole Tiger Reserve between tribal communities and the Forest Department over land rights and the implementation of the Forest Rights Act (FRA). Approximately 150 tribals entered their ancestral lands on Monday to assert their rights and build a sacred altar, triggering the current conflict. Forest Department officials and police intervened on Tuesday, preventing the construction and further inflaming tensions.
The tribals, primarily from the Jenukuruba community, argue that their claims under the FRA have been repeatedly ignored despite submitting necessary documentation three months ago. They contend that the Forest Department is violating their constitutional rights and exceeding the stipulated timeframe for settling land claims. Leaders emphasize that the FRA affirms pre-existing rights, not granting new ones, and that the land is their ancestral homeland.
The planned structure was to be a simple, wooden altar, not a permanent concrete construction, according to S. Sreekanth of Development through Education. He condemned the Forest Department’s actions as an affront to the tribals’ religious beliefs. This action directly contradicts recent instructions from Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who visited local hamlets and directed that tribals should not be disturbed.
Activists are calling for a review of rejected claims and a swift recognition of tribal rights. They warn that the failure to resolve the conflict peacefully could negatively impact Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s reputation, given the apparent disregard for his directives by Forest Department officials. The situation remains volatile, with the potential for further escalation.
First Piper 